They’re in: Seahawks make playoffs — and get a top 5 pick

The Seahawks have finished the 2022 season with a winning record, but they’re not done yet.

Not only did Seattle take care of business on its end with a 19-16 win over the Los Angeles Rams in overtime on Sunday, but it got the help needed on Sunday night with the Detroit Lions knocking off the Packers 20-16 in chilly Green Bay.

THE SHOW GOES ON! pic.twitter.com/aGUiuLVxM8

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 9, 2023

The Seahawks’ win, which makes them 9-8, eliminated Detroit (also 9-8) from contention for the NFC’s seventh and final playoff berth by virtue of Seattle having beaten the Lions earlier in the season. But that didn’t stop Detroit from showing up to ruin the Packers’ postseason hopes. Green Bay, which finishes the season at 8-9, would have taken the No. 7 seed had it beaten Detroit because it would have held the tiebreaker over Seattle; the two teams didn’t play in 2022, so in-conference record would have been the tiebreaker, and a Green Bay win would have given it the advantage.

Playoff-bound: What Seahawks said after dramatic OT win in Week 18

Seattle now goes on to face the NFC West champions, the San Francisco 49ers (13-4), at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., at 1:35 p.m. Saturday. The 49ers won both matchups between the two division rivals this season.

The #NFLPlayoffs start with #SuperWildCard Weekend! pic.twitter.com/blHs0K3j7n

— NFL (@NFL) January 9, 2023

Thanks to Sunday’s results, the Seahawks avoided missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, which would have been a first in head coach Pete Carroll’s tenure with the team, which began in 2010.

While that was the good news for the Seahawks this weekend, they did suffer a small setback as far as their standing in the 2023 NFL Draft, which is set for April in Kansas City. The Seahawks own Denver’s top two picks in the draft, and with the Broncos winning 31-28 over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday to end the season at 5-12, the first-round selection dropped to No. 5 overall. It had previously been at No. 3 entering the weekend.

From Denver Sports: Broncos officially send top 5 pick to Seattle thanks to Russell Wilson trade

Seattle’s own first-round selection is sitting at No. 20.

Coverage of the Seahawks’ matchup with the 49ers in the wild card round of the NFC playoffs will air live on Seattle Sports 710 AM and KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM, the flagship stations of the Seahawks Radio Network, beginning at 10:30 a.m. with the pregame show.

Seahawks’ Instant Reaction: 19-16 OT win over Rams keeps hopes alive

Follow @BrentStecker