Seattle Seahawks Playoff Aspirations Diminish After Heartbreaking Loss to Rams
The Seattle Seahawks’ quest for the NFC West title has become increasingly precarious following a disappointing defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. With their playoff aspirations hanging by a thread, the stakes have never been higher as they navigate the remaining weeks of the season.
NFC West Title Chances Dwindle
Entering their Sunday matchup against the Rams, the Seahawks held a 34% likelihood of clinching the NFC West, according to predictive models. However, a loss not only handed them a head-to-head defeat against the Rams, who now boast an impressive 8-2 record, but it also dropped Seattle’s chances to a mere 16%. Had they emerged victorious, their odds would have surged to 61%. Now, as the playoff picture grows murkier, the Seahawks face an uphill battle with their postseason fate uncertain.
Remaining Schedule and Playoff Projections
As they head into Week 12, the Seahawks are left with a daunting schedule that includes three home games against the Vikings, Colts, and Rams, as well as four crucial away games against the Titans, Falcons, Panthers, and 49ers. Winning the rematch against the Rams is pivotal; a victory would elevate their division title chances to 30%, while a loss would plummet those odds to a dismal 3%.
Week 12: Away vs. Titans – 18% chance to win the division with a victory
Week 13: Home vs. Vikings – 18%
Week 14: Away vs. Falcons – 20%
Week 15: Home vs. Colts – 21%
Week 16: Home vs. Rams – 30%
Week 17: Away vs. Panthers – 20%
Week 18: Away vs. 49ers – 26%
If the Seahawks manage to overcome the Rams in Week 16, a potential showdown against the 49ers in the final week could ultimately decide the NFC West champion, as Seattle’s chances would significantly improve.
Easiest Path Forward
Analyzing their remaining opponents through the lens of DVOA rankings, the Seahawks face some of the league’s less formidable teams, including the Titans (ranked 32nd), Panthers (26th), Vikings (23rd), and Falcons (18th). If they can sweep these matchups, they would still only see their division title odds rise to 30%—the same as if they were to win just the single crucial game against the Rams.
Even with an undefeated finish to the season, the Seahawks would still only have an 84% chance of winning the NFC West—a stark reminder that the margin for error is razor thin. A loss against the Colts in Week 15 could be the only permissible slip-up, allowing them to finish with a commendable 13-4 record while still maintaining favorable division odds.
The Road Ahead
The landscape of the NFC West remains complex, especially since both the Rams and Cardinals have yet to face each other this season. For the Seahawks to reclaim their hopes of winning the division, they must secure victories against the Rams and 49ers while relying on the Cardinals to capitalize on their matchups against the Rams.
In a league where every game counts, the Seahawks find themselves needing not only to win but also to hope for favorable outcomes in other divisional contests. With their playoff dreams now precariously balanced, Seattle’s path forward requires both determination and a little bit of luck as they strive to keep their postseason hopes alive.
