Following a hot start out of the gate to the 2018 season winning their first eight games, the Los Angeles Rams have stumbled a bit over the last six games splitting them.
These struggles have also pushed their chances of securing the top overall spot in the NFC playoff picture toward a tough spot heading into the final two games of the regular season. According to Lindsey Thiry of ESPN, the odds of them earning that top spot have significantly decreased over the last several weeks.
According to ESPN Football Power Index: Rams had 81% chance after starting season 8-0 to earn No. 1 seed in NFC. But since Week 9, they've gone 3-3 and now only have a 14% chance at that No. 1 spot.
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) December 17, 2018
The Rams are in a tough spot in their quest to earn that No.1 overall seed as the New Orleans Saints are in the driving seat in that regard holding an 11-2 record heading into Monday's game against the Carolina Panthers. New Orleans holds the tiebreaker over Los Angeles having beat them earlier this season.
Beyond winning out in their final two games against the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals, they will need the Saints to lose twice over their last three contests. This stretch includes a pair of games against the Panthers along with taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers. These could prove to be stiff challenges for New Orleans given that both remaining opponents are still jocking for playoff position in their respective situations.
Los Angeles hasn't looked like the same explosive team in the last couple of weeks in the back-to-back losses that have put them in this position. Both the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles have presented plenty of issues for them offensively. It has seen Pro Bowl quarterback Jared Goff struggle to play efficiency as he has thrown six interceptions over that stretch. That said, the final two games can be an opportunity for them to get back on track with their eyes fixated on playing their best football in the playoffs.
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