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With one week left in the NFL season, the Seattle Seahawks’ playoff chances for 2023 are still alive. For a team that’s lost five of its last seven games, the Seahawks are just happy to still have a chance and be a part of the NFL postseason possibilities heading into Week 1.
But what are the Seahawks’ playoff scenarios and who are the potential Seahawks’ playoff opponents with one game left?
Seahawks Playoff chances 2023
If the Seahawks make the playoffs, it’ll be as a Wild Card team, as Seattle has locked up second place in the NFC West behind the red-hot 49ers.
For fans who need the NFL Wild Card explained, there are three Wild Card spots in each conference and the Seahawks are only capable of earning the final Wild Card spot. Let’s take a closer look at the Seahawks’ playoff chances for 2023 and what needs to happen in Week 18.
Starts with a win
The Seahawks’ playoff chances for 2023 are 100% contingent on winning in Week 18 against the Rams. Seattle heads into the final week of the season 8-8, which is the same record as both the Packers and Lions, who are playing each other. With the Packers and Lions playing one another, one team is guaranteed to win and finish 9-8, so a Seattle loss knocks them out of contention.
Even a Packers-Lions tie would be enough to eliminate the Seahawks if they lose. But with a home win on Sunday afternoon, the Seahawks will avoid a second straight losing season and keep hope alive ahead of the Packers-Lions game, which is in primetime and will be the final game of Week 18.
Outside help
Assuming the Seahawks win, they will be rooting for the Lions to beat the Packers on Sunday night. Seattle didn’t play Green Bay this season, but even with a win on Sunday, the Seahawks will finish with a 6-6 record inside the NFC.
In comparison, a Green Bay win would give the Packers a 7-5 record within the NFC, giving the Packers the tiebreaker over the Seahawks if they finish tied for the final Wild Card spot.
However, a wild 48-45 win over the Lions in Week 4 could be what ends up sending Seattle to the playoffs. If the Lions beat the Packers on Sunday, Detroit and Seattle will be tied for the final playoff spot in the NFC. By virtue of that Week 4 head-to-head win, the Seahawks would advance to the playoffs if Seattle and Detroit both win.
Who’s up next?
If the Seahawks end up going to the playoffs, they will be playing the no. 2 seed in the NFC. There are three possible teams that could fill that spot: the Cowboys, the Vikings, and the 49ers.
There are a variety of possibilities for seeding involving those teams with the Eagles also involved in the equation. The only one of those teams the Seahawks have played this season that they could meet in the Wild Card Round is the 49ers, Seattle’s NFC West rival.
The Seahawks lost both games to the 49ers this season, so they would surely welcome a different opponent in the playoffs. But given their situation, the Seahawks need to worry about winning their Week 18 before they worry about their playoff opponent.
Winning Week 18
In a way, Seattle will benefit from its Week 18 opponent. The Rams have nothing to play for heading into Week 18 and are missing several star players due to injury.
Also, the Seahawks beat the Rams in Los Angeles 27-23 earlier this season. However, the Rams have won five of their last eight games in Seattle, becoming one of the few teams that’s unaffected by Seattle’s home-field advantage. Plus, the Seahawks haven’t swept the season series from the Rams since 2013, so beating Los Angeles twice in one season has proven to be difficult for Seattle.
