THIS CLINCH IS NO CINCH

Rams roar back from 10 down and fend off Lions to earn playoff spot

- GARY KLEIN

RAMS running back Kyren Williams breaks a tackle by Detroit safety Erick Hallett II during the first half of L.A.'s playoff-clinching 41-34 win over the visiting Lions.

Photographs by ERIC THAYER Los Angeles Times

The Rams are going to the playoffs.

The only questions now: Can they hold on to the No. 1 seed in the NFC and have home-field advantage for the entire postseason? And will receiver Davante Adams be fit for the stretch run?

The Rams clinched a playoff spot Sunday with a 41-34 victory over the Detroit Lions before 74,701 at SoFi Stadium in a game that featured Adams' fourth-quarter departure because of a hamstring injury.

Matthew Stafford outdueled Jared Goff, Puka Nacua continued his torrid receiving pace and L.A.'s defense shut down the Lions in the second half as the Rams improved to 11-3 and ensured their seventh playoff appearance under ninth-year coach Sean McVay.

It was a huge victory for a Rams team that will be tested again Thursday night when they play the Seahawks in Seattle.

The Seahawks (11-3) defeated Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in Seattle, setting up the Thursday night showdown.

The Rams hold the tiebreaker because of their Nov. 16 victory over the Seahawks at SoFi Stadium.

Can they capture home field throughout the playoffs for the first time?