NFC playoff picture: Eagles, Rams in great shape
The Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams didn’t reach the postseason last year. Hell, they didn’t sniff the playoffs, with both teams having losing records with rookie quarterbacks at the helm.
Fast forward less than a year, and both the Eagles and Rams are atop their divisions with second-year signal-callers playing like potential MVP candidates. Carson Wentz leads the NFL with 23 touchdown passes, while Jared Goff is toward the top of almost every category including yards per attempt and total passing yardage.
The results for both team and quarterbacks have been great. Philadelphia has the best record in the NFL at 8-1, with the only loss coming in Week 2 at Arrowhead Stadium to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Rams are also rolling, sitting atop the NFC West with a 6-2 mark after beating the New York Giants on Sunday, 51-17, at MetLife Stadium.
Going forward, the Eagles are almost assured to win the NFC East. Philadelphia is two and a half games ahead of the surging Dallas Cowboys, and are already three and a half ahead of the Washington Redskins, who they swept in their head-to-head matchups.
The Rams have a bit of a tougher road, considering the Seattle Seahawks are hot on their tail with a 5-3 mark. Seattle also beat the Rams earlier in the season at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with the rematch coming in Week 15 at CenturyLink Field.
Here’s how the races look right now, with more commentary to follow on this week’s action:
1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-1)
2. New Orleans Saints (6-2)
3. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)
4. Los Angeles Rams (6-2)
5. Carolina Panthers (6-3)
6. Dallas Cowboys (5-3)
—
7. Seattle Seahawks (5-3)
8. Atlanta Falcons (4-4)
9. Detroit Lions (4-4)
10. Washington Redskins (4-4)
11. Green Bay Packers (4-4)
12. Arizona Cardinals (4-4)
Unlike the AFC, there is fierce competition across the board. Philadelphia is off this weekend, while the Saints travel to western New York for a date with the Buffalo Bills. Despite being on the road, New Orleans is favored.
The Vikings will go to the nation’s capital and take on the Redskins, who saved their season last week with a win in Seattle. The Redskins can really climb into the race with a win over Case Keenum and the Vikings.
Los Angeles is hosting Tom Savage and the Houston Texans, laying double-digits at home. The Rams should be able to keep their lead in the NFC West over the Seahawks, who on playing the Cardinals on Thursday night in the desert.
Carolina has the fortune of hosting the Miami Dolphins on Monday night, while the Cowboys and Falcons play the biggest game of the weekend. The Falcons are at home, but the Cowboys are white-hot coming off their 28-17 win over the Chiefs on Sunday.
In the NFC North, the Packers are traveling to take on the Chicago Bears, at this point desperate to save their season. The Lions have the easiest imaginable assignment, hosting the winless Cleveland Browns.
