The Rams Are Rolling-and the Rest of the NFL Is Trying to Keep Up
As we head into Week 17, the Los Angeles Rams have emerged as the team to beat. At 11-4, they may only be the fifth seed in the NFC, but don’t let that number fool you-this is a squad built for a deep playoff run.
Their four losses? All came against current playoff teams and by an average margin of just 3.5 points.
That’s not a team getting exposed. That’s a team that’s been in every fight and nearly walked away with all of them.
So while the standings say the Rams are chasing, the eye test-and the sportsbooks-say they’re leading the pack. And right now, they’re the odds-on favorite to win it all.
Who’s No. 2? Don’t Sleep on the Patriots
Seattle’s sitting at 12-3 and holds the NFC’s top seed, which has them second in Super Bowl odds behind the Rams. The Bills (11-4) and Broncos (12-3) are right there in the mix, but when you start digging into the numbers, things get interesting.
Let’s talk records against playoff teams. The Bears and Chargers are both 3-1 in those matchups, while the Jaguars have the most total wins (5-3) in that category.
The Bills, led by Josh Allen, have the highest point differential against playoff-bound squads at +47. Seattle?
They’re a solid 4-2.
But if we’re talking about a team flying under the radar, it might be the Patriots. Yes, they’re also 12-3, but what jumps off the page is their schedule.
According to Pro Football Reference, New England’s 2025 slate is the second-easiest among playoff-bound teams since 2000-4.2 points easier than league average. That’s not nothing.
Historically, teams with that kind of advantage haven’t always cashed in, but there are exceptions. Since 1970, three teams with similarly soft schedules went on to win the Super Bowl: the 1999 Rams, 1970 Colts, and the undefeated 1972 Dolphins.
The 1991 Bills also made it to the big game. And let’s not forget-New England’s last Super Bowl win came in 2016, a year they also had one of the league’s easiest schedules.
So yeah, the Patriots’ road may have been smooth, but don’t let that distract from what they’ve done with it. With rookie Drake Maye under center and a defense that’s quietly been one of the league’s most efficient, they’re not just a product of their schedule-they’re a legitimate threat.
Our Week 17 power rankings reflect that: Seahawks at No. 1, Rams at No. 2, and the Patriots sitting comfortably at No. 3.
Purdy, McCaffrey Shine as 49ers Roll Past Colts
There’s no sugarcoating it-Sunday night was a rough one for the Colts. Philip Rivers, just two weeks removed from retirement, gave fans a nostalgic first half with 175 yards and two touchdowns. For a moment, it felt like vintage Rivers was back.
“He’s unbelievable,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He looks like I remember. The ball always goes to the right spot.”
But that was about as good as it got for Indy. The Colts' defense couldn’t slow down Christian McCaffrey, who racked up 146 total yards and two scores.
And Brock Purdy? He played like a man possessed, tossing for 295 yards and a career-high five touchdowns.
The 49ers didn’t punt once. Not once.
“It was pretty close to a perfect game,” Shanahan said afterward.
The Niners walked away with a 48-27 win, while the Colts dropped their fifth straight to fall to 8-7. Their playoff hopes are now hanging by a thread-just a 1% chance to sneak in-and barring a miracle, it’ll be a fifth straight season without postseason football in Indy.
Meanwhile, San Francisco is still very much alive for the NFC’s top seed. With matchups against the Bears and Seahawks to close out the season, the road ahead is tough-but the opportunity is there.
Five Breakout Candidates for 2026
With the fantasy football season wrapping up, it’s time to look ahead. Here are five players with breakout potential written all over them heading into 2026:
QB Jaxson Dart, Giants
We’ve seen flashes from Dart-good and bad.
But if the Giants can add a bit more around him, and if Malik Nabers stays healthy, Dart could make the leap into the top-10 quarterback conversation. The tools are there.
He just needs to learn when to slide.
RB Omarion Hampton, Chargers
The Chargers invested real draft capital in Hampton, and he’s already shown what he can do in limited action. There’s RB1 upside here, especially if he gets the full workload.
WR Rome Odunze, Bears
Odunze looked like a breakout star early in the year, but injuries slowed his momentum. With another year in Ben Johnson’s system alongside Caleb Williams, the 2024 first-rounder could easily become a WR1.
WR Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers
Egbuka’s talent is undeniable, but with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin ahead of him, opportunities were limited. If Evans moves on this offseason, Egbuka could step into a much larger role-and thrive.
TE Tyler Warren, Colts
Warren flashed serious potential before things unraveled in Indy. If the Colts can stabilize their offense, he could join the likes of Trey McBride, Brock Bowers, and George Kittle in the first tier of fantasy tight ends.
Need a defense for your fantasy championship? Top waiver-wire D/STs this week include the Broncos (at Chiefs), Lions (at Vikings), Steelers (at Browns), and Patriots (at Jets).
Two Wishes for 2026
With Christmas Eve here, it’s the perfect time for a little wishful thinking-no socks involved. Just two things that could make next season even better.
**1. Health for the league’s elite quarterbacks.
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This season saw Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson all miss significant time.
That’s three of the NFL’s biggest stars sidelined at various points. With the emergence of young talent like Drake Maye, Trevor Lawrence, Bo Nix, and a hopefully healthy Jayden Daniels, 2026 could be a golden year-if the top-tier QBs can stay on the field.
**2. Ownership changes in struggling franchises.
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The Bengals, Jets, Browns, Cardinals, and Cowboys have all faced criticism over ownership decisions in recent years.
While Jacksonville has turned a corner under Liam Coen, others haven’t been as fortunate. If ownership changes aren’t on the horizon, maybe just give fans a shovel and let them dig their way out.
Quick Hits
- Chiefs Stadium Update: Kansas taxpayers will cover 60% of a new $3 billion stadium, set to open in 2031. The Chiefs are officially moving across state lines to Kansas.
- Behind the Mic: The 31-year-old social media director for Travis and Jason Kelce’s New Heights podcast offers a peek behind the curtain of one of the league’s most popular shows.
- Film Room: Kellen Moore’s influence on Tyler Shough’s development in New Orleans is flying under the radar-but it shouldn’t be. Ted Nguyen breaks it down.
- DK Metcalf Suspended: After an altercation with a fan, Metcalf has been suspended two games. The fallout could be costly-up to $45 million in guaranteed money might be voided.
Week 17 is here, and the playoff picture is coming into focus. The Rams are surging, the Patriots are lurking, and the 49ers are peaking at the right time. Buckle up-this ride isn’t slowing down anytime soon.