Seahawks Take Over NFC's Top Spot with Wild OT Win Over Rams - Here's Where the Playoff Picture Stands
The NFC has a new No. 1 seed, and it comes courtesy of a Thursday night thriller in Seattle. The Seahawks edged the Rams 38-37 in overtime in front of a raucous Lumen Field crowd, and in doing so, they vaulted to the top of the conference standings at 12-3.
This one had everything - big-time throws, clutch moments, and a quarterback in Sam Darnold who, despite his ups and downs, delivered when it mattered most. Darnold finished 22-of-34 for 270 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and an 84.2 passer rating. He was sacked four times but stood tall in the pocket when it counted, connecting with rookie Jason Smith-Njigba for a four-yard touchdown in overtime to pull Seattle within one.
Then came the gutsy call - instead of kicking the extra point to tie, Seattle went for two. Darnold found tight end Eric Saubert for the game-winner, sealing a walk-off win and sending the Seahawks to the top of the NFC playoff bracket.
Stafford, Nacua Light It Up - But Rams Fall Short
Matthew Stafford did everything he could to keep the Rams in front. The veteran quarterback threw for a staggering 457 yards on 29-of-49 passing, tossing three touchdowns and posting a 110.7 rating. He looked sharp all night, especially when targeting Puka Nacua, who turned in one of the most explosive performances of the season.
Nacua hauled in 12 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 18.8 yards per reception. It was a massive outing for the rookie wideout, who found himself in the headlines earlier this week for off-field reasons. On Thursday, he let his play do the talking - and it was loud.
Still, the Rams drop to 11-4 and now sit fifth in the NFC standings. With two games left, they’ll need help to climb back into a top-two seed.
What’s Next for Seattle?
Seattle now controls its own destiny. With games remaining against the Panthers and 49ers, Mike Macdonald’s squad has a chance to lock up the No. 1 seed - but it won’t come easy. The season finale against San Francisco looms large, especially with the Niners still in the thick of the playoff race themselves.
NFC East: Eagles Eyeing Division Crown
While the Seahawks celebrate, the Eagles are focused on locking up the NFC East. Sitting at 9-5, Philadelphia leads the division and holds the No. 3 seed entering Week 16. The path is clear: win one of their remaining two games - both against the struggling Washington Commanders - and the division is theirs.
The first shot comes Saturday afternoon in D.C., where the Commanders (4-10) will host the Eagles in an NFC East clash. It’s part of a Saturday doubleheader that also features a critical NFC North matchup between the Bears and Packers.
Philadelphia has tie-breaker advantages over Green Bay, while Chicago owns the edge over the Eagles. That makes every remaining game crucial for seeding.
NFC North: Bears and Packers Set for Showdown
The Saturday night spotlight will be on Chicago, where the Bears (10-4) host the Packers (9-4-1) in a game with major playoff implications. If the season ended today, these two would face off again in the Wild Card round - but both teams are still jockeying for position.
A Bears win would solidify their hold on the No. 2 seed. A Packers victory could vault them into that spot, depending on how the rest of the weekend shakes out.
Week 16 Games to Watch
- Rams at Seahawks - Seattle wins 38-37 in OT
- Packers at Bears - Saturday night showdown with playoff seeding on the line
- Chargers at Cowboys - Sunday afternoon
- Buccaneers at Panthers - Sunday afternoon
- 49ers at Colts - Monday night
NFC Playoff Picture Entering Week 16
- Seahawks (12-3) - 1st in NFC West
- Bears (10-4) - 1st in NFC North
- Eagles (9-5) - 1st in NFC East
- Buccaneers (7-7) - 1st in NFC South
- Rams (11-4) - 2nd in NFC West
- 49ers (10-4) - 3rd in NFC West
Packers (9-4-1) - 2nd in NFC North
Still in the Hunt
- Lions (8-6)
- Panthers (7-7)
- Cowboys (6-7-1)
Officially Eliminated
- Vikings (5-8)
- Giants (2-12)
- Cardinals (3-11)
- Saints (4-10)
- Falcons (5-9)
- Commanders (4-10)
If the Playoffs Started Today…
- First-Round Bye: Seahawks (12-3)
- **(2) Bears vs.
(7) Packers**
- (3) Eagles vs. (6) 49ers
- (4) Buccaneers vs. (5) Rams
That Bears-Packers game? It could be a playoff preview.
Same goes for Eagles-49ers - a rematch that would carry serious postseason energy. And don’t sleep on the Bucs hosting the Rams in what would be a classic clash of styles.
There’s still plenty of football left, but with just two weeks to go, the NFC playoff picture is starting to take shape. And after Thursday night, one thing is clear: the road to the Super Bowl, for now, goes through Seattle.