Playoff picture: Seahawks back in control of NFC’s No. 2 seed
Dec 19, 2016, 12:09 AM | Updated: 9:17 am
The Seahawks are back in control of the NFC’s No. 2 seed. It’s the best possible position for them at this point and one they can assure themselves of securing if they win their remaining two regular-season games.
That’s the long and short of Seattle’s playoff picture after Week 15. Now, for the detailed version.
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The Seahawks entered Thursday night’s game holding the No. 3 seed, just behind Detroit for the No. 2 seed that Seattle held going into Week 14. The Seahawks jumped back ahead of Detroit with their win over the Rams, which improved Seattle’s record to 9-4-1.
Detroit lost Sunday to the Giants to fall to 9-5. The Lions now hold the fourth seed behind Atlanta, which is also 9-5 but owns a tiebreaker over Detroit (better winning percentage in common games).
The No. 2 seed comes with an all-important first-round bye and a home game in the divisional round. It’s the best Seattle can hope for at this point with the No. 1 seed no longer in play. The Cowboys hold it at 12-2. Only the Giants at 10-4 can catch them, but that would require New York winning out and Dallas losing out.
The Seahawks still wouldn’t catch either team if they won out, but doing so would assure them of hanging on to the No. 2 seed. The chances are good considering Seattle’s final two matchups. The Seahawks host Arizona (5-8-1) on Saturday then play at San Francisco (1-13) in Week 17. Seattle is favored by more than a touchdown this week and should be as well next week.
Seattle could split its last two games and still end up with the No. 2 seed so long as the Lions and/or Falcons don’t win out. Atlanta finishes at Carolina (5-8 entering Monday night’s game) and at home against New Orleans (6-8). Detroit has a tougher remaining schedule: at Dallas and home vs. Green Bay (8-6), and quarterback Matthew Stafford is playing with a busted finger.
