Rams may control destiny, but Saints remain a legit threat for top seed

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 21: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 21: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Rams look to be in the drivers seat for the top seed in the NFC, thanks to a 13-10 win by the Dallas Cowboys over the New Orleans Saints.

The Los Angeles Rams got an assist last night when the perennially underachieving Dallas Cowboys rose up to beat the New Orleans Saints 13-10 in a remarkably average Thursday Night Football game that offered more bark than bite. In its wake, LA now looks to be in control of a destiny that begins anew in Week 13 when they take on the 4-7 Detroit Lions in the Motor City.

The two best teams in the NFC, and likely in the NFL, aren’t done battling for the top seed in the conference. The Saints will be back on the field in Week 14 and on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who aren’t exactly world-beaters in 2018.

Earlier in November, I wrote that the Saints looked to have a tougher path to the top seed in the NFC than the Rams, and entering the beginning of December, that looks to still be correct.

After the Bucs, New Orleans still has two divisional contests against the Carolina Panthers and a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s worth noting that the Steelers in Week 16 and the Panthers in Week 17 are two games New Orleans has at home to end the 2018 regular season, and that is going to be important.

After Detroit, Los Angeles will  play the Chicago Bears on the road in a Sunday night prime time game, before finishing up with the struggling Philadelphia Eagles at home, the Arizona Cardinals on the road, and a home finale against the San Francisco 49ers.

Entering the last month of the season, the Saints may have the tougher road, but outside of Pittsburgh, both Tampa and Carolina look manageable.

Same for the Rams, as finishing up with division rivals like the Cardinals and the Niners, both who have only one two games this season, looks to be a relatively smooth path to a top seed.

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