Rams rise and Bears hibernate in latest NFL playoffs shakeup in Week 14

They're back. The 10-3 Los Angeles Rams have beaten the 3-10 Arizona Cardinals dominantly, and now hold the top spot in the NFL playoffs for the NFC. But the team simply improved from the second seed to the first seed. In Week 14, that was a minor change.

There is a new leader in the NFC North Division, and a new set of wildcard teams. While we won't dive into the AFC, they have a new front-runner in the AFC South Division, and their own set of wildcard shifts. And two games with playoff repercussions have yet to be played.

Even as Los Angeles has roared to the top of the NFC, the NFC West division boasts three teams with nine or more victories with four more weeks of football remaining. One game separates the top spot from third place in the remaining four games. So anything goes once more.

Now is the time to size up the field for postseason competition. So, what have we got with two games remaining?

LA Rams lead the NFC after Week 14, but barely

1. - Los Angeles Rams (10-3)

The Week 14 win restores LA to the NFC pinnacle, but with four games remaining and two against NFC playoff contenders over the span of five days, the team is not assured of anything better than making the playoffs at this point.

The team's offense exploded in Week 14, but the team will need much more of that in the final four games:

• Week 15 - Detroit Lions (8-5) at Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
• Week 16 - Los Angeles Rams (10-3) at Seattle Seahawks (10-3) (TNF)
• Week 17 - Los Angeles Rams (10-3) at Atlanta Falcons (4-9) (MNF)
• Week 18 - Arizona Cardinals (3-10) at Los Angeles Rams (10-3)

2. - Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)

The victory by the Packers over the Bears in Week 14 rearranged the entire NFL Playoff terrain. But the Packers have more tough battles in the Weeks ahead. The Packers must face the Bears again, the 11-2 Denver Broncos, and the pesky Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings to close out their season.

3. - Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)

The Eagles are at risk of facing a three-game losing streak before their schedule tosses patsies like the 2-11 Las Vegas Raiders and two games against the 3-10 Washington Commanders. But the Eagles must face the 8-4 Los Angeles Chargers on the road, as well as the 9-4 Buffalo Bills in snowy Buffalo. They could lose two more games.

4. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)

The once formidable Buccaneers have lost five of their last seven games, and they close out their season with two games against the 7-6 Panthers. They get a break by facing the 4-9 Atlanta Falcons and the 6-7 Miami Dolphins as well. But conceivably, the Bucs could lose all four remaining games.

5. - Seattle Seahawks (10-3)

While the Seahawks may be the best wild-card team right now, they are talking as though they are a shoo-in to win the division and run the table. Not so fast. They have lost to both the LA Rams and the San Fran 49ers, and must face both teams again. They also must face a beaten-up Indianapolis Colts team and that pesky Panthers team as well. Hmmm.

6. - San Francisco 49ers (9-4)

The 49ers get a late BYE and will likely demolish the Tennessee Titans in Week 15. But they must face the Indianapolis Colts, the Chicago Bears, and finally the Seahawks. They enjoyed a last-place team's schedule by beating up on struggling teams. They will face much stiffer competition to finish the season.

7. - Chicago Bears (9-4)

The Bears will get back on track against the Cleveland Browns in Week 15, before closing out the season against the Packers, 49ers, and Lions. They are a resilient team, but I'm not sure they have the horsepower to mow those teams down.

Still in the hunt: Detroit Lions (8-5), Carolina Panthers (7-6), and Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)

The Lions remain dangerous, and they are LA's next opponent. But one loss in any of their remaining games truly limits their postseason contention. The Panthers have two games to knock off the Buccaneers, and they appear to be capable of doing so. The Cowboys' only hope is to win out and hope one of the teams hits a four-game losing streak.

The NFL is heating up. Are you ready for Week 15 yet? Well, get ready, because it's on its way. And as always, thanks for reading.