Tumbling Rams upset loss fall from top seed to cusp of wild card competitor

The 9-3 Los Angeles Rams are still leading in the NFC West Division, but for how long? The team has surrendered its top-seed in the upcoming NFL playoffs, just one week after laying claim to the lofty spot. And now, the team holds just a tie-breaker over the 9-3 Seattle Seahawks, and a one-half game lead over the 9-4 San Francisco 49ers.

Three of the four NFC West Division team are on track for the postseason competition. While LA remains atop the division for the moment, the team's chances of success fell dramatically. This is the time of the NFL season when every game, win or lose, has significant postseason repercussions.

It's reasonable to conclude that all NFC teams are likely to lose at least one more game along the way. And so, it's a matter of which team can sprint to season's end with the healthiest roster and with the most wins. For teams competing in the NFC North and NFC West Divisions, that will be a tough task. Still, Week 13 is over for all but two teams. Who's in, and who's out, right now?

How do Rams fit in latest NFC Playoff picture after Week 13?

1. 9-3 Chicago Bears

After an upset victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, the shocking Chicago Bears are atop the NFC momentarily. But four of the remaining five games come against some of the toughest teams in the NFL, including two against the Green Bay Packers and one against the Detroit Lions. Enjoy the No. 1 spot while you can, Bears fans.

2. 9-3 Los Angeles Rams

While no fan of counting wins late in the season against struggling teams, Los Angeles plays three of its remaining five games against sub-.500 opponents. Their Week 16 at the Seattle Seahawks will have huge playoff repercussions. Still, the team has to win games leading up to that clash.

3, 8-4 Philadelphia Eagles

Losers of two consecutive games, many fans and analysts have overreacted to the Eagles' precipitous drop. They play three of five AFC opponents, so the key games remaining in terms of tie-breakers are two games against the 3-9 Washington Commanders. One victory against one of three AFC teams, plus sweeping the Commanders, should be enough to win the NFC East.

4. 7-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After struggling with four losses in five games, the Buccaneers are getting healthier and facing less competitive teams. The NFC South Division will be decided by two games against the Carolina Panthers. But the Bucs are getting stronger, so even splitting those games works in the Bucs' favor.

Wild-card teams: 9-3 Seattle Seahawks, 8-3-1 Green Bay Packers, 9-4 San Francisco 49ers

The Seahawks are a wild-card team that nobody wants to face in the playoffs. Even as the Seahawks plot their revenge against the Rams in Week 16, they must fend off the 49ers in Week 18. They won't win both of those divisional games.

The Packers can knock off the Bears to win the NFC North, but they must also face the 10-2 Denver Broncos. Yikes!

The 49ers enjoy a last-place team's schedule, but close out the season against the 8-4 Indianapolis Colts, 9-3 Chicago Bears, and 9-3 Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers beat up bad teams, but they could end the season with a three-game losing streak.

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

The Lions face the Rams, Cowboys, and Bears in the final five games, and may need to win every remaining game on their schedule to earn a playoff berth. Hmmm.

The Dallas Cowboys need to win their five remaining games, and still likely need help from other teams to earn a playoff berth. Stranger things have happened. But this could be a case of too much too little, too late.

The only games that truly matter to the Carolina Panthers right now are two games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But they cannot be so exclusively focused on the Bucs that they lose games against the Saints for the Seahawks. Yes, they beat the Rams at home. But that was the easy part.

The path to the playoffs is always perilous. Thankfully, the LA Rams know the trek all too well. Where will this team end up? Stay tuned.

And as always, thanks for playing.