We’ve reached the point in the NFL season where it’s still relatively early, but it’s also fair that we start looking at the playoff picture and divisional standings. A few weeks ago, this wouldn’t even have been a moot point for Rams fans after the team’s 1-4 start, but after winning two games in five days, Los Angeles is back in the mix.
In fact, there’s a chance they could find themselves in first place in the NFC West as early as next week. It was hard to believe when the Rams were just 1-4, but the division is wide open.
This is the path for the Rams to grab the top spot in the division.
The Seahawks lose to the Bills on Sunday, the Cardinals lose to the Dolphins on Sunday, and the 49ers lose to the Cowboys on Sunday night.
If these three things happen, the NFC West will look like this after Week 8:
Seahawks: 4-4 Rams: 3-4 Cardinals: 3-5 49ers: 3-5
After that, all the Rams would need to do in Week 9 is beat the Seahawks on the road, which would make them 4-4 and the Seahawks 4-5. The 49ers are off in Week 9, so at best, they’ll be 4-4 and the Rams will own the tiebreaker with a head-to-head win. The Cardinals have the Bears in Week 9 but if they lose this week, the best they can be is 4-5 after Week 9.
It’s still very early and the Rams have to face the Seahawks twice and the Cardinals and 49ers again, but there’s no doubt that Los Angeles is in the mix to win the NFC West. They can go from last to first in three weeks.