The LA Rams are heading to the NFL playoffs, and one of the things that could guarantee their success is resting up their starters. The big question is, will head coach Sean McVay actually rest them up ahead of the big dance or would he play them and maybe aim for a higher seed?
After the team lost to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17, with that being one of the biggest upsets of the season, McVay promised he would play his starters on Week 18 to stop a two-game losing streak. They will be playing the Arizona Cardinals, and win or lose, they could end up as either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed if they beat the Cards. If they win, they have a chance to be the No. 5 seed, but if they lose, they could possibly go down as No. 6.
A report from NFL insider Sarah Barshop has revealed that yes, he does intend to play his starters against the Cardinals as they have the chance to take the No. 5 seed after the Niners lost last Saturday.
Sean McVay said he will play his starters regardless of what happens on Saturday night between the Seahawks and the 49ers. If San Francisco wins on Saturday, the Rams will be locked in the No. 6 seed.
— Sarah Barshop (@sarahbarshop) January 2, 2026
The Rams want some momentum heading into the playoffs, and losing their last two games might have factored into that decision. Still, this means that he is risking injuries for his best players like Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua ahead of the playoffs.
Sean McVay Did Not Say If Rams Starters Would Play The Entire Game
While McVay did say that his starters, the healthy ones at least, will all be starting, he did not say how long he would have them on the field. Their opponents, the Arizona Cardinals, have had a disappointing season so far, so the plan might just be to play his starters, try to get an early lead and then pull them out so they could rest ahead of the playoffs.
Still, if the Cardinals do get some offense in and keep it close, there is a chance that they could have their starters play longer minutes, though it is more than likely that McVay will limit their minutes no matter what.
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