NFC Playoff field wide open IF LA Rams win Week 15

Winning the NFC West

In the past five seasons, the LA Rams have won the NFC Western Division title twice, in 2017 and in 2018. Under head coach Sean McVay’s tenure, the Rams have won the division twice, the San Francisco 49ers have won it once, the Seattle Seahawks have won it once, and the Arizona Cardinals have yet to do so.

Winning the next three games does place the LA Rams into a chance to win the NFC West, but the Cardinals would need to lose at least one of their remaining three games for that to happen. In fact, let’s do a quick review of the remain schedule of the NFC West teams:

LA Rams Schedule (9-4)

Week 15: vs. Seattle (5-8)
Week 16: @ Minnesota (6-7)
Week 17: @ Baltimore (8-6)
Week 18: vs. San Francisco (8-6)

Arizona Cardinals Schedule (10-4)

Week 15: @ Detroit (1-11-1) Lost 30-12
Week 16: vs Indianapolis (8-6)
Week 17: @ Dallas (10-4)
Week 18: vs. Seattle (5-8)

San Francisco 49ers Schedule (8-6)

Week 15: vs. Atlanta (6-7) Won 31-13
Week 16: @ Tennessee (9-5)
Week 17: vs. Houston (3-11)
Week 18: @ LA Rams (9-4))

Seattle Seahawks Schedule (5-8)

Week 15: @ LA Rams (9-4)
Week 16: vs. Chicago (4-9)
Week 17: vs. Detroit (2-11-1)
Week 18: @ Arizona (10-4)

Many have asked what the LA Rams need to do in order to win the NFC West. That can happen in several ways:

I: LA Rams win four remaining games and the Arizona Cardinals must lose one of their last three games
II: LA Rams win three of their remaining games, and the Arizona Cardinals must lose two of their last three games
III: LA Rams win two of their remaining games, the Arizona Cardinals must lose all three remaining games, and the San Francisco 49ers must lose one of their remaining three games.

Conceibably, the final game of the season with the 49ers could be for the NFC West Division championship, but we can delve into that possible scenario after the Rams get to Week 17.