Rams start Jimmy Garoppolo in game that matters, fall to NFC No. 4 seed

Facing a Week 18 game that actually mattered, the Los Angeles Rams opted to sit starting quarterback Matthew Stafford and start Jimmy Garoppolo under center instead. Their reward: the most dangerous wild-card of the playoffs.

The Rams lost to the Seattle Seahawks 30-25 on Sunday, knocking them down to the No. 4 seed in the NFC side of the playoffs. The No. 3 Buccaneers are now set to face the Washington Commanders in the wild-card round, while the Rams will be saddled with the loser of the “Sunday Night Football” clash between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.

You can probably figure out which is the better matchup.

Regardless, the Rams were quick to remind the Seahawks, and the rest of the NFC West, who still had a game to play next week.

It’s not like Garoppolo was a disaster, though. He finished the game 27-of-41 for 334 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while playing with a shorthanded offense. In addition to Stafford, Rams head coach Sean McVay opted to sit running back Kyren Williams, wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, guard Kevin Dotson and tackles Alaric Jackson and Rob Havenstein.

Third-string running back Ronnie Rivers posted 48 rushing yards on 12 attempts, while No. 2 back Blake Corum got two rushes for 10 yards. Jordan Whittington was the top receiver with 86 yards on three catches.

Essentially, McVay decided he would rather face the Vikings or Lions with his offense as healthy as possible than take on the Commanders with one of his top contributors possibly injured. McVay has never been worried about people second-guessing his decisions.

The Rams received an unfortunate proof of concept via Corum, as McVay told reporters after the game the rookie fractured his forearm during the game and is out for the playoffs.

For a minute, though, it looked like the Rams were going to have their cake and eat it too. They took a 25-24 lead in the fourth quarter, and while the Seahawks responded with a Geno Smith-to-Noah Fant touchdown, they reached as far as the red zone for a potential game-winning touchdown.

That drive sputtered out, however, ending on a grounded pass from Garoppolo.

The win makes the Seahawks one of 15 NFL teams to reach at least 10 wins this season, and the only one to not make the playoffs. They can at least enter the offseason knowing they made life a little more difficult for a division rival.

Full NFC playoff seeding

1. Detroit Lions/Minnesota Vikings (14-2)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)

4. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)

5. Minnesota Vikings/Detroit Lions (14-2)

6. Washington Commanders (12-5)

7. Green Bay Packers (11-6)

Last out: Seattle Seahawks (10-7)