The Seahawks took over first place in the NFC West with a thrilling, comeback win over the Rams on Thursday night, and in doing so they also clinched a playoff berth, their first under second-year head coach Mike Macdonald, and 11th in John Schneider’s 16 seasons as the team’s general manager.
At 12-3, the Seahawks also have the best record in the NFC, meaning with two games remaining, they control their own destiny for the conference’s top seed and the first-round bye that comes with it.
And while winning out is the only guaranteed path to NFC West title and the No. 1 seed, the Seahawks do still have a possibility of clinching the division in Week 17, and while unlikely, there is also a path to clinching the No. 1 seed this weekend.
The Seahawks would clinch the NFC West this weekend with win and a Rams loss or tie against the Falcons as well as a 49ers loss or tie against the Bears, or the Seahawks would clinch the division with a win or tie and a Rams loss and 49ers loss.
There is one path to clinching the No. 1 seed in Week 17, albeit an unlikely one. For that to take place, the Seahawks would need a win in Carolina combined with a Rams loss or tie and a 49ers and Bears tie.
Here is the official breakdown from the league:
Seattle clinches NFC West division title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:
- SEA win + LAR loss or tie + SF-CHI tie
Seattle clinches NFC West division title with:
- SEA win + LAR loss or tie + SF loss or tie OR
- SEA tie + LAR loss + SF loss
