The Seattle Seahawks have had an up-and-down season, but they found a way to position themselves in a solid spot entering the final weeks. Entering Week 16, the Seahawks’ playoff scenarios could have put their destiny in their hands, as winning all their remaining games would have seen them play at home on Wild Card Weekend.
However, because they lost the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16, things are going to get a whole lot harder for them in the next two weeks.
Let’s break down their current playoff picture and how things could look in Weeks 17 and 18.
What Is the Seattle Seahawks’ Current Playoff Picture?
The Los Angeles Rams (9-6) lead the NFC West after their victory over the New York Jets. With their loss to the Vikings, the Seahawks fall to 9-7 and are now in second place.
The Rams currently hold the tiebreaker over the Seahawks thanks to their Week 9 victory over Seattle. However, with the two set to play in Week 18, things could get a bit interesting — more on that in a quick second.
Behind them are the Arizona Cardinals (7-8) in third. Because Los Angeles won and Arizona lost in Week 16, they have been eliminated from the playoff race. The San Francisco 49ers (6-8) are currently last in the division, and they too have been eliminated from the playoff race.
What Are the Seahawks’ Playoff Scenarios and Chances?
The Rams control their own destiny in the NFC West, while the Seahawks do not. Now, they are going to need some help.
The Rams will have a chance to clinch in Week 17, with the most straightforward path being they win and the Seahawks fail to. That will leave Seattle 1.5 or two games back with one to play.
If both win, the Rams would move to 10-6, and the Seahawks would move to 9-7 with a Week 18 showdown looming. The Rams currently hold a slight advantage in the tiebreakers thanks to a superior strength of victory by nine wins entering Monday Night Football.
If the Rams lose in Week 17 and the Seahawks win, it will be a winner-take-all game in Week 18. If both teams lose, it will also be a winner-take-all game.
For the Seahawks to win the NFC West, they essentially need to finish at least half a game ahead of the Rams. That means the Rams need to lose to the Cardinals in Week 17, the Seahawks need to beat the Bears, and then the Seahawks need to beat the Rams in Week 18.
That would put the Rams at 9-8 and the Seahawks at 10-7, thus a clear lead over the Rams and the NFC West division crown.
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