The pieces are starting to fit in the NFC West and for 2018, it’s going to come right down to the final game of the season to finalize everything for the playoff picture. This year two teams from the division will be heading to the playoffs while two teams will be headed to a top-five pick in the draft.
You probably know which bracket the San Francisco 49ers fall into, but I’ll recap things for you. Their loss to the Chicago Bears Sunday keeps the Bears fighting for a playoff spot and the Rams will no doubt be playing their starters now that some last-minute rescheduling has occurred. The 49ers themselves are in for a long final game of the season.
Let’s look at how it all went down.
Arizona Cardinals/Los Angeles Rams
We told you to put those dreams and hopes that the Cardinals would manage to pull a win off over the Los Angeles Rams to bed now, didn’t we? Cardinals took an early lead, but it was just a matter of time before the Rams turned around and rammed the ball down their throat en route to a 31-9 Rams victory.
The win keeps the Rams in the race for playoff seeding. Judging by the way Sean Payton is dancing in this video, The New Orleans Saints win on Sunday clinched the first seed in the playoffs, so now the the No. 2 seed is what’s up for grabs. All the Rams need to do is win. They are one game ahead of the Bears, so winning Sunday gives them that seed and a first round bye. If they lose and Chicago wins, Chicago claims the No. 2 seed. If on the other hand both the Rams and Bears lose, the Rams would still claim that No. 2 seed.
The Cardinals meanwhile can get their questions for Nick Bosa ready.
Seattle Seahawks
Well, at least the Seahawks didn’t get into the playoffs via beating the 49ers. After their ugly loss to the 49ers, the Seahawks took care of business on Sunday Night Football and beat the Kansas City Chiefs, as the Chiefs continued what has become their regularly scheduled end of season skid.
The Seahawks head into the playoffs as a potential No. 5 seed. Winning next week will lock that up, but a loss along with the Minnesota Vikings winning will put them at No. 6.
Into Week 17
The final week of football is upon us. Last year, the Rams had their playoffs all but figured out and benched their starters. That won’t be happening this year. To get that coveted first round bye, the Rams will be coming out on all four cylinders as they host the 49ers for one last afternoon hurrah before the season ends..
The Seahawks host the Cardinals to close their respective seasons out. The Cardinals are struggling, while Seattle likely wants to lock in the No. 5 seed to avoid facing the Chicago Bears in the first round. Given that Cardinals-Seahawks is at CenturyLink Field, we can’t really expect an upset to help draft positioning.
1st: Los Angeles Rams; Next: vs. San Francisco 49ers
2nd: Seattle Seahawks; Next: vs. Arizona Cardinals
3rd: San Francisco 49ers; Next: at Los Angeles Rams
4th: Arizona Cardinals; Next: at Seattle Seahawks