Thanks to a three-game winning streak and seven victories in their last nine, the Los Angeles Rams have risen from the depths of the NFC West to take over first place in the division. It hasn’t been an easy climb, especially after starting the year 1-4, but Los Angeles is back on top of the division for the first time all year.
Though they didn’t get all the help they needed in Week 15, the important thing is they beat the 49ers and the Seahawks lost to the Packers – the two things that had to happen in order for them to take over first place in the division.
The West is far from secured because the Seahawks and Cardinals are hot on the Rams’ heels, making this an exciting final three weeks of the season. Here’s a look at the NFC playoff picture after Week 15’s results.
- Lions: 12-2 (NFC North)
- Eagles: 12-2 (NFC East)
- Buccaneers: 8-6 (NFC South)
- Rams: 8-6 (NFC West)
- Vikings: 12-2 (wild card)
- Packers: 10-4 (wild card)
- Commanders: 9-5 (wild card)
- Seahawks: 8-6
- Falcons: 7-7
- Cardinals: 7-7
- 49ers: 6-8
- Cowboys: 6-8
The Rams moved up four spots from No. 8 to fourth in the conference, all thanks to the fact that they lead the NFC West now. The Seahawks dropped from third to eighth, with all three wild-card teams remaining in the same positions they were a week ago.
The 49ers and Cowboys are all but done, having less than a 1% chance of making the postseason with their records sitting at 6-8.
There’s a fascinating race for the No. 1 seed between the Lions, Eagles and Vikings. The Packers are technically still in it but the NFC will likely go through one of those three teams who are all tied at 12-2. It could come down to Lions vs. Vikings in Week 18, which would determine who gets a first-round bye.
There’s still a lot to sort out in the NFC, especially compared to the AFC where things are much more clear-cut from No. 1 to 7.
