Thanks to defeating the Lions in Week 15, the Rams clinched a playoff berth.
Here's what that full NFC playoff picture looks like and how various Week 16 matchups – including the Rams' against the Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle on Thursday Night Football – will impact the playoff picture.
No. 1 seed - Los Angeles Rams
Although the 11-3 Seahawks won last week, the 11-3 Rams remain in first because of the head-to-head tiebreaker from their Week 11 win in the first meeting between the two teams this season.
As noted above, the Rams have already punched their ticket to the playoffs.
No. 2 seed - Chicago Bears
The 10-4 Bears are still chasing the Rams for the top spot in the conference. They can clinch a playoff berth this week with a win over the Packers on Saturday and a Lions loss to or tie; they can also clinch a playoff berth with a tie against the Packers and a Lions loss.
No. 3 seed - Philadelphia Eagles
The 9-5 Eagles slid a bit in the standings because of a three-game losing streak that was snapped with a 31-0 home win over the Raiders last Sunday.
Philadelphia can win the NFC East, and by extension earn a playoff berth, with a win at the Washington Commanders on Saturday, or a Cowboys loss on Sunday, or a tie with the Commanders and a Cowboys tie.
No. 4 seed - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay shares the same overall record as Carolina (7-7) after both teams lost last week, but the Buccaneers still maintain their NFC South lead because they hold the best win percentage in common games between the two teams.
There are currently no clinch scenarios in play for Tampa Bay this week.
No. 5 seed – Seattle Seahawks
Their current Wild Card positioning is based on the aforementioned tiebreaker. The Seahawks can clinch a playoff berth with a win over or tie with the Rams on Thursday night, or a Lions loss to or tie.
No. 6 seed – San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco remains in the playoff hunt at 10-4 overall; they also face multiple playoff clinch scenarios in Week 16: A win at the Colts, or a Lions loss to the Steelers, or a tie with the Colts and a Lions tie.
No. 7 seed - Green Bay Packers
Green Bay (9-4-1) slid down after their road loss to Denver, but still kept some distance from the Lions (No. 8 seed) thanks to the Rams' Week 15 win. A win at the Bears on Saturday plus a Lions loss or tie clinches a playoff berth; they can also clinch a playoff berth with a tie and a Lions loss.
Key Week 16 matchups
There are no clinching scenarios for seeding currently, but plenty at stake in other matchups across the NFL.
Other games to watch besides Rams-Seahawks this week:
- Packers at Bears (5:20 p.m. PT Saturday, FOX): A win for Green Bay would put them into the NFC North lead and a top-four seed, as well as the head-to-head tiebreaker over Chicago.
- Buccaneers at Panthers (10 a.m. PT Sunday, FOX): Common games tiebreaker is what separates these two right now. They play each other twice in the final three weeks of the regular season, so this is the first of two games that will factor into a pivotal head-to-head tiebreaker.
- Steelers at Lions (1:25 p.m. PT Sunday, CBS): Detroit is a common thread in clinching scenarios for four of the seven teams currently in the playoff picture. The Bears, Packers, Seahawks and 49ers all have a rooting interest in a Steelers win on Sunday.
- 49ers at Colts (5:15 p.m. PT Monday, ESPN): In terms of the division race and the playoff picture, San Francisco needs a win in primetime in Indianapolis.
