The Seattle Seahawks standings in the NFL playoff picture is starting to take shape as the franchise looks to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Seattle faces two challenging tests against the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers to close the regular season.
The Seahawks could clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed in Week 17 but the scenarios are complicated, meaning Seattle will likely head into the regular season finale with some postseason uncertainty. Seattle has already clinched a playoff berth but is fighting to win the NFC West.
The Seahawks can would clinch the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed with a win over the Panthers, a Los Angeles Rams‘ loss or tie and a tie in the 49ers-Bears contest. Seattle can clinch the NFC West (without the No. 1 seed secured) with a win over the Carolina plus losses or ties by both the Rams and Niners.
The eventual NFC West champs are the favorites to land the No. 1 seed but face competition with the NFC North champion Chicago Bears.
Here’s a look at the Seahawks’ playoff standings. This will be updated following the Seahawks-Panthers game as well as the late afternoon NFC contests.
NFC Playoff Standings: Seahawks Hold No. 1 Seed
Teams in italics have clinched a playoff spot. The NFC South battle between the Panthers and Buccaneers remains the lone postseason spot in the conference still up for grabs.
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | TIES |
| 1. Seattle Seahawks | 12 | 3 | |
| 2. Chicago Bears | 11 | 4 | |
| 3. Philadelphia Eagles | 10 | 5 | |
| 4. Carolina Panthers | 8 | 7 | |
| 5. San Francisco 49ers | 11 | 4 | |
| 6. Los Angeles Rams | 11 | 4 | |
| 7. Green Bay Packers | 9 | 6 | 1 |
| 11.Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7 | 8 |
NFC Playoff Games & Seeds as of Week 17
Here’s a look at the NFC playoff matchups if the postseason started today. The Seahawks would have a first-round bye as the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
No. 7 Green Bay Packers at No. 2 Chicago Bears
No. 6 Los Angeles Rams at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles
No. 5 San Francisco 49ers at No. 4 Carolina Panthers
The Seahawks Would Get Home-Field Advantage & a 1st-Round Bye With the NFC’s No. 1 Seed
Seattle’s improbable win over Los Angeles in Week 16 continues to pay dividends for the Seahawks. There are numerous reasons why the Seahawks are pushing to land the No. 1 seed.
First, the top seed in each conference gets a first-round bye. Additionally, the Seahawks would get home-field advantage throughout the NFL playoffs and face the lowest remaining seed in the Divisional Round.
Mike Macdonald Reaches NFL Playoffs in His Second Season as Seahawks HC
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is thrilled to have punched the team’s postseason ticket in just his second season with the franchise.
“It’s like, it’s great,” Macdonald noted on the Seahawks making the NFL playoffs, via Seahawks.com’s Ari Horton. “Yeah. I mean, we got our goals. We want to win games. We want to make the playoffs. In order to make our next goal, we have to win this game.
“So that’s where we’re at. I think same thing with the Pro Bowl. It’s cool. It’s great. Years from now, we’ll look back and we’ll love this team and we’ll love the process and the whole thing, but we got to go make it come to life right now. We can’t be sitting around telling how sweet we are to everybody.”
The Seahawks’ Chances to Secure the No. 1 Seed in the NFC Will Likely Depend on 49ers Game in Week 18
There are plenty of scenarios that could play out, but the likeliest outcome is for Seattle to need a win over San Francisco in the regular-season finale in order to secure the top seed. Six of the seven NFC playoff teams have already been decided as the Panthers and Buccaneers battle for the NFC South title.
Chances are the 49ers and Seahawks will head into Week 18 needing a win to get the best possible playoff seed. It will be just the latest chapter in the storied NFC West rivalry.
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