By Sunday 
The Good, the Bad, and the Unfinished Business for L.A.
It’s never too early to speculate—and with the 2026 NFL Playoffs on the distant horizon, Pro Football Network’s Jacob Infante has already mapped out how he thinks things could shake out. And for Rams fans? Well, it’s a mixed bag: thrilling progress, a draft pick downer, and a painfully familiar postseason ending.
Let’s unpack it.
The Good: NFC West Champs, and a Return to January Glory
Here’s the part that gets the horns up.
According to Infante’s predictions, the Rams claim the NFC West crown and march into the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the conference. That’s huge. It means at least one home playoff game, likely at the electric SoFi Stadium, and it sets the tone for a serious postseason run.
In this version of reality, the Rams face off against the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round—and win. Then it’s a return trip to Detroit to take on the Lions, the very team that ended their 2023 playoff run. This time? The Rams get their revenge.
Infante sees the Rams toppling Detroit, avenging last season’s loss and punching their ticket to the NFC Championship Game. At that point, anything feels possible… until it doesn’t.
The Bad: Falcons Wreck the Draft Party
Now, let’s talk strategy. The Rams made a smart move acquiring the Falcons’ first-round pick for 2026. The hope? Atlanta struggles, and that pick ends up somewhere in the top 10—giving L.A. prime draft capital to either select a future franchise QB or dangle it as high-value trade bait.
But in Infante’s prediction world, the Falcons do the unthinkable: win the NFC South. That outcome knocks their pick all the way down to No. 20 overall. Oof.
That drop doesn’t eliminate the Rams’ draft options, but it definitely complicates the quarterback succession plan. If the Rams want to draft a top-tier QB to eventually take the reins from Matthew Stafford, they might now have to trade up—possibly at a steep price.
In a class projected to be deep with quarterback talent, missing out on the top six prospects because of a late pick could force L.A. to either get aggressive or get creative.
The Ugly: Eagles Again? Really?
Here’s where things get a little painful.
After that thrilling playoff push through Green Bay and Detroit, the Rams, per Infante, meet their postseason ceiling in Philadelphia. Yep—another NFC Championship loss to the Eagles. The same Eagles team that ended their Super Bowl hopes the previous year.
“That’s right. One more humbling loss to the Philadelphia Eagles,” Infante writes. And if you’re a Rams fan, that line probably hits harder than a Nick Bosa pass rush.
But here’s where we pump the brakes. Is it really that simple? Could a Sean McVay-led team, brimming with playoff experience, youthful talent, and a renewed sense of purpose, really fall again to the same team, in the same spot?
It’s tough to buy into. This team has fight. The defense has a chip on its shoulder. And Stafford? You know he’d love one more crack at the big game.
A Prediction, Not a Prophecy
Let’s be clear: this isn’t destiny. It’s just one forecast in the long offseason swirl of speculation.
But even if PFN’s prediction ends in heartbreak, there’s a lot to feel good about. Winning the division. Winning two playoff games. Reaching the NFC Championship again. That’s no small feat—and it’s a reminder that the Rams are very much back in the contender conversation.
So yeah, if this is how the 2026 season goes, it’ll sting. But it’ll also prove the Rams are right where they want to be: knocking on the door. And next time? Maybe they kick it down.
Stay tuned.