The Seattle Seahawks are surging in recent weeks, but the challenging NFC West could play a major factor for the team’s fate in the NFL playoff picture. Seattle is projected to win 12 games but still drop in the NFC standings in The Athletic’s latest model predictions for the NFL playoffs.
The projections have Seattle finishing 12-5 and landing the No. 5 seed in the NFC. By comparison, the Los Angeles Rams are projected to win the NFC West and secure the No. 1 seed with a 13-4 record.
Based on the projections, the Seahawks would travel to play the No. 4-seeded Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road. The Bucs are projected to have a 10-7 record but would host the playoff game as the NFC South champion.
Let’s take a look at the NFL playoff picture for the Seahawks.
The Seahawks Have a Chance for Redemption vs. Buccaneers in NFL Playoffs
If the remainder of the season plays out this way, it would provide a rematch of the October 5th thriller where Tampa Bay narrowly edged out Seattle with a 38-35 victory. Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield were once teammates on the Carolina Panthers and have both gone on to resurrect their careers.
Mayfield is on a three-year, $100 million contract with the Buccaneers that is slated to run through 2026. The deal is proving to be a bit of a bargain for Tampa Bay given comparable NFL quarterback contracts in addition to Mayfield’s production.
NFL Playoff Picture: The Seahawks Have a 96% Chance to Make the Postseason
It is not all bad news for the Seahawks’ NFL playoff projections. Seattle has a 96% chance of making the NFL playoffs, per The Athletic. To put it another way, the Seahawks have just a 4% chance of missing the postseason.
There is still plenty of football remaining for Seattle to climb as high as the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Athletic’s projections give the Seahawks an 18% chance to land the No. 1 seed and 16% odds to host a wild card matchup. By comparison, the Rams have a 36% chance to secure the NFC’s top seed.
Seattle Currently Sits as the NFC’s No. 1 Seed in the latest NFL Playoff Standings
The Seahawks face the Rams in two of their remaining eight games which will go a long way in determining who will win the NFC West. Seattle faces Los Angeles in the team’s upcoming Week 11 matchup. The Seahawks once again square off against the Rams on December 18.
Seattle is a 2.5-point road underdog versus Los Angeles in the Week 11 showdown, per FanDuel. The Rams are the favorites to win the NFC West at -105, while the Seahawks are second at +120.
Prior to the Eagles’ Monday Night Football matchup at the Green Bay Packers, the Seahawks sit as the No. 1 seed at 7-2 in the NFC playoff picture. This would give the Seahawks the lone NFC bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Here’s a look at the Seahawks’ remaining eight games: at Rams, at Titans, vs. Vikings, at Falcons, vs. Colts, vs. Rams, at Panthers and at 49ers. Five of Seattle’s remaining eight games will be played on the road.
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