Seahawks path to the playoff Week 15: Chasing the 49ers but still in great position for January
After Seattle’s brutal performance vs. the LA Rams on Seattle has fallen from No. 2 to No. 5 in the current playoff seeding lines. All is not lost but if they want to not only win the division and grab a top two seed in the playoffs, they’ll need to win and get some help from whoever plays the San Francisco 49ers.
Seahawks current seed: No. 5 Seed
Seattle’s loss in Los Angeles paired with San Francisco’s dramatic shootout victory over New Orleans slides the 49ers up to the No. 1 seed, the Saints (thanks to the Rams) are in the No. 2 spot and Seattle sits in the fifth spot. Here, you’re guaranteed a spot on wildcard weekend and on the road. Usually that’s a spot you’d rather not want but this could change. Especially if you’re the favorite.
Projected Playoff Opponent: At No. 4 Seed- NFC East Champion (Dallas or Philadelphia)
Going from having you first game vs. the highest seeded remaining wildcard come to Seattle, you’re now faced with going to play the NFC East champs. This is basically the same situation Seattle faced a year ago, in fact it is.
Seattle’s 24-22 loss to Dallas a year ago ended the Seahawks season and they would be in line to exact revenge if this were to hold. Philly, the other option in this situation has already lost to the Seahawks this season. In some ways, this isn’t a bad fall back option if somehow Seattle can’t pass the Saints or 49ers.
Scoreboard watching on Sunday
Rams at Cowboys
The Rams victory revived their playoff chances last Sunday and now they travel to Dallas where the Cowboys are locked in a tight NFC East race. A Rams win keep the NFC East a joke but they’d inch closer to Seattle in the race for the wild card.
Bears at Packers
Another 10-3 team in action that Seattle would benefit from a loss is the Green Bay Packers. Although Seattle does hold the tiebreaker, any type of separation from the Packers is important in the race to grab one of the two top-seeds.
Vikings at Chargers
Right now, the Vikings sit in the No. 6 seed and are in the same situation as the Seahawks. Needing to keep pace with divisional leaders while trying to keep their playoff spots. Pending the results of both the Packers and Vikings games, things could change in the NFC North race.
Falcons at 49ers
Just like a few weeks ago, the Seahawks are chasing the 49ers in not only the NFC West race but also for a top two seed in the playoffs. Conveniently, Fox will have the Seahawks-Panthers first, then Falcons-Niners right after. So by Sunday evening, we will have a nice grasp on the NFC West, and playoff picture.
This story was originally published December 13, 2019 at 6:00 AM.
