The San Francisco 49ers spent most of the season in first place in the division until last week. The Seattle Seahawks took the division lead after the 49ers lost to the Baltimore Ravens.
However, the Seahawks’ stint in first place didn’t last long. They lost to the Los Angeles Rams while the 49ers won a thriller over the New Orleans Saints. Here are what the standings now look like.
- San Francisco 49ers, 11-2
- Seattle Seahawks, 10-3
- Los Angeles Rams, 8-5
- Arizona Cardinals, 3-9-1
The Niners played in the game of the week in New Orleans. They came away with a 48-46 win, Jimmy Garoppolo threw four touchdown passes. Drew Brees had five. Brees threw the go-ahead touchdown pass with under two minutes to go in the game. But a 39-yard reception by tight end George Kittle with a 15-yard facemask penalty added to the end of it got the 49ers in field goal range. Robbie Gould connected on a 30-yard field goal as time expired.
The Niners now have individual tiebreakers in the NFC over the Saints and the Green Bay Packers, both of whom lead their respective divisions. San Francisco is in control of the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
The Seahawks lost 28-12 to the Los Angeles Rams. Seattle gave up 455 total yards and 162 on the ground, while the Rams sacked Russell Wilson five times and did not allow a touchdown.
Los Angeles now has won two in a row and are a game out of the sixth seed in the NFC. They also suddenly look like the team everyone expected them to be when the season began.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals lost their sixth game in a row, falling 23-17 to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday afternoon. Kyler Murray had two touchdown passes but was intercepted three times and Steelers rookie receiver Diontae Johnson scored two touchdowns. Arizona is 3-9-1 and has locked up last place in the division.
What’s next for the division in Week 15?
The 49ers will host the 4-9 Atlanta Falcons. The Seahawks travel to take on the Carolina Panthers on the road. The Rams will play the Cowboys in Dallas and the Cardinals close out their home schedule against the Cleveland Browns.
The division has a chance to 4-0 next week.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
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