Seahawks stay motivated for season finale, while Rams plan to rest some starters before the playoffs

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — If the Seattle Seahawks had secured one more victory or the Los Angeles Rams had dropped one more close game down the stretch, the NFC West rivals’ meeting on Sunday could have been a one-game showdown for the division title and a playoff berth. Matthew Stafford won’t be in uniform and many additional starters probably won’t play much for division champion Los Angeles in what’s merely a tuneup for its wild-card round home game next week. “If it’s within your power, you’re going to try to make that come to life and create as many opportunities for those guys as possible, all within the lens of what’s best for the team and trying to win.” Resting Rams Stafford won’t be in uniform, with Stetson Bennett serving as Garoppolo’s backup. “That might be the approach that we’ll take this week,” McVay said A record within reach Seattle receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is just five catches away from breaking Tyler Lockett’s single-season receptions franchise record, a fact he says he learned two weeks ago when the Seahawks veteran approached him and told him in the locker room. “I was like ‘Oh, really?’ A special, special moment.” While some players are protective of their record, Lockett seems ready to pass the torch to Smith-Njigba.