Tag: nfc west standings

Around the NFC West: Rams will host Vikings in wild-card round

Around the NFC West: Rams will host Vikings in wild-card round

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams 30-25 in Sunday’s Week 18 regular-season finale. Unfortunately, the Rams had already clinched the NFC West division. Head coach Sean McVay fielded a team largely consisting of backups as the Seahawks eyed their first 10-win season since 2020.

The Rams were also awaiting confirmation of who their wild-card opponent would be. The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings played for the NFC West division title, No. 1 seed, first-round bye, and home-field advantage on Sunday Night Football. The Lions claimed the division through a dominant 31-9 victory. As a result, McVay’s Rams will host Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings in next weekend’s wild-card round.

Next weekend’s postseason schedule was also released. The Rams will host the Vikings at SoFi Stadium on Monday Night Football, making their scheduled matchup the final contest of the wild-card round. The storylines are plentiful.

Vikings head coach O’Connell spent two campaigns (2020-21) as McVay’s offense coordinator with the Rams. He’s since launched his own successful head coaching career. Meanwhile, the Seahawks will watch on with a sour taste in their mouths, having missed the postseason despite compiling a respectable 10-7 record.

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3 losses that especially hurt Seahawks in 2024

3 losses that especially hurt Seahawks in 2024

The Seattle Seahawks unfortunately won’t be playing for the NFC West division title against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18. Seattle was officially eliminated from postseason contention following the Washington Commanders’ overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football. Unfortunately, failing to make the postseason opens the Seahawks up to a period of reflection.

The 9-7 Seahawks could conclude the campaign tied with the division-winning Rams in the win column with a victory on Sunday. Regardless of Sunday’s outcome, that captures how painfully close Mike Macdonald was to achieving his goals in his debut campaign. With that in mind, we’ve identified three defeats that especially hindered the Seahawks throughout 2024.

Week 9: 26-20, Rams

It goes without saying that Seattle’s 26-20 defeat to the Rams in Week 9 ended up proving costly. Had Macdonald’s club defeated Sean McVay in their first meeting, they’d be playing for the division title on Sunday. The Rams took a 20-13 lead in the fourth quarter through a Geno Smith pick-six.

Smith recovered to locate Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a game-tying score. The Seahawks won the ensuing coin toss, but the drive stalled at LA’s 16-yard line. Instead of attempting a game-leading FG, Macdonald went for the jugular and Kenneth Walker III was stuffed on 4th-and-1. The Rams took over possession and quickly scored a touchdown via a 39-yard pass to DeMarcus Robinson.

Week 6: 36-24, 49ers

The Seahawks were dominated by the San Francisco 49ers in primetime, losing their sixth consecutive contest to their NFC West divisional foe at the time, 36-24. The Seahawks were outclassed by the 49ers in every department. Luckily, Smith and the offense recovered a few weeks later, putting their struggles behind them by beating their foe 20-17. Still, sweeping the series would have gone a long way.

Week 5: 29-20, Giants

Losing to the lowly New York Giants 29-20 in Week 5 was simply inexcusable. This represented the roughest patch of Seattle’s 2024 campaign, their second straight defeat in what’d prove to be a three-game losing streak and five defeats in six outings. The Giants dropped 10 consecutive contests following this victory, failing to taste triumph again until facing the Indianapolis Colts this past weekend.

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Seahawks are on the verge of elimination this week

Seahawks are on the verge of elimination this week

Squandered opportunity is a regrettable theme of the 2024 Seattle Seahawks, who let another prime opportunity pass them by. Seattle fell at home to the Minnesota Vikings 27-24, and like the Packers loss the week prior, this was more than just simply dropping a game.

The Packers made it so the Seahawks were forced from first place in the NFC West. The Vikings have now stolen destiny away from them. At 8-7, the Seahawks no longer control their own fate, even if they win out these next two games – including Week 18 versus the Rams.

With the Rams improving to 9-6 with their 19-9 win over the New York Jets, Los Angeles can officially clinch the NFC West with a win against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, December 28th. Had the Jets found a way to beat the Rams, it would have bought the Seahawks another week (provided they defeat the Chicago Bears on Thursday). But then again, if you are in a situation where you’re hoping for the New York Jets to win a game, then you are already in a dire predicament.

If the Rams prevail at home against the Arizona Cardinals (who were eliminated on Sunday, but did defeat LA 41-10 in Week 2) then that’s all, folks. Los Angeles wins the NFC West for the fourth time in the last seven seasons. Should they lose, and the Seahawks beat the Bears on Thursday, then it will set up a division championship game in Week 18.

There is a scenario in which Seattle could lose on Thursday and it still sets up a Week 18 winner-take-all game, but even that scenario relies heavily upon the Rams losing to the Cardinals.

Of course, blowing a game like they did to the Vikings has put a serious dampener on this season. Not to mention the loss to the New York Giants in Week 5, which has loomed like cement weights tied to the Seahawks’ feet.

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Around the NFL: Jets give Seahawks no help, as Rams win 19-9

Around the NFL: Jets give Seahawks no help, as Rams win 19-9

The Seattle Seahawks find themselves in a precarious position entering their Week 16 game. Last week, the Seahawks were forcibly removed from their position atop the NFC West thanks to the Green Bay Packers putting a licking on the team to the tune of 30-13.

Sadly for Seattle, this meant the Los Angeles Rams with their identical record to the Hawks moved back into first place. This had the unfortunate added result of kicking the Seahawks out of the playoff picture as well. Going into this weekend, Seattle was going to have to find a way to upset the Minnesota Vikings in order to at least keep pace with the Rams.

Unless… of course… the New York Jets could find a way to pull off an upset of their own by taking down the visiting Rams…

….and this did not happen. A sense of false hope was given to the 12th Man with New York taking a slim 9-6 lead over Los Angeles into the half. But the Rams do what they always do this time of year, somehow find a way to sneak out with a win in a game they looked awful in. This was absolutely the case in Week 15 when they had a similar game in San Francisco.

LA scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, and shut out the Jets entirely in the second half. The Rams are leaving the Meadowlands with a 19-9 win to improve to 9-6 on the year.

This now means Seattle risks genuinely losing even more ground to them against the Minnesota Vikings. Should the Vikings prevail, the Seahawks will fall a full game behind LA in the NFC West standings. This will effectively take full control of their destiny out of their hands, as they will need help from Arizona next week to beat the Rams to make Week 18 a winner-take-all game for the division.

Needless to say, a win is paramount for the Seahawks.

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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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Seahawks fighting for their playoff lives as Vikings look to win NFC North

Seahawks fighting for their playoff lives as Vikings look to win NFC North

The Seattle Seahawks suffered a costly defeat at the hands of the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. Seattle was knocked from both their perch atop the NFC West (as the Los Angeles Rams have now taken over due to their head-to-head victory earlier this year) and out of the NFC playoff picture entirely. The Seahawks’ postseason odds plummeted after the blowout loss in prime time.

Seattle’s path forward does not get any easier, as the now 12-2 Minnesota Vikings are coming to town this weekend. The Seahawks’ backs are against the wall and are desperate for a win, but unfortunately for them, the Vikings have plenty to play for as well.

Thanks to the Detroit Lions losing 48-42 to the Buffalo Bills, Minnesota now controls their own destiny for both winning the NFC North… and even earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Yes, that’s right. The Minnesota Vikings with Sam Darnold at quarterback could have a first round bye in the playoffs. Should the Vikes beat the Hawks on Sunday, as well as winning against the Packers in Week 17 (Minnesota won in Lambeau earlier this year) and defeat the Lions in Week 18, they will be the No. 1 seed. Even if the Philadelphia Eagles also finish 15-2, the Vikings still edge them out.

So yeah, the Seahawks won’t be catching any kind of “break” from an opponent who doesn’t necessarily “need” a win this weekend. Seattle will be getting the best Minnesota has to offer, because the Vikings know how difficult the next two weeks will also be for them.

The Seahawks better hope quarterback Geno Smith’s optimism for being able to play this weekend isn’t misplaced.

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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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Rams keep pressure on Seahawks, defeat 49ers 12-6 on TNF

Rams keep pressure on Seahawks, defeat 49ers 12-6 on TNF

The pressure remains high for the Seattle Seahawks, who are defending a narrow lead over the Los Angeles Rams for first place in the NFC West. Seattle, at 8-5, is in first. Unfortunately, the Rams remain hot on their tail as they improved to 8-6 with their ugly 12-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football.

Los Angeles upset the Buffalo Bills in Week 14 with a thrilling 44-42 game, and they kept the momentum going in Santa Clara. It was an ugly, defensive battle by the Bay as both the Niners and Rams exchanged field goals. LA’s defense shut down San Francisco’s offense – as they were held to only 191 yards of offense and three points in the second half.

For years, the 12th Man (and myself) have been screaming to anyone who will listen that Brock Purdy is not a good quarter. In a cruel twist of fate, he proved all of us right in a moment when we desperately wanted to be wrong. Purdy was atrocious, completing 14-of-31 passes for 142 yards, no touchdowns and a horrendous interception late that sealed the deal for a Rams victory. On the final play of the game, Purdy also took a sack.

Once more, “Mr. Irrelevant” looked every bit of his nickname without the likes of running back Christian McCaffrey or left tackle Trent Williams.

Sadly, the 12’s were (with disgust) certainly rooting for the 49ers out of necessity. Had San Francisco won, it would have given the Seahawks a little cushion for their impending Sunday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers. Instead, the Seahawks are yet again in a situation where they must win in order to remain in first place. If Seattle loses, the Rams will move into the top spot due to their head-to-head win and a better divisional record.

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Seattle Seahawks’ Week 15 Rooting Guide

Seattle Seahawks’ Week 15 Rooting Guide

The Seattle Seahawks are hosting the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football in Week 15. It qualifies as a big-time game in the NFC playoff picture. Around the NFC West, the Los Angeles Rams unfortunately defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Thursday’s primetime contest. With other notable contests on the docket that directly impact the Seahawks’ postseason odds and seeding, we’ve compiled your Week 15 rooting guide.

Patriots over Cardinals

As a result of the Rams-49ers game, the only other NFC West team in action this weekend is the Arizona Cardinals, who play host to the New England Patriots. The Seahawks possess a sizable lead over the Cardinals in the division as a result of sweeping this year’s regular-season series, but a loss is always preferred. Drake Maye and the Patriots will attempt to execute the upset.

Commanders over Eagles

The Seahawks are currently the No. 3 seed in the NFC Playoff Picture. The Philadelphia Eagles, the two-seed, play a divisional game versus the Washington Commanders on Sunday. The Seahawks trail the Eagles by three contests, but still possess a flicker of hope to capture the NFC’s No. 2 postseason seeding if Philadelphia goes on a late-season losing streak.

Chargers over Buccaneers

The No. 4 seed is the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers are right on Seattle’s heels for the NFC’s third playoff seed. A Los Angeles Chargers victory would place some much-appreciated distance between the Seahawks and the Bucs.

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