Parity is why we watch the NFL every Sunday. Whatever you think is going to happen never does. We’re in Week 13, and the Chicago Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles, while the Los Angeles Rams lost to the Carolina Panthers, who were coming off a short rest returning home from a cross-country trip.

Let’s take a look at the NFC playoff picture now that all but one team’s results are in the books.

The Seattle Seahawks are playing a third-string quarterback at the moment. We’ll need to update the standings once they finish the game, but we’re going to assume the 11-point home favorite with the best defense in the NFL wins.

1) Chicago Bears 9-3 (6-2 in the NFC)
2) Los Angeles Rams 9-3 (4-3)
3) Philadelphia Eagles 8-4 (7-3)
4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-5 (4-3)
5) Seattle Seahawks 9-3* (5-3)
6) Green Bay Packers 8-3-1 (6-2-1)
7) San Francisco 49ers 8-4 (8-2)
8) Detroit Lions 7-5 (4-4)
9) Dallas Cowboys 6-5-1 (3-4-1)
10) Carolina Panthers 7-6 (5-3)

How the 49ers can earn a bye and the #1 seed

The 49ers are currently seventh, but the Rams losing today means their improbable chances of winning the division and potentially earning a bye and the top seed became more realistic. Losses like today always throw these playoff seedings and standings for a loop.

The 49ers’ superior NFC West record will come in handy, especially if they beat the Seahawks in Week 18. Their two conference losses will also be a benefit, even if they split their final two contests. Seattle and Los Angeles still play each other, so there will be at least one additional division loss there.

The Rams also have to face the Lions, a matchup Detroit has won twice in a row. If Sunday proved anything, it’s that the Rams cannot cover or stop the run. Good luck doing that against a Lions team that will be coming off a mini bye week.

Let’s say the Rams win every other game, but lose to Detroit. That allows the 49ers to control their own destiny. Seattle finishes the season with the Falcons, Colts, Rams, Panthers, and 49ers. For my money, the Seahawks are the best team in the NFC. But there will be opportunities for them to slip up during the final month plus of the season. Even if they don’t, the top seed in the NFC could very well come down to Week 18…if the 49ers take care of business.

The 49ers have made their previous three opponents look like the bad teams they are. That’s what good teams do, they make you look like your record. That should be no different after the bye week against the Titans. And, as predicted, the stench on Daniel Jones is starting to stand out, and the Colts are showing cracks now that they are no longer playing subpar teams. It’s on the road, but a dome in December isn’t a bad thing for Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan.

That means the top seed will come down to beating the Bears and the Seahawks at home. Chicago has exceeded expectations, and it is as dangerous as it gets on offense. But their defense is lousy, and on the road, one mishap by Caleb Williams could be the difference in what figures to be a high-scoring game.

Chicago has a better record today and might be the better team, but it’s in the middle of a brutal stretch of facing the Eagles, Packers, and Browns. The travel spot screams Bears letdown.

And that brings us to Week 18. For the NFC West, the No. 1 seed, homefield advantage, and a much-needed bye week. We’re putting the cart before the horse, but that’s how we get to the 49ers earning a potential No. 1 seed, by getting past the great Sam Darnold.

Today, there’s an 11 percent chance of this happening for the Niners. San Francisco has a 94 percent chance to make the playoffs, with an 18 percent chance to win the division. As Week 13 showed, on any given Sunday, anything can happen. If the Rams lose the remainder of the year, things will get interesting.