Los Angeles Rams entered the NFL playoffs as a wild-card team and are now on the brink of the Super Bowl.
At a Glance
- Rams secured the No. 5 seed with a 12-5 regular-season record.
- They beat the Carolina Panthers 34-31 and the Chicago Bears 20-17 to reach the NFC Championship.
- Only a handful of wild-card teams have ever captured the Lombardi Trophy.
- The last wild-card champion was the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Why it matters: The Rams’ journey highlights the growing power of wild-card teams in the NFL’s playoff landscape.
Rams’ Road to the NFC Championship
The Rams’ playoff run began with a narrow win over the sub-.500 No. 4 Carolina Panthers. MVP candidate Matthew Stafford orchestrated two go-ahead touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, sealing a 34-31 victory.
In the Divisional Round, the Rams faced the No. 2 Chicago Bears. The Bears forced overtime with a last-second touchdown pass from Caleb Williams to Cole Kmet. However, Kamren Curl intercepted the ball, and Harrison Mevis capped the win with a walk-off field goal, giving the Rams a 20-17 triumph.
These victories propelled the Rams to the NFC Championship against the No. 1 Seattle Seahawks. A win would send the Rams to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara for the Big Game.
Wild-Card Format Evolution
The wild-card concept debuted in 1970, adding one extra team from each conference beyond the six division champions. Two more wild-cards were added in 1980 and again in 1990, expanding the playoff field to 12 teams.
When the league grew to 32 teams in 2002, it realigned into eight four-team divisions. The playoff field stayed at 12 teams, still featuring four wild-cards.
In 2020, a third wild-card spot was introduced per conference, and only the No. 1 seed earned a first-round bye.
Wild-Card Teams That Made the Super Bowl
| Year | Team | Seed | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Dallas Cowboys | 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 21-17 loss |
| 1985 | New England Patriots | 5 | Chicago Bears | 46-10 loss |
| 1992 | Buffalo Bills | 4 | Dallas Cowboys | 52-17 loss |
| 1999 | Tennessee Titans | 4 | Los Angeles Rams | 23-16 loss |
These four teams advanced to the Super Bowl but fell short of a championship.
Wild-Card Teams That Won the Super Bowl
The following seven teams captured the Lombardi Trophy as wild-cards:
| Year | Team | Seed | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Oakland Raiders | 4 | Philadelphia Eagles | 27-10 |
| 1997 | Denver Broncos | 4 | Green Bay Packers | 31-24 |
| 2000 | Baltimore Ravens | 4 | New York Giants | 34-7 |
| 2005 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6 | Seattle Seahawks | 21-10 |
| 2007 | New York Giants | 5 | New England Patriots | 17-14 |
| 2010 | Green Bay Packers | 6 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 31-25 |
| 2020 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5 | Kansas City Chiefs | 31-9 |
The Buccaneers’ 31-9 victory at their home stadium marked the first time a team played a Super Bowl in its own arena.
Key Takeaways
- The Rams’ wild-card run underscores how non-division winners can still reach the biggest stage.
- Since the wild-card format began in 1970, only seven teams have won the Super Bowl from that position.
- The 2020 Buccaneers proved that a wild-card seed can not only reach but dominate the championship.
The Rams’ next step is a single, high-stakes game that could redefine the franchise’s legacy.
