Tag: nfc playoffs

Seattle Seahawks’ Week 16 Rooting Guide

Seattle Seahawks’ Week 16 Rooting Guide

The Seattle Seattle Seahawks have a difficult matchup in Week 16, hosting the NFC-best 12-2 Minnesota Vikings. Seattle’s postseason chances are beginning to dwindle. They forfeited control of the NFC West last weekend. As things stand, the Seahawks would benefit greatly from some positive results in other games on Sunday. With that in mind, we’ve compiled your Week 16 rooting guide.

Jets over Rams

The Los Angeles Rams currently own the same record as the Seahawks at 8-6, but are currently in pole position in the NFC West as a result of defeating Mike Macdonald’s club in Week 9. A victory for Seattle paired with a loss for Sean McVay would place the Seahawks back atop the division. Unfortunately, relying on the New York Jets to execute the upset isn’t overly favorable.

Panthers over Cardinals

The Seahawks have already swept the regular-season series with the Cardinals, but they remain in the hunt at 7-7 and one victory behind Seattle. A loss on Sunday to the Carolina Panthers would essentially remove the Cardinals from the conversation. The Bryce Young-led Panthers have displayed sneaky-good improvement in recent showings.

Dolphins over 49ers

The 6-8 San Francisco 49ers need a miracle to catch the Seahawks and Rams in the NFC West, but alas, they remain alive until mathematically eliminated. This weekend, they’re traveling to face the Miami Dolphins. An incredibly disappointing campaign for Kyle Shanahan would reach its merciful end with a loss.

Eagles over Commanders

The 9-5 Washington Commanders are the only wild-card holder Seattle has a realistic chance of catching. After losing three consecutive contests, Dan Quinn’s squad is back on the winning track, capturing victories in three straight outings. The 12-2 Philadelphia Eagles may prove too much to handle, however.

Giants over Falcons

The 7-7 Atlanta Falcons are in a similar position to the Seahawks. They’re currently on the outside looking in, but remain in contention for both their division and a wild-card spot. Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is making his debut start for the Falcons against the New York Giants on Sunday. Head coach Raheem Morris is hoping he can provide a much-needed spark.

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Seahawks win over Vikings in Week 16 would mean more than a victory in Week 17

Seahawks win over Vikings in Week 16 would mean more than a victory in Week 17

The Seattle Seahawks’ postseason hopes suffered a massive setback following Sunday Night Football’s 30-13 Week 15 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Los Angeles Rams took over control of the NFC West division as a result. Seattle’s playoff chances plummeted to 37.2% to win the division, and 35.1% to make the postseason, per Brady Henderson and ESPN Analytics.

Seahawks fans have begun looking ahead to a potentially NFC West division-deciding showdown with the Rams in the Week 18 regular-season finale, but not so fast. Mike Macdonald’s club possesses two important games before that, with the Minnesota Vikings this weekend, and the Chicago Bears in Week 17. According to Brian Nemhauser, a victory over the Vikings would achieve more to increase Seattle’s playoff chances than a triumph over the Bears would.

Defeating the Vikings would give the Seahawks a strength of victory tiebreaker over Rams even if they’re upset by the Bears a week later, per Nemhauser. Beating Chicago and losing to Minnesota would not achieve the same. The Seahawks must approach the Vikings contest this weekend with a win-and-in mindset.

The 12-2 Vikings have won seven consecutive contests. Seattle is facing another must-win situation at Lumen Field. Hopefully they handle that scenario better than they did in Sunday’s Packers embarrassment.

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Commanders will not be facing Kirk Cousins in Week 17

The Falcons benched Kirk Cousins in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr.

The Washington Commanders are 9-5 and currently hold the seventh seed in the NFC playoff picture. They host the Eagles on Sunday before finishing the season against the Falcons and Cowboys.

On Tuesday, the NFL flexed Washington’s Week 17 game against Atlanta onto Sunday Night Football. Two teams battling for a playoff spot would feature Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels against Kirk Cousins.

Not anymore.

After his recent struggles, the Falcons benched Cousins 14 games into his first season with the franchise. Last offseason, Atlanta gave Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract with $90 million fully guaranteed. Cousins has completed 67% of his passes for 3,508 yards, with 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

Starting in place of Cousins is rookie first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. Penix was selected eighth overall in the 2024 NFL draft. It was a controversial selection, considering the contract Atlanta had given Cousins only a month earlier.

Cousins spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with Washington. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft and appeared in 62 games, with 57 starts. Cousins left the franchise after the 2017 season and spent the next six years with the Minnesota Vikings before signing with the Falcons in March.

Cousins, 36, tore his Achilles in October 2023. but returned in time for Week 1 of the 2024 season.

The Falcons are 7-7, two games behind the Commanders for the seventh seed.

NFL puts Commanders-Falcons in prime-time spot in Week 17

Another prime-time game for Jayden Daniels and the Commanders.

The Washington Commanders will face an old friend in Week 17 in a game with potentially massive playoff implications. The Commanders (9-5) host the Atlanta Falcons (7-7) and quarterback Kirk Cousins, which the NFL has flexed to Sunday Night Football.

The Commanders-Falcons matchup was one of five games the NFL considered moving to Saturday as part of a tripleheader or flexing to Sunday Night Football. With a potential playoff spot on the line, quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Commanders hosting the Falcons proved to be the most enticing option for prime time on Sunday night. 

The Falcons began the season 6-3. After four consecutive losses, Atlanta barely held on to defeat the Raiders on Monday Night Football. Cousins, who was with Washington for the first six seasons of his NFL career, has struggled in his first year with the Falcons after a promising start to the season.

 

Seahawks’ postseason odds plummet following Packers setback

Seahawks’ postseason odds plummet following Packers setback

The Seattle Seahawks entered Sunday’s primetime contest versus the Green Bay Packers in pole position in the NFC West. Having enjoyed a four-game win streak, Mike Macdonald’s club went into Sunday possessing a 55.5% chance to make the playoffs, according to ESPN’s Analytics department. Their predictive model gave Seattle a 51.8% chance to win the division title.

Unfortunately, the Seahawks were swept aside 30-13 by the Packers on Sunday Night Football. That setback had a dramatic impact on Seattle’s updated postseason odds. The Los Angeles Rams have moved into first place in the NFC West. Seattle’s latest playoff now stands at 37.2% to win the division, and 35.1% to make the postseason, per Brady Henderson and ESPN Analytics.

It’s rare that a team possesses a better opportunity to win the division than claim a wild-card spot, but that’s the situation the Seahawks find themselves in. As Henderson laid out above, the Washington Commanders currently possess a one-game lead for the third-and-final wild card spot, and have two more NFC wins for tiebreaker purposes. Whereas the Seahawks still possess a potentially NFC-West-deciding showdown with the Rams during Week 18’s regular-season finale.

Macdonald’s attention now shifts to a difficult matchup with the surging 12-2 Minnesota Vikings in Week 16. The Seahawks must stay within one victory of their arch rival Rams to increase their chances of Week 18 being a win-and-in scenario. Seattle must quickly recover from Sunday’s setback to keep their postseason dreams alive.

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What’s at stake for the Seahawks on Sunday Night Football?

What’s at stake for the Seahawks on Sunday Night Football?

The Seattle Seahawks have as big a game as they get in the regular season tonight on Sunday Night Football. Every game against the Green Bay Packers is a must-see event for the 12th Man, especially under the lights of prime time. But what we have here in Week 15 is not your average meeting between these teams.

Seattle is hosting Green Bay in what is essentially a playoff preview. Right now, the Seahawks are the No. 3 seed in the NFC, while the Packers are the No. 6 seed. Should the regular season magically end right now, these teams would play this exact game at Lumen Field in Wild Card Weekend. While the stakes may not be “loser goes home for good,” they are still incredibly high… especially for Seattle.

Simply put, here is what is at stake for the Seahawks:

  • If they win: Seattle remains in first place in the NFC West and stays put at the No. 3 seed. They don’t necessarily improve standings wise, but remaining where they are at is just as important.
  • If they lose: the Seahawks will not only fall to second place in the NFC West, as the Rams will overtake them, they will fall out of the playoff picture entirely.

While Seattle’s season won’t be “over” if they lose, they will find themselves on the outside looking in for the next three weeks of the season where they will be fighting for their lives. Not exactly a spot you want to be in this time of the year.

Additionally, should Seattle lose but end up winning the West, the additional loss will almost certainly knock them out of the No. 3 spot for the playoffs. There is a huge difference between No. 3 and No. 4, who would likely host the Minnesota Vikings.

So yeah, to say the Seahawks need to find a way to win at home tonight is the understatement of the day.

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Seahawks vs. Packers could be playoff preview

Seahawks vs. Packers could be playoff preview

The Seattle Seahawks are hosting the Green Bay Packers at Lumen Field on Sunday Night Football in Week 15. It’s a massive game between two playoff contenders to help further decide the standings in the NFC. In fact, if the playoffs started today, the Seahawks and Packers would meet in the wild-card round, as pointed out by ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter via social media.

The Seahawks have won four consecutive contests, including three triumphs over their divisional rival San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals (sweeping the regular-season series). Mike Macdonald’s ongoing win streak has catapulted his club to the top of the NFC West standings. Seattle would host Green Bay at Lumen Field in a wild-card game if the current postseason seedings were confirmed. The Packers can’t win the NFC North because the Detroit Lions are an NFL-best 12-1.

The Packers enter Sunday’s contest nearly as red-hot as the Seahawks. They’ve claimed three victories in their last four outings, including a 38-10 blowout victory over the 49ers. They also dominated the Chicago Bears 30-17. Green Bay’s lone defeat since November 3rd was a narrow 34-31 setback to the Lions in Week 14.

Things can change, but Seattle’s Week 15 contest versus the Packers qualifies as a potential postseason preview.

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Commanders Week 15 rooting guide

Who should the Commanders be rooting for in Week 15?

The Washington Commanders (8-5) return to action in Week 15 after some much-needed time off. After a 42-19 win over the Tennessee Titans two weeks ago, the Commanders finally had a bye.

The Commanders are on the road in New Orleans, where they’ll face the 5-8 Saints. While New Orleans doesn’t have the greatest record, it has won three of the last four games since firing head coach Dennis Allen and replacing him with Darren Rizzi.

Washington enters this weekend’s slate of games in an excellent position in the NFC playoff picture. The Commanders continue to hold the No. 7 seed and are only one game out of the No. 6 spot. However, keep an eye on the red-hot Los Angeles Rams. After Thursday’s win over the 49ers, Los Angeles improved to 8-6 and is only a half-game behind the Commanders for the seventh and final NFC playoff spot.

Here’s a current look at the NFC playoff field:

  1. Detroit Lions
  2. Philadelphia Eagles
  3. Seattle Seahawks
  4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  5. Minnesota Vikings
  6. Green Bay Packers
  7. Washington Commanders

We recently explained why the Commanders may want to avoid the No. 7 seed. Whoever becomes the seventh seed must travel to Detroit or Philadelphia in January. The Lions and Eagles look like the NFC’s clear frontrunners ahead of the rest of the pack. Washington and Philadelphia have met once, with the Eagles winning a competitive game back in Week 11. The two NFC East rivals meet again in Week 16.

So, how do the Commanders avoid a trip to Detroit or Philly in January? By moving up to the No. 6 seed. The Packers currently hold the sixth seed and are one game ahead of Washington.

While the Commanders remain alive in the NFC East race, their chances of winning the division are become slimmer by the week.

Which teams should Washington fans be rooting for in Week 15?

49ers over Rams

This game was played on Thursday, and, unfortunately for Washington, the Rams held off the Niners and are now just a half-game behind the Commanders. L.A. looks like a serious contender to overtake Seattle for the NFC West.

Steelers over Eagles

A Pittsburgh win and a Washington win would put the Commanders only two games behind the Eagles ahead of their Week 16 showdown in Landover. Plus, Washington fans will always root for the Eagles to lose.

Patriots over Cardinals

The Commanders hold the tie-breaker advantage over Arizona and are currently two games ahead of them for the final spot. A New England win over the Cardinals would widen the gap for the Commanders.

Seahawks over Packers

The Seahawks are in a battle for the NFC West with the Rams. They must keep winning, or they’ll take LA’s spot behind Washington. So, while Seattle could be a potential threat to the Commanders, Washington badly needs the Seahawks to win here. A Commanders’ win and a Packers’ loss mean things would mean they’d both be 9-5 with three games remaining.

Bears over Vikings

The Commanders are three games behind the Vikings for the No. 5 seed in the NFC. However, if Washington keeps winning, it’s still mathematically possible to catch them. So, as long as this possibility exists, fans should want to see the Vikings lose.

Raiders over Falcons

The Falcons are sliding badly. At 6-7, another loss would severely damage their Wild Card hopes, meaning they’d need to win the division. The Commanders should hope that every team close to them loses. Washington and Atlanta meet in two weeks.

Seahawks vs Packers: Playoff Preview on Sunday Night Football

Seahawks vs Packers: Playoff Preview on Sunday Night Football

The Seattle Seahawks are playing their best football of the season, and it’s coming at the right time, as they are about to enter their toughest stretch of the year. First up will be a Sunday Night Football showdown against an old foe… the Green Bay Packers.

If the 2024 season were to end today (and I am well aware there is still plenty of football left to be played!) the Seahawks would own the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. As the No. 3 seed, they would host the No. 6 seed in Wild Card Weekend, which is currently occupied by the Packers. Sunday night at Lumen Field, in prime time, is going to feel like a playoff game… because this certainly could end up being one!

At 8-5, Seattle is in first place in the NFC West. Meanwhile, Green Bay is in third place. However, they are not like other third place squads. With their 9-4 record, the Packers would be in first in three other divisions this year. Unfortunately for them, they are trapped in the NFC North with the 12-1 Detroit Lions and the 11-2 Minnesota Vikings. The Packers have already been swept by Detroit, and lost once to Minnesota already. Their chances of winning the NFC North are already a longshot, and a loss in Seattle would likely sink them for good.

On the other side, the Seahawks are in first but they have the Los Angeles Rams hot on their tail. LA has an easier path moving forward than Seattle does, which means the margin for error for the Hawks is near zero. The Seahawks need a win on Sunday night to help keep the Rams at bay and remain in first place.

No, the stakes are not quite as high as “your season will be over if you lose” as a normal playoff game would be. But the Packers and Seahawks have plenty on the line nonetheless for prime time.

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ESPN updates Seahawks’ playoff odds after Week 14 win

ESPN updates Seahawks’ playoff odds after Week 14 win

The Seattle Seahawks captured a massive victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, winning their Week 14 contest 30-18. Mike Macdonald’s squad has now successfully completed the regular-season sweep over the Cardinals. Seattle has won four consecutive games, including three straight divisional ones. Their postseason odds have drastically improved as a result.

The Seahawks now possess approximately a 55.5% chance to make the playoffs, according to ESPN’s Analytics department. Their predictive model gives Seattle a 51.8% chance to win the NFC West division title, which they currently lead by one game over the Los Angeles Rams. Macdonald’s surging squad must remain focused. A defeat on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers in Week 14, paired with a Rams win over the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, would drop Seattle out of postseason seeding altogether, according to ESPN team reporter Brady Henderson.

A defeat to the Cardinals on Sunday would have dropped Seattle’s postseason odds to 11%, according to FTN Fantasy’s simulation model. It was a necessary victory for Macdonald’s squad within the NFC West. Seattle is now 3-2 within the division.

Seattle’s lone remaining divisional contest is versus those pesky Rams in Week 18. The NFC West could be decided on primetime. A victory over the Packers on Sunday would further strengthen the Seahawks’ postseason chances. Furthermore, all 12’s should be rooting for the 49ers to defeat the Rams on Thursday Night Football.

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