The NFC West just got a whole lot more interesting.
Both the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams handled their business in emphatic fashion on Sunday, keeping pace atop the division and setting the stage for a high-stakes December showdown that could decide everything from playoff seeding to home-field advantage in January.
Seattle rolled past the Falcons with a 37-9 second-half surge that looked like a team finding its rhythm at just the right time. Across the country, the Rams dismantled the Cardinals 45-17 in a game that felt over by halftime.
Now, both teams sit at 10-3, neck-and-neck for the NFC West crown. And with the 49ers (9-4) watching from the couch this weekend, the race just tightened.
Right now, the Rams hold the edge thanks to their narrow 21-19 win over Seattle last month. But that advantage is anything but secure. These two teams are set for a rematch in Week 16, and it's shaping up to be one of the biggest games of the season-not just for the division, but for the entire NFC playoff picture.
NFC Playoff Picture: A Wild Ride at the Top
Let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture in the NFC. Green Bay edged out Chicago in a battle of NFC North heavyweights, improving to 9-3-1 and taking control of their division. The Bears, who entered the week tied with Seattle and L.A. for the best record in the NFC, now find themselves slipping to the No. 7 seed after that loss.
That leaves Seattle and Los Angeles as the only 10-win teams in the conference-and yet, because of the NFL’s seeding rules, Seattle is slotted as the No. 5 seed for now. Division winners get the top four seeds, so until the Seahawks overtake the Rams in the NFC West standings, they’re stuck in wild-card territory.
Here’s how things stack up right now:
- No. 1 seed: Los Angeles Rams (10-3, NFC West leader)
- No. 2 seed: Green Bay Packers (9-3-1, NFC North leader)
- No. 3 seed: Philadelphia Eagles (8-4, NFC East leader)
- No. 4 seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6, NFC South leader)
- No. 5 seed: Seattle Seahawks (10-3, top NFC wild card)
- No. 6 seed: San Francisco 49ers (9-4, second NFC wild card)
- No. 7 seed: Chicago Bears (9-4, third NFC wild card)
In the hunt: Detroit Lions (8-5), Carolina Panthers (7-6), Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
If the season ended today, Seattle would be heading to Tampa to face the Bucs in the wild-card round-a cross-country trip that no team wants to make in January. Meanwhile, the Rams would be sitting at home with a first-round bye and the inside track to host the NFC Championship Game.
Why Week 16 Will Be a Turning Point
That’s why the Week 16 clash between the Seahawks and Rams is looming so large. A Seattle win would flip the script entirely. Not only would it even the head-to-head score, it would give the Seahawks a major leg up in the division race heading into the final two weeks.
According to projections, the Rams currently have a 59% chance to win the NFC West. Seattle?
Just 29%. But if the Seahawks take care of business in that Week 16 rematch, their odds jump to 52%.
Lose it, and they plummet to just 4%.
Now, imagine Seattle wins both that game and their Week 18 matchup against the 49ers. Suddenly, their odds to win the West shoot up to 77%, and they’re right back in the mix for the NFC’s top seed.
Speaking of that No. 1 seed, here’s how the odds shake out:
- Rams: 46%
- Seahawks: 25%
- Packers: 12%
- 49ers: 8%
- Eagles: 5%
- Bears: 4%
Seattle’s playoff ticket is all but punched-their odds to make the postseason sit at a robust 98%. But the difference between being a wild-card team and a division champ is massive.
One path means hitting the road in January and trying to win three straight playoff games away from home. The other means potentially needing just two wins, both in front of your own fans, to reach the Super Bowl.
The Bottom Line
The NFC West is once again proving to be one of the NFL’s most competitive divisions, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Seattle and Los Angeles are both playing high-level football, and with San Francisco lurking just one game back, there’s no room for error.
For now, the Rams have the edge. But with a rematch on the horizon and playoff positioning on the line, the Seahawks still control a big piece of their destiny.
Circle Week 16. That one could decide everything.