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 Seahawks path to the playoffs almost certainly requires a win against the Rams, but the next two games are not equal.
Beating the Vikings would give the Seahawks a strength of victory tiebreaker over Rams even if they drop the Bears game. Beating CHI, lose to MIN does not.
— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) December 17, 2024
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.
