The Seattle Seahawks have a playoff spot clinched, but the NFC West is still very much up for grabs among the Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers. Seattle can secure the top spot in the division
and the entire conference by winning against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, followed by the 49ers in Santa Clara in Week 18, but there are many scenarios at play worth exploring based off of the Week 17 outcomes.
NFC Playoff Picture entering Week 17 as of Saturday
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3) – Clinched playoff berth
- Chicago Bears (11-4) – Clinched playoff berth
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) – Clinched NFC East
- Carolina Panthers (8-7) – Can only clinch playoff berth through NFC South title
- San Francisco 49ers (11-4) – Clinched playoff berth
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4) – Clinched playoff berth
- Green Bay Packers (9-5-1) – Clinched playoff berth
- Detroit Lions (8-8) – Eliminated
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8) – Can only clinch playoff berth through NFC South title
This week, the Seahawks take on the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, the 49ers host the Chicago Bears, and the Rams travel to Georgia to play the Atlanta Falcons on Monday. Let’s look at how those three games tie into one another.
If the Seahawks win or tie and the 49ers win
The Los Angeles Rams are eliminated from NFC West contention before Monday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons and therefore their result doesn’t matter. Seattle and San Francisco would be playing for both the division title and the No. 1 seed.
If the Seahawks win or tie, the 49ers lose, and Rams win
The 49ers would be eliminated from the NFC West and No. 1 seed race, but could still have reason to play for Wild Card seeding in Week 18. Seattle would need to win against the 49ers to clinch the division and No. 1 seed, while the Rams would need a win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 18 plus a Seahawks loss to capture the division crown.
If the Seahawks win, the 49ers and Bears tie, and the Rams lose or tie
Seattle wins the NFC West and the No. 1 seed and can therefore rest starters for Week 18 against the 49ers should Mike Macdonald choose to. It’s worth noting that this is the only scenario in which Seattle can win the No. 1 seed in Week 17.
If the Seahawks win and the 49ers and Rams both lose
Seattle wins the NFC West but not the No. 1 seed. The Chicago Bears can get the No. 1 seed in Week 18 with a win over the Detroit Lions and a Seahawks loss to the 49ers.
If the Seahawks lose and the 49ers and Rams win
Seattle drops to the No. 6 seed and would need to beat the 49ers in Week 18, plus hope for a Rams loss or tie against the Arizona Cardinals to win the division and the No. 1 seed.
If the Seahawks lose and the 49ers win but Rams lose or tie
The Seahawks drop to the No. 5 seed but the Rams are eliminated from the NFC West race. Seahawks vs. 49ers is still for the No. 1 seed and the division.
If the Seahawks lose and the 49ers lose but Rams win
The Seahawks drop to the No. 5 seed and the 49ers are out of the NFC West hunt. Seattle would still need to beat San Francisco and have the Rams fail to beat the Cardinals.
If the Seahawks, 49ers, and Rams all lose
The Seahawks drop to the No. 2 seed behind the Bears but nothing changes in the NFC West picture. Seahawks vs. 49ers is definitely for the NFC West title but may not be for the No. 1 seed if the Bears defeat the Lions.
If the Seahawks, 49ers, and Rams all tie
Nothing changes in the standings, but the Rams are still eliminated from the NFC West and Seahawks vs. 49ers is for the division and top seed.
Alright! I hope that clears everything up. Let’s see which path materializes over the next two days.
