Rams' latest narrow defeat could be difference in whether or not they secure top seed in NFC

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams have been reminded time and again how close the margins are between winning and losing. Their latest lesson, a 38-37 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, could prove to be the most costly.

Instead of taking control of the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC, which would give them a bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason, the Rams (11-4) dropped to fifth and would be looking at a cross-country flight to play whoever wins the NFC South.

No extra week to allow 37-year-old quarterback Matthew Stafford to get refreshed or wide receiver Puka Nacua to recover from his intensely physical style of play. No extra week to get wide receiver Davante Adams up to speed in his return from a hamstring injury or potentially get safety Quentin Lake back from an elbow injury. No extra week to address inconsistencies in the secondary or erratic performances on special teams.

The Rams aren’t out of the race for the NFC West title and the top spot in the conference, but they will need help. And no matter where they end up, they will have to address the breakdowns which have cost them in each of their losses, setting aside the furor about how a key 2-point conversion was officiated.

There have been mistakes in the red zone. In this instance, right guard Justin Dedich was called for an ineligible lineman downfield penalty, taking a touchdown off the board on Los Angeles’ opening possession. They settled for a field goal instead.

There have been occasional lulls from the offense. Much like in their Week 3 loss at the Philadelphia Eagles, the Rams’ offense fell into a rut for a long stretch of the second half after going up 30-14 in Seattle. Three straight three-and-outs ran a total of 4:13 off the clock, while allowing the Seahawks to capture and then build momentum in front of their raucous home crowd.

There have been issues in the secondary. The Rams struggled to contain wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba when the Seahawks had no choice but to throw the ball and knew it would be headed his way.

And there have been breakdowns on special teams. Whatever progress had been made in recent weeks evaporated by allowing Rashid Shaheed’s punt return touchdown that kick-started Seattle’s comeback.

Compounding matters was a controversial 2-point conversion that tied the game at 30 in the fourth quarter, where a backward lateral was knocked forward and casually recovered in the end zone after the play had been whistled dead. Head coach Sean McVay, who is typically extremely cautious and measured in his remarks to the media, was as angry as he has ever been after a game, and that ire was still evident Friday.

“I have total appreciation for the layers and semantics of all the rules, especially being on the competition committee, there’s a lot of empathy and difficult spots (for) some of our officials. But I do believe this, that is not something that we want in the game,” said McVay, with the tone of his voice and visible frustration on his face belying his seemingly benign words.

Stafford said immediately after the defeat that the Rams’ best trait this season has been their ability to respond to adversity.

“Whether we win the game or lose the game, there’s plenty to learn from, plenty of plays we’d love to have back in probably all three phases,” Stafford said Thursday. “We’re going to do what we always do. Look at the tape, find a way to, hey, tweak a couple of things, find a way to play better.”

That might be the saving grace for the Rams, getting one more chance to learn from their mistakes before the regular season wraps up. Once the playoffs arrive, those same issues could send them home for good.

“I love exactly where we're at,” McVay said Friday. “Just like every other situation that's come up this year, we're going to come back swinging. And this is going to be a setback that's going to be a setup for a phenomenal comeback for us.”

The Stafford-Nacua connection was brilliant, resulting in a career-high 225 yards receiving on 12 catches with two touchdowns. Stafford finished with 457 yards and three scores, his eighth game this season with at least three touchdown passes and no interceptions.

Special teams. In addition to giving up Shaheed’s 58-yard return, K Harrison Mevis missed a 48-yard field goal and RB Ronnie Rivers had a lengthy kickoff return called back for a penalty.

DL Kobie Turner had 1 1/2 sacks, one tackle for loss, and an interception in one of the best games of his strong three-year career. He nearly batted down Sam Darnold’s 2-point pass in overtime that would have allowed the Rams to escape with the win.

WR Tutu Atwell. When the Rams re-signed him to a one year, $10 million contract in March, it seems like the undersized playmaker would finally have a larger role. But even with Adams sidelined, Atwell played just eight of the offense’s 92 snaps (8%) and was not targeted.

RG Kevin Dotson, the Rams’ best and most consistent offensive lineman, sustained what looked to be a serious ankle injury in the first quarter and did not return. McVay was not optimistic about Dotson's chances of playing in their next game against Atlanta. Adams is also unlikely to be available.

1 — The Rams were the first team in NFL history to lose a game where they had more than 500 yards of total offense and at least a plus-3 turnover margin.

The Rams visit the Falcons on Dec. 29, looking to not only bolster their playoff positioning but their draft standing as well. Los Angeles has Atlanta’s 2026 first-round selection after trading the 26th overall pick in April so that the Falcons could take edge rusher James Pearce Jr., and it would be in the top 10 based on current standings.

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Los Angeles Rams defensive end Kobie Turner runs after making an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Los Angeles Rams place-kicker Harrison Mevis (92) watches his failed field goal attempt during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) tries to get past Los Angeles Rams safety Kamren Kinchens, right, cornerback Cobie Durant (14) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams, left, is brought down by Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) greets Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) after an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

He's done it again. Nikola Jokic will average a triple-double this season.

The Denver star had 15 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists on Wednesday, helping the Nuggets beat the Utah Jazz 130-117.

Jokic now has exactly 660 assists this season. Denver has five games left and if Jokic plays in them all, he would average 10.0 assists — even if he doesn't get another one all season. He's already ensured that he would average double-figures in points and rebounds as well.

Russell Westbrook had four seasons in which he averaged a triple-double. Jokic has now done it twice — he did it last season as well — and Oscar Robertson did it once.

Westbrook, Jokic and Robertson are the only players who have pulled it off.

The Lakers and Denver both clinched playoff spots on Tuesday night. They join Detroit, Boston, New York, Oklahoma City and San Antonio on the list of teams with playoff spots secured.

The postseason (not playoff) teams are set: Milwaukee, Chicago, Washington, Brooklyn and Indiana have all been eliminated from the Eastern Conference race while Memphis, New Orleans, Dallas, Utah and Sacramento are out of the Western Conference race.

Portland, Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers are locked into the play-in tournament.

— 76ers 153, Wizards 131: Paul George scores 39, Philly shoots 62% and moves into No. 6 in East.

— Hawks 130, Magic 101: Atlanta improves to 17-2 in last 19 games, while Orlando falls to No. 9 in East.

— Celtics 147, Heat 129: Boston scores 53 in 1st quarter, Jaylen Brown has 43, Jayson Tatum triple-double.

— Knicks 130, Grizzlies 119: New York responds to Josh Hart’s pleas for better play, gets easy win.

— Kings 123, Raptors 115: Bad loss for Toronto, which gets outrebounded 48-32 and falls to No. 7 in the East.

— Pacers 145, Bulls 126: Did anyone in the NBA play any defense on Wednesday night?

— Rockets 119, Bucks 113: Spirited effort from seriously short-handed Bucks, but Houston’s starters outscore Milwaukee’s 101-80.

— Nuggets 130, Jazz 117: Jamal Murray had 37 for Denver, Nikola Jokic added another triple-double and Utah used only eight players in the game.

— Spurs 127, Warriors 113: A 41-point, 18-rebound game for MVP hopeful Victor Wembanyama, and San Antonio improves to 26-2 since Feb. 1.

— Phoenix at Charlotte: Devin Booker had 30 points, 10 assists in Phoenix win over Charlotte last month.

— Minnesota at Detroit: Detroit just keeps rolling, even with Cade Cunningham sidelined.

— L.A. Lakers at Oklahoma City: Matchup of MVP contenders in Lakers' Luka Doncic, Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

— Cleveland at Golden State: Warriors know they’re in West play-in, while Cavs are on brink of clinching East top-4 seed.

— New Orleans at Portland: Pelicans building toward next season, Blazers could host a play-in game.

— San Antonio at L.A. Clippers: Spurs still chasing that No. 1 seed, Clippers know they’ll be in play-in.

— Indiana at Charlotte: A winning record this season is going to get Hornets’ coach Charles Lee some award votes.

— Minnesota at Philadelphia: Massive implications seeding-wise for both teams.

— Atlanta at Brooklyn: Hawks closing in on Southeast Division title, possibly No. 5 seed.

— Chicago at New York: Knicks nearing the 50-win mark yet again.

— Utah at Houston: The Rockets know they can’t afford a slipup in this spot.

— Toronto at Memphis: Raptors need a few wins down the stretch to avoid play-in.

— Boston at Milwaukee: Bucks coach Doc Rivers faces his former team, a day before expected Hall of Fame formal announcement.

— Orlando at Dallas: Magic coach Jamahl Mosley enjoyed a lot of nights when he was on the Mavs’ staff. He desperately needs one of those good nights here.

— New Orleans at Sacramento: A pair of teams building for the future.

Thursday's games on Prime: Minnesota-Detroit and L.A. Lakers-Oklahoma City.

Friday on NBA TV: Chicago-New York.

Oklahoma City (+135) is favored to win the NBA title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, followed by Boston (+600), San Antonio (+600), Cleveland (+1000), Denver (+1100) and New York (+1600). Detroit, on its way to the No. 1 seed in the East, is +2500.

— April 10: All 30 teams play their 81st games of the season.

— April 12: All 30 teams play their regular season finales.

— April 14, 15 and 17: NBA play-in tournament dates.

— April 18 and 19: NBA playoff series openers.

— May 2, 3 or 4: Conference semifinals begin.

— May 10: NBA draft lottery.

— May 10-17: NBA draft combine.

— May 17 or 19: Eastern Conference finals begin on ESPN and ABC.

— May 18 or 20: Western Conference finals begin on NBC and Peacock.

— June 3: Game 1, NBA Finals on ABC. (Other finals dates: June 5, June 8, June 10, June 13, June 16 and June 19).

Sacramento's DeMar DeRozan passed Dominique Wilkins (26,668) for 17th on the NBA's all-time scoring list on Wednesday in Toronto. He's now 22 points behind No. 16 Oscar Robertson (26,710).

No team in NBA history had made 24 3-pointers and lost by more than 11 points. (Most hadn't lost at all; the record for teams with 24 or more 3s was 117-9). That is, until Wednesday, when Miami made 24 3s ... and lost by 18 to Boston.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson, left, is fouled by Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dunks against the Atlanta Hawks in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Toronto Raptors centre Jakob Poeltl (front) is fouled by Orlando Magic centre Goga Bitadze (back left) as Magic forward Paolo Banchero (right) looks on during first half NBA action in Toronto on Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, drives against Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)