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14 hours ago
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The Seahawks are still alive in the NFC playoff race, but their postseason chances are shrinking.
Seattle's 27-24 loss to the Vikings on Sunday certainly didn't help its playoff case, as the squad came into Week 16 still in contention for either its division title or a wild-card spot. But after their defeat to Minnesota, the Seahawks are still on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.
The Seahawks were getting hot approaching the final stretch of the season, taking a four-game winning streak into Week 15. They've now lost two in a row.
How could Seattle make the NFL playoff bracket? Here's a look at the Seahawks' paths to the postseason after their Week 16 loss against Minnesota.
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Seahawks playoff picture
Back-to-back losses in Week 15 and 16 have halted the Seahawks' momentum and also removed them from the current NFC playoff picture. The Rams, now 9-6 after a win over the Jets on Sunday, took over as the top team in the NFC West in Week 15.
Even with its loss to the Vikings, Seattle remains the No. 8 seed in the NFC, just missing the cut from the seven-team playoff picture in the conference. The Vikings, Packers, and Commanders, all of whom own better records, are the three wild-card teams — at least for now.
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1 | Lions | 13-2 |
| 2 | Eagles | 12-3 |
| 3 | Rams | 9-6 |
| 4 | Falcons | 8-7 |
| 5 | Vikings | 13-2 |
| 6 | Packers | 11-4 |
| 7 | Commanders | 10-5 |
| 8 | Buccaneers | 8-7 |
| 9 | Seahawks | 8-7 |
Seattle and Tampa are the only NFC teams outside the top seven still alive for a playoff spot.
Because the Rams beat the Seahawks, 26-20, in the two squads' only meeting so far this season, Los Angeles holds the tiebreaker over Seattle as well as a one-game lead in the NFC West for the time being. But with the Seahawks and Rams also still scheduled to face off in Week 18, the division could be set up for a dramatic finish.
With Seattle now trailing Washington by two games for the No. 7 seed, its chances of claiming a wild-card spot are gone. Even if Seattle wins out and the Commanders lose out, Washington would own the tiebreaker due to a better record in conference play.
Seattle's only remaining path to the postseason is winning the NFC West, but that's also going to be a tough task after its Week 16 loss. A division title for the Seahawks would first require winning their final two games, including the Week 18 matchup vs. Los Angeles. On top of that, Seattle's chances will heavily rely on a Rams loss to the Cardinals next week. If Los Angeles beats Arizona in Week 17 but loses to Seattle in Week 18, the Seahawks vs. Rams divisional race would come down to the NFL's lower-ranking tiebreakers, like record in common games, conference record and strength of victory.
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Seahawks remaining schedule
Minnesota was a tough draw for Seattle in Week 16, but the Seahawks will now get set to face a struggling Bears team next week. The showdown against Los Angeles will conclude their regular season schedule.
| Date | Matchup | Opponent's current record | Time (ET) |
| Dec. 26 | at Bears | 4-11 | 8:15 p.m. |
| TBD | at Rams | 9-6 | TBD |
Seahawks updated playoff chances
Entering Week 16, ESPN's power index gave Seattle a 36.0% chance of making the playoffs, with a 34.4% chance at winning the NFC West. However, those odds will fall significantly after the Seahawks' loss to the Vikings and the Rams' win over the Jets.
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