Week 15 of the 2011 NFL is not yet complete, and the playoff picture is getting more and more interesting each week. Although the division champ San Francisco 49ers still have yet to play, as they will be on Monday Night Football facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, every other team in the division made an impact on the playoff picture for this season. Yes, that includes the 2-12 St. Louis Rams.
Both the Arizona Cardinals and the Settle Seahawks did their jobs by winning and each evening their record to 7-7. Both teams as of right now are playoff outliers because of the last minute victory that the Detroit Lions had against the Raiders.
Seattle beat the lifeless Chicago Bears 38-14, pulling away in the second half. Arizona took the harder route, needing overtime to beat the Cleveland Browns 20-17. Both teams are in the same situation to get in the playoffs. They need Detroit to lose their last two games (against the San Diego Chargers and Green Bay Packers) and then they each need to win their final two games. The two teams face off in Week 17 to potentially determine playoff fates.
The Rams, on the other hand, despite a 20-13 loss, still managed to impact the playoff picture. In losing to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Rams helped the Bengals with their hopes for the postseason.
San Francisco needs a win because they are fighting for a first-round bye. As the Packers lost, the 49ers even still have the possibility of landing the number one seed.
While the NFC West has been the doormat of the league and considered the worst division for a few years, getting two teams from the division into the postseason would be sweet.
For postgame reactions from the individual team blogs in the SB Nation network, go on past the jump.
Seahawks Come On Strong In Second Half, Beat Bears 38-14 - Field Gulls
The Seahawks apparently made some solid adjustments at the half after going into the locker room down 14-7, scoring 31 unanswered points in the second half to run away with a solid road victory, 38-14.
Bengals Vs. Rams: St. Louis Comes Up Short As The Kellen Clemens Period Begins - Turf Show Times
At this point in the season, it's hardly noticeable that the St. Louis Rams lost another game. In fact, most kind of expect it. The Rams lost by a score of 20-13 to the Cincinnati Bengals today. As far as Rams games in 2011 go, this one was subtly better than most of the others, but there was still plenty to indicate that this is a franchise in need of some major changes once the season ends. Let's take a closer look.
Arizona Cardinals/Cleveland Browns Postgame Analysis And Quotes - Revenge of the Birds
What did the Arizona Cardinals have to say after their victory over the Cleveland Browns?
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