Six of the seven playoff teams in each conference are locked in, what remains now is two games next week to determine which division winner will advance from the AFC North and the NFC South. The Pittsburgh Steelers loss today, coupled with the Baltimore Ravens win last night in Green Bay, puts their division title and a playoff berth on the line next Sunday in Pittsburgh.
In the NFC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers, who both lost today, will decide who advances when they meet next week in Carolina.
What did get settled by today’s early results is the Los Angeles Rams are out of the competition for the NFC top seed. That possibility for the team many think is the best in football was erased with the Seahawks win in Carolina. While the Rams are out, three NFC teams still have a chance for the top spot, the Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears.
For the Bears to earn the opening week playoff bye they need to beat the 49ers tonight and the Detroit Lions next week while the 49ers upend the Seahawks next Sunday. For the 49ers to capture the top spot, they need to beat Chicago tonight and the Seahawks next Sunday. All that remains for Seattle to capture the opening week playoff bye is to win next week in San Francisco.
First things first.
It wasn’t until last week that the serious possibility of the 49ers capturing the top seed gained public attention. Up until that revaluation, it was assumed that either the Rams or Seahawks were destined to claim the top spot.