The NFC playoff picture is starting to come to form, but there’s still some shuffling to do among the lower seeds. The Seattle Seahawks are now in and hold the fifth seed in the NFC after their win on Sunday night over the Chiefs. If they stay in the No. 5 seed after next week, they will play the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round.
The Seahawks could’ve missed the playoffs if they hadn’t beaten the Chiefs
It would’ve taken some bad luck and a disastrous ending to the season for Seattle to miss the playoffs. Instead, the Seahawks got the win they needed.
Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Seattle had a chance to punch a ticket to the postseason last week, but the Seahawks ended up getting beat in overtime by Nick Mullens and the San Francisco 49ers. Luckily for them, they got the win they needed this week.
But since they didn’t handle their business last week, there was still a chance heading into the week — even if it was a small one — that Seattle could’ve missed the playoffs. Here’s what would have had to happen:
Step one: Lose out
The first thing that would’ve had to happen for the Seahawks to miss the postseason was for them to lose the final two games on their schedule.
Seattle had two home games to close the season, one against the Chiefs and the season finale against the Arizona Cardinals. Even at home, the Chiefs were a big test for the Seahawks, but the Cardinals and their disastrous offense wouldn’t present much of a challenge:
On the other hand, the Cardinals always tend to give the Seahawks a difficult game when the two NFC West rivals play. Earlier this season, Seattle only beat Arizona by three points. In their last seven matchups, the series is tied 3-3-1.
Even if the Seahawks lost out and finished the season 8-8, they still would’ve have a shot to make the playoffs. It would take two teams going on a run, paired with their losses, to have eliminated them from postseason play.
Step two: Minnesota wins out AND Philadelphia wins out
The Vikings are in the sixth seed in the NFC playoff race, one spot below the Seahawks. They currently sit at 8-6-1 after their Week 16 win over the Lions. Their last game is against the NFC North-winning Bears (who very well may rest their starters Week 17) to finish the season.
Entering Week 16, Philadelphia and Washington were both 7-7 and starting backup quarterbacks, though Philadelphia’s Nick Foles and Washington’s Josh Johnson looked competent in Week 15 victories. Washington took itself out of the mix by losing to the Titans. Even if Washington and Seattle ended up at 8-8, the Seahawks would have a better record in conference play.
The Eagles could’ve still messed up the Seahawks’ plan, though. They beat the Texans and still have Washington left on their schedule.
Seattle would also win the tiebreaker, based on the conference record, against Philadelphia if the Eagles finished with the same record.
So, the Seahawks would’ve only missed out if they lost their final two games, and the Vikings and Eagles both win next week.
Seattle’s win guaranteed that wouldn’t happen. After missing out last year, Russell Wilson and the Seahawks are back in the postseason.
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