Rams-49ers on Thursday night has massive implications for the NFC West playoffs

I know what you’re thinking. Most Thursday night NFL games are pretty meaningless overall and easy to ignore. If you have something else to do in the evening near the start of the weekend, you’re usually better off.

Point.

But Thursday night’s matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers is a little different. It’s actually hugely significant to the overall NFC playoff picture, especially for the eventual winner of the NFC West division.

That’s right, love. We’re talking PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS. Gasp!

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Well, mostly for the Rams, who are 6-2 in their last eight games after starting out a paltry 1-4.

Let’s break it down as succinctly as possible:

• If the Rams win on Thursday night to move to a solid 8-6, the onus will be on the Seahawks. Due to Seattle’s overtime loss to the Rams in Week 11, the Seahawks are out of pole position for the NFC West lead at this point. If they lose to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night following a Rams win, the Rams will be the No. 3 seed in the NFC while the Seahawks will temporarily disappear from the playoffs.
• If the Rams lose and the Seahawks lose, pretty much everyone stays in the same spot in the division. It would also open the door for the Arizona Cardinals to make some noise, but they need a lot of help after being overwhelmed by the Seahawks. Good luck, Cardinals fans.

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• If the 49ers win and the Seahawks win, Seattle will take a relatively robust 1.5 division lead into Week 16. Nothing really changes for the 49ers, as they are currently the No. 11 seed and don’t control their playoff fate. No matter what happens, there are still many steps to be taken before San Francisco. The return of Dre Greenlaw can only help them so much.
• However, unless the Rams lose again between Thursday and the regular-season finale in Week 18, the Seahawks have no margin for error. Because of the aforementioned overtime loss earlier in the year, the Rams have the edge to clinch the NFC West division title unless Seattle gets a win at the end of the season. They will likely be on the Seahawks’ heels for the rest of the year.

Suffice it to say, a special experience awaits us in San Francisco on Thursday evening.

The tension is terrible. I hope it lasts.