One of the most significant matchups this weekend in Week 15 features the two leading teams in the NFC, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for both sides.
This Sunday afternoon, the 10-3 Los Angeles Rams will face off against the 8-5 Detroit Lions. While one team is pushing to stay alive in the playoff race, the other is vying for a guaranteed spot in the postseason.
Let’s delve into the playoff scenarios for both the Rams and the Lions this weekend.
Detroit Lions playoff prospects
If the playoff brackets were set today, the Lions wouldn’t be in them.
Currently, Detroit ranks eighth in the NFC standings, just a game behind the 9-4 Chicago Bears for the final playoff position. A win this weekend, however, could change their fortunes. If the Lions beat the Rams and the Bears fall to the Cleveland Browns, Detroit would leap into the No. 7 seed.
As for the NFC North, the Lions sit third in the division, trailing the Green Bay Packers, who are at 9-3-1. A victory would shift the Lions up to second place, and if the Packers lose to the Denver Broncos, they’d be at 9-4-1, giving the Lions, should they win, a 9-5 record. This could keep them in the race with the Packers, although Detroit has already lost the season series against them.
On the flip side, if the Lions lose to the Rams, they’ll see their record drop to 8-6. If other results go against them, that could mean they end up two games behind the playoff line with just three games left. It’s a real crunch time situation, especially if the Bears and the 49ers win as well.
Los Angeles Rams playoff scenarios
For the Rams, things seem a bit clearer.
They are one of three teams on the verge of securing playoff berths this weekend, alongside the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots. A win against the Lions would guarantee Los Angeles a spot in the playoffs.
That being said, a victory won’t clinch the NFC West title just yet. As Week 15 begins, the Rams are tied for first with the Seattle Seahawks at 10-3. Their sole advantage in terms of tiebreakers comes from a recent win over Seattle.
A win would certainly keep them in contention.
On the other hand, a loss could drop the Rams to the seventh seed. Although they currently lead the NFC, dropping a game to the Lions, coupled with victories for the Seahawks and Packers, could see Los Angeles fall significantly in the standings. We saw the Chicago Bears experience a similar drop just last week after falling to the Packers.
It’s a tough landscape in the NFC.
If both teams end up tied, the winner of this weekend’s matchup would hold the head-to-head advantage. However, this scenario would only apply if the Lions claim victory, as a Rams win would finalize their playoff spot. If Los Angeles wins and the Lions manage to get a playoff berth, their seeding could still be influenced.
Here’s a look at the current NFC playoff standings as of Sunday, incorporating the results from the Thursday night face-off between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons.
- Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
- Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-5)
- Carolina Panthers (7-6)
- Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
- San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
- Chicago Bears (9-4)
- Detroit Lions (8-5)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
- Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
- Atlanta Falcons (5-9) – eliminated
- Arizona Cardinals (3-10) – eliminated
- New Orleans Saints (3-10) – eliminated
- Washington Commanders (3-10) – eliminated
- New York Giants (2-11) – eliminated
Now, taking a look at the NFC North standings:
- Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)
- Chicago Bears (9-4)
- Detroit Lions (8-5)
- Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
While the Vikings are out of contention for the NFC North title, they’re still in the running for a playoff berth as Week 15 unfolds.
And finally, the NFC West standings heading into Week 15:
- Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
- San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-10) – eliminated
The Cardinals have been knocked out of playoff consideration. Presently, the Rams hold the upper hand in the tiebreaker against the Seahawks based on their earlier win, but they’ll face each other again in Week 16.
