Where the Seahawks sit in NFC playoff picture through 7 weeks

The Seattle Seahawks are the defending Super Bowl champions, but they found out in the first two months of the NFL season that doesn’t guarantee them anything this year.

Quenton Nelson’s former coach sees Seahawks as perfect fit

Seattle went through a rough patch, losing three of four games to put their hopes not just of repeating as champs but even for returning to the playoffs in doubt.

The Seahawks bounced back in a big way on Sunday night, though, dominating the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs 20-3 to get back over .500. Then on Tuesday, they showed just how serious they are about making a move back up in the standings by swinging a trade with the Indianapolis Colts for perennial Pro Bowl left guard Quenton Nelson.

The 4-3 Hawks now are gearing up to get rowdy on Monday night against a 5-2 Chicago Bears teams in a game that could have an impact on the playoff picture.

The biggest challenge Seahawks will get from Bears

Here’s a look at the NFC playoff race going into Week 8, and the Seahawks’ place in it.

The division

The San Francisco 49ers lead the NFC West with a 6-1 record, which includes a win over the Seahawks in Seattle on Oct. 11.

After Seahawks trade, 49ers respond with a big one of their own

The Seahawks are alone in second place in the NFC West, two games back. While Seattle can get a game back on the Niners if it wins at Levi’s Stadium on Nov. 29, it will need some help from one of the other remaining 49ers opponents to tie or leap in front of them.

Per Tankathon, the Seahawks are tied for the 14th toughest remaining strength of schedule this season, while San Francisco ranks 23rd.

The wild cards

Entering Week 8, the Seahawks are the first team out of the NFC playoff picture, though they have the same 4-3 record as the team currently in line for the seventh and final spot from the conference to the playoffs, the Green Bay Packers.

The NFC North is having a strong year, which will make it tougher for the Seahawks and their NFC West rivals to crack the playoff field. In addition to the Packers, the NFC North currently holds the No. 1 (the undefeated Vikings), No. 5 (the 5-2 Bears) and No. 6 (the 4-2 Lions) playoff seeds.

That being said, Seattle has a 70% playoff probability, per the playoff picture page from NFL.com. That’s actually higher than the Packers (42%), Bears (66%), the No. 4 seed Panthers (42%, 3-3 record) and No. 3 seed Giants (43%, 4-2-1 record).

Important games vs. playoff contenders

• Nov. 29 at San Francisco (6-1 record)

• Dec. 7 vs. Dallas (3-4)

• Dec. 13 vs. Giants (4-2-1)

• Dec. 25 vs. Rams (3-4)

• Jan. 3 at Panthers (3-3)

• Week 18 at Rams (3-4) – Date TBD

Seattle Seahawks news and more

• What makes Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba so hard to defend
• Brock: 3 things to like about Seahawks’ trade for Quenton Nelson
• Seattle Seahawks’ Emmanwori showcases unicorn skill set

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