TL;DR
- Los Angeles Rams moved to 9-2, overtaking the Philadelphia Eagles for NFC's top playoff spot.
- The Eagles lost to the Cowboys after a significant lead, dropping them in the standings.
- Carolina Panthers could claim NFC South lead and No. 4 seed if they beat 49ers.
- Rams aim for NFC West title and No. 1 seed, facing tough matchups against Lions and Seahawks.
The NFC experienced a chaotic Sunday during Week 12. At the beginning of the day, the Philadelphia Eagles held the top spot in the conference's playoff rankings.
When the dust settled after a "Sunday Night Football" matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there was a new conference leader in sole possession of first place. The Rams moved to 9-2 with the 34-7 win over the Buccaneers. This helped them overtake the Eagles, who suffered a stunning loss against the Cowboys.
Further shifts are possible. The Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers are set to compete for "Monday Night Football." Should the Panthers emerge as winners, they'd claim sole ownership of the NFC South lead, surpassing the Buccaneers. Carolina would then ascend to the No. 4 seed in the NFC rankings.
Prior to that, however, here's an update on the NFC's playoff standings following Sunday's games in Week 12.
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NFC playoff picture
| Position | Team | Record |
| 1 | Los Angeles Rams | 9-2 |
| 2 | Philadelphia Eagles | 8-3 |
| 3 | Chicago Bears | 8-3 |
| 4 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6-5 |
| 5 | Seattle Seahawks | 8-3 |
| 6 | Green Bay Packers | 7-3-1 |
| 7 | San Francisco 49ers | 7-4 |
| 8 | Detroit Lions | 7-4 |
| 9 | Carolina Panthers | 6-5 |
| 10 | Dallas Cowboys | 5-5-1 |
| 11 | Atlanta Falcons | 4-7 |
| 12 | Minnesota Vikings | 4-7 |
| 13 | Arizona Cardinals | 3-8 |
| 14 | Washington Commanders | 3-8 |
| 15 | New Orleans Saints | 2-9 |
| 16 | New York Giants | 2-10 |
Entering the week, the Rams shared the top spot with The Philadelphia Eagles, both holding an 8-2 record. The Eagles possessed the tiebreaker advantage over the Rams due to their 33-26 victory in Week 3. Philadelphia had a 21-0 lead against the Dallas Cowboys in the afternoon games, but the Cowboys responded with 24 consecutive points to secure the win. This outcome propelled Los Angeles into sole possession of first place, a position they maintained with a decisive victory against Tampa Bay.
As of Monday, the four teams leading their divisions are the Rams, Eagles, Chicago Bears, and Buccaneers. It's worth mentioning that the Eagles and Bears will face off in Week 13 on Black Friday.
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- How Steelers' loss, Ravens' win flips leaderboard in AFC North
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- Jaxon Smith-Njigba breaks Seahawks' single-season receiving record in just 11 games
- Amon-Ra St. Browns trolls Giants with Victor Cruz salsa celebration
Rams remaining schedule
| Week | Opponent |
| 13 | at Panthers |
| 14 | at Cardinals |
| 15 | vs. Lions |
| 16 | at Seahawks (TNF) |
| 17 | at Falcons (MNF) |
| 18 | vs. Cardinals |
The Rams face a varied group of teams in their remaining games. Securing the NFC West title is Los Angeles' primary objective, as it ensures a playoff berth and a top-four seeding. Their secondary aim is to maintain the No. 1 seed, which would grant them a bye in the first round of the playoffs and home-field advantage throughout the NFC Championship should they reach that stage.
The team's season kicks off on the road versus Carolina. Although the Panthers haven't been a formidable opponent lately, a victory against the San Francisco 49ers on "Monday Night Football," would place them in first place in the NFC South before their Week 13 game against L.A.
Los Angeles has three remaining games within their division. These contests will be crucial for tie-breaking scenarios, both within the division itself and across the NFC. The two most challenging matchups on the Rams' calendar are a Week 15 home game against the Lions and then, on a short week, an away game versus the Seattle Seahawks. Both of these fixtures, particularly when played consecutively and with the latter on limited rest, will serve as a significant test for The Rams and reveal their true playoff potential. However, at this moment, Los Angeles holds a commanding position.