When the Los Angeles Rams decided to t ake their foot off the proverbial gas in Week 18 to rest their starters ahead of the playoffs, it left fans with one major takeaway: LA must have been okay with playing against the Minnesota Vikings or the Detroit Lions in the Wildcard Round.

As every team does this time of year, the Los Angeles Rams have their work cut out for them in the first round of the playoffs. They’re welcoming the 14-3 Minnesota Vikings to SoFi Stadium, facing the first 14-win wild-card team in NFL history.

McVay’s own coaching tree has become a popular spot for other NFL teams to harvest head coaches, partly because he pays forward the opportunities and preparation he was provided as an assistant.

The Los Angeles Rams prepare to face the Minnesota Vikings in a high-stakes playoff opener at SoFi Stadium, with head coach Sean McVay exuding confidence and focus.

The Los Angeles Rams, led by Sean McVay, will host the Minnesota Vikings at their stadium, aiming to make a strong statement in the NFL Playoffs. Although their recent loss to the Seahawks doesn’t tarnish the impressive campaign by the Los Angeles Rams so far,

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell was Sean McVay's offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl champion Rams. They know each other well, and the playoff game is a rematch.

Lions or Vikings, Sean McVay doesn’t care. The coach doubled down on his stance that it makes no difference to him who the Rams play in the wild-card round next weekend – something he made very clear last week when discussing Los Angeles’ possible playoff opponents.

The level of preparation and detail is so important in the NFL, that it often trumps the natural talent of the players. In the playoffs, every play call, every timeout, every decision is scrutinized.