After the Arizona Cardinals lost to the Washington Commanders in Week 4, it seemed like the season was slipping away from them. Many began to wonder whether they would fail in another reconstruction.

However, things changed after the Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-23 in Week 5.

Since there are only a few things that are possible for the Cardinals, they will be in first place after the weekend.

How?

This is what the current status in the NFC West looks like:

1. Seattle Seahawks, 3-2 (0-0 Division)
2. Arizona Cardinals, 2-3 (2-0 Division)
3. San Francisco 49ers, 2-3 (0-2 Division)
4. Los Angeles Rams, 1-4 (1-1 Division)

The Seahawks and 49ers play on Thursday night. If the Niners win and improve to 3-3, the Seahawks would drop to 3-3.

If the Cardinals beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, they will also be 3-3.

The Cardinals, Seahawks and 49ers would all be 3-3, but the Cardinals would lead by tiebreaker.

The 49ers would win a head-to-head tiebreaker against the Seahawks and the Cardinals would win one against the Niners, and the Cardinals have the best divisional record in the division.

When things looked bleak a week ago, the Cardinals might have been just days away from clinching first place.

Funny how that works.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and more by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe to Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts.