The Seattle Seahawks’ hopes at making the playoffs took a serious, potentially fatal blow on Saturday night with the Los Angeles Rams defeating the Arizona Cardinals 13-9. Seattle’s best chances were rooted in the Cardinals finding a way to upset the Rams, but sadly, they could not.
While the Seahawks’ playoff chances have been severely hurt, they are not at zero. Not yet, at least. Instead of their fate lying in the hands of one team, it is now spread out to multiple squads. For a third straight season, Seattle needs outside help to find a way into the postseason, although this time will be the most complicated.
With the Rams win on Saturday night, the immediate path for LA to clinch the NFC West will be with the tiebreaker math majors rejoice for: strength of victory. There are five games the 12th Man should keep an eye out for on Sunday and Monday night, as at least three of them need to have favorable outcomes for the Seahawks. If at least three of the following teams claim victory in Week 17, the Rams will not have a strength of victory tiebreaker and Seattle will remain alive going into Week 18.
- Jets need to beat the Bills (10:00 am, CBS)
- Dolphins beat the Browns (1:05 pm, CBS)
- Packers beat the Vikings (1:25 pm, FOX)
- Falcons beat the Commanders (5:20 pm, NBC/Peacock)
- Lions beat the 49ers (Monday – 5:15 pm, ESPN/ABC/ESPN+)
Unfortunately, one opportunity for the Seahawks was lost for them on Saturday afternoon. Seattle needed the Denver Broncos to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals, but instead they lost 30-24 in overtime. Denver is one of only two teams in a playoff position that the Seahawks have beaten this year, with Atlanta being the other.
Ultimately, the Seahawks have no one to blame but themselves for the position they are in. Had they won more than three games at home this year, things would have been different. Had they not blown a late lead to Minnesota, things would be different. For Pete’s sake, had they managed to beat the New York Giants – arguably the worst team in football – things would have been different!
Adding a further layer of frustration is the fact this Seattle team was absolutely good enough to win the NFC West outright this year. The fact the Rams are in a great position to do so is a hard pill to swallow, considering they are not a good team whatsoever.
Still, this is the reality the Seahawks find themselves in. And while hopes are on life support, there is still a pulse for now. All Seattle can do is be like the rest of the 12th Man and stay glued to their TV sets, praying for a little bit of help along the way.
With that in mind, go Jets, Dolphins, Packers, Falcons and Lions!
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