NFL playoff picture: Arizona Cardinals lose NFC West lead to Los Angeles Rams in Week 16

The Arizona Cardinals had the best record in the NFL (10-2) a few weeks ago, and were in a great position to land the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

Now, they aren't even in position to host a playoff game.

The Cardinals (10-5) dropped to the No. 5 seed in the NFL playoffs with their loss to the Indianapolis Colts in NFL Week 16, putting the team in a very precarious position for playoff seeding.

The Los Angeles Rams are 11-4 now and have taken the NFC West lead from the Cardinals, and the home playoff game that comes with it.

The Green Bay Packers (12-3) solidified their hold on the No. 1 seed in the NFC thanks to their win.

NFL Week 17 picks, predictions:

• Eagles vs. Washington | Panthers vs. Saints | Bucs vs. Jets

• Dolphins vs. Titans | Jaguars vs. Patriots | Raiders vs. Colts

• Chiefs vs. Bengals | Giants vs. Bears | Falcons vs. Bills

• Texans vs. 49ers | Broncos vs. Chargers | Rams vs. Ravens

• Lions vs. Seahawks | Cards vs. Cowboys | Vikings vs. Packers

• Browns vs. Steelers | Republic's Week 17 picks | TV schedule

• Point spreads, game lines | Playoff picture | Power rankings

In the AFC, the red-hot Kansas City Chiefs continue to hold the top spot.

The top seed in each conference gets a bye in the playoffs and the other division winners get the No. 2 through No. 4 seeds.

The No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7 seeds go to the non-division winners with the best records.

More: NFL power rankings: Arizona Cardinals face huge doubts after loss to Indianapolis Colts

NFC playoff picture after Week 16:

• No. 1 Green Bay Packers (12-3)

• No. 2 Dallas Cowboys (11-4)

• No. 3 Los Angeles Rams (11-4)

• No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-4)

• No. 5 Arizona Cardinals (10-5)

• No. 6 San Francisco 49ers (8-7)

• No. 7 Philadelphia Eagles (8-7)

In the hunt:

• Minnesota Vikings (7-8)

• Atlanta Falcons (7-8)

• New Orleans Saints (7-8)

• Washington Football Team (6-9)

NFC playoff matchups right now:

• No. 2 Cowboys vs. No. 7 Eagles

• No. 3 Rams vs. No. 6 49ers

• No. 4 Buccaneers vs. No. 5 Cardinals

Notes: The Cowboys win a tie breaker over the Rams and Buccaneers on win percentage in NFC games. The Rams win a tie breaker over the Buccaneers on head-to-head win percentage. The 49ers win a tie breaker over the Eagles on head-to-head win percentage.

More: NFL Week 17 schedule, television information: How to watch Week 17 NFL games

AFC playoff picture after Week 16:

• No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (11-4)

• No. 2 Tennessee Titans (10-5)

• No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)

• No. 4 Buffalo Bills (9-6)

• No. 5 Indianapolis Colts (9-6)

• No. 6 New England Patriots (9-6)

• No. 7 Miami Dolphins (8-7)

In the hunt:

• Baltimore Ravens (8-7)

• Los Angeles Chargers (8-7)

• Las Vegas Raiders (8-7)

• Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7-1)

• Cleveland Browns (7-8)

• Denver Broncos (7-8)

AFC playoff matchups right now:

• No. 2 Titans vs. No. 7 Dolphins

• No. 3 Bengals vs. No. 6 Patriots

• No. 4 Bills vs. No. 5 Colts

Notes: The Bengals win a tie breaker over the Bills on win percentage in AFC games. The Bills win a tie breaker over the Patriots on win percentage in division games. The Colts win a tie breaker over the Patriots on head-to-head win percentage. The Dolphins win a tie breaker over the Chargers on win percentage in common games and a tie breaker over the Ravens on win percentage in conference games after the Char won a division tie breaker over the Raiders on head-to-head win percentage.

More: NFL Week 17 odds: Money lines, point spreads, over/unders for Week 17 NFL games

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL playoff picture: Los Angeles Rams pass Arizona Cardinals