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10. Los Angeles Rams (5-6)
16. New York Giants (2-9)
Drama is more readily apparent in the NFC. Well, drama with regard to setting the playoff field at least.
Maybe this conference is headed toward an inevitable collision between the Lions and Eagles with a Super Bowl ticket at stake. They aren’t simply the top two seeds in the NFC, they’re also first and third, respectively—with the Bills sandwiched between them—in scoring differential. They have earned their status as favorites to come out of the conference, in other words.
That being said, the Vikings and Packers are close enough to keep pressure on the Lions for the NFC North crown. If the Commanders can snap out of their three-game losing skid, they could do the same to the Eagles in the NFC East.
As for the other divisions, it’s chaos in the NFC West, where a single game separates the top-seeded Seahawks from the last-place 49ers. No team has more than two division wins, and all four have exactly three conference victories. This will almost assuredly be a photo finish, and it’s possible only the division winner cracks the playoff field.
Things could be that chaotic in the NFC South, too, if the Falcons had more competition. Instead, this will probably come down to Atlanta, which is 4-1 in the division and 6-2 against conference foes, and Tampa Bay, which has the superior point differential by 66 points. Maybe New Orleans, winners of two straight, also joins the chase, but this streak being preceded by a seven-game skid may have already sealed its fate.