The Los Angeles Rams became the first NFC team to clinch a postseason berth after defeating the Detroit Lions in Week 15.
It marks the third consecutive year that the Rams will play in the postseason. They made it as a wild card team in 2023, and last year, won the NFC West for the first time since 2021.
Kobie Turner played a key role in the Rams’ 41-34 win over the Lions as he recorded five tackles, two quarterback hits and a sack.
The 26-year-old didn’t realize at first that the Rams clinched a playoff berth because he was so focused on helping the team pick up another win, via Wyatt Miller of TheRams.com:
“I didn’t even realize (we clinched a playoff spot). We never talked about that this week. It was all about, you know, figuring out a way to go and pick up a W and then being ready to move forward again this week and pick up another W.”
Turner is now in his third season with the Rams and has solidified himself as an important member of the defense. Through 14 games, he has notched 39 tackles, 11 quarterback hits and 5.5 sacks.
Next up for Turner and the Rams is a huge game against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football.
L.A. can’t officially clinch the NFC West this week, but a win over their rival would give them a one-game lead with only two games to play.
The Rams are also trying to maintain the No. 1 seed in NFC, which would give them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Sean McVay: ‘It’s great’ that Rams clinched playoff berth
The Rams still have a lot of work to do in order to get to Super Bowl LX, but head coach Sean McVay is proud that the team officially punched their ticket to the playoffs.
“It’s great to be able to punch a ticket to the playoffs,” head coach Sean McVay said postgame. “That’s obviously always a goal, is to be able to give yourself a chance to play extra games after that, those 17 (games) that you’re guaranteed.”
