Rams to rest offensive starters in final game after clinching division

Why it matters: With the NFC West title secured, the Rams are prioritizing the health and freshness of their key players by giving them rest and managing their workload.

What's new: Head coach Sean McVay announced that several offensive starters, including Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Kyren Williams, will be rested in their upcoming game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Yes, but: The Rams still have something to play for in terms of playoff seeding. They can secure the No. 3 seed with a win or tie, or if the Buccaneers lose. However, the team is willing to potentially sacrifice a higher seeding to ensure their players are ready for the playoffs.

What to watch: Keep an eye on the reduced workloads of defensive players as well. While the Rams cannot rest every starter due to roster constraints, they aim to manage the playing time of their key defensive contributors.

Last season's precedent: This isn't the first time the Rams have made this decision. In the previous season, they also rested several starters after clinching a playoff berth, emphasizing the importance of player preservation.

• Sean McVay on resting offensive starters: "We're going to rest several offensive starters this week. We've already clinched the division, so it's an opportunity for us to give some guys rest and manage their workload."
• Sean McVay on playoff seeding: "We still have something to play for in terms of playoff seeding. We can secure the No. 3 seed with a win or tie, or if the Buccaneers lose. But we'll prioritize the health and freshness of our players."
• Sean McVay on resting defensive players: "Our defense is young, so we'll have our key players on the field, but they may not have the usual workload. We want to make sure they're ready for the playoffs."
• Last season, the Rams rested several starters after clinching a playoff berth, including Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Kyren Williams, Aaron Donald, and Ernest Jones.

The bottom line: The Rams are making calculated decisions to balance their pursuit of playoff seeding with the long-term well-being of their key players. By resting offensive starters, they aim to ensure peak performance in the upcoming postseason.

Rams to rest offensive starters in final game after clinching division

Why it matters: With the NFC West title secured, the Rams are prioritizing the health and freshness of their key players by giving them rest and managing their workload.

What's new: Head coach Sean McVay announced that several offensive starters, including Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Kyren Williams, will be rested in their upcoming game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Yes, but: The Rams still have something to play for in terms of playoff seeding. They can secure the No. 3 seed with a win or tie, or if the Buccaneers lose. However, the team is willing to potentially sacrifice a higher seeding to ensure their players are ready for the playoffs.

What to watch: Keep an eye on the reduced workloads of defensive players as well. While the Rams cannot rest every starter due to roster constraints, they aim to manage the playing time of their key defensive contributors.

Last season's precedent: This isn't the first time the Rams have made this decision. In the previous season, they also rested several starters after clinching a playoff berth, emphasizing the importance of player preservation.

• Sean McVay on resting offensive starters: "We're going to rest several offensive starters this week. We've already clinched the division, so it's an opportunity for us to give some guys rest and manage their workload."
• Sean McVay on playoff seeding: "We still have something to play for in terms of playoff seeding. We can secure the No. 3 seed with a win or tie, or if the Buccaneers lose. But we'll prioritize the health and freshness of our players."
• Sean McVay on resting defensive players: "Our defense is young, so we'll have our key players on the field, but they may not have the usual workload. We want to make sure they're ready for the playoffs."
• Last season, the Rams rested several starters after clinching a playoff berth, including Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Kyren Williams, Aaron Donald, and Ernest Jones.

The bottom line: The Rams are making calculated decisions to balance their pursuit of playoff seeding with the long-term well-being of their key players. By resting offensive starters, they aim to ensure peak performance in the upcoming postseason.