The Seattle Seahawks are 8-7, one game better than they were in 2022. Seattle had to win its final two games last year to make the playoffs, and they needed a little help from the Detroit Lions by Detroit beating the Green Bay Packers. This year is simpler for Seattle currently: Win in Weeks 17 and 18 and Seattle is in.
Seattle began practicing for Week 17 on Wednesday and several veterans were rested. At this point in the season, walk-throughs are important, especially against a team Seattle does not play all that much in the Pittsburgh Steelers, but players also need their rest. No one is likely feeling 100 percent at this point.
One player who is looking less and less likely to return this year is safety Jamal Adams. That's probably a good thing as the defense seems better without him. Playing Julian Love makes a lot more sense. But here is some other Seahawks news, including how Seattle can clinch a playoff spot by beating the Steelers.
Unlikely but possible: Seahawks chances of clinching postseason in Week 17
Seattle controls its own playoff destiny at this point. Beat the Steelers at Lumen Field in Week 17 and then defeat the Cardinals in Arizona in Week 18 and Seattle will make the playoffs and travel to play in the Wild Card game. Would Seattle be expected to win against whoever they play at any point in the postseason? No, but just make the playoffs and see what happens.
Seattle could clinch a postseason season spot this weekend by beating the Steelers, which is not an easy task as the Steelers have a very good defense, are 8-7, and are battling for an AFC playoff spot themselves, and if the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers tie. There have been zero ties in the NFL in 2023, so Sunday would be a good time for one.
So, yes. While it is unlikely Seattle will clinch a playoff spot in Week 17, at least it is possible. The main thing is that the Seahawks probably just need a victory in the next two games.
FanSided's Week 17 power rankings
After a four-game stretch between Weeks 12 and 15 that saw the Seahawks play top-five teams in terms of FanSided's power rankings, the schedule began to ease a bit in Week 16. Seattle still needed a last-minute touchdown to defeat the Tennessee Titans on Christmas Eve, though. For the first time in 24 years, a team - that would be your Seattle Seahawks - won in back-to-back weeks by a score of 20-17 with last-minute game-winning drives.
Seattle plays the Steelers this Sunday and Pittsburgh is ranked 16. They jumped up seven spots in this week's power rankings. The reason? Pittsburgh's offense finally came alive in Week 16 and the Steelers drubbed a decent Cincinnati Bengals team 34-11. What's scary is that a couple of weeks ago, Seattle had to look forward to playing a very good Steelers defense, but now Seattle has to stop the greatness that is quarterback Mason Rudolph.
In the final week of the season, Seattle will play inter-division rival, the Cardinals. Arizona has had the kind of season most expected and are 3-12. Since quarterback Kyler Murray returned from a leg injury in mid-November, Arizona is slightly better and is 2-4. This includes a 24-10 victory over the Steelers in early December. 29th-ranked Arizona plays hard at least, and won't simply lay down for Seattle.
The Seahawks, however, took a huge leap up the rankings. Ahead of Week 16, they were ranked 21, but this week are 12. There is no real reason given for Seattle moving up nine spots other than winning back-to-back close games, but I am happy with being 12 either way.
Baker Mayfield in for Geno Smith?
Lots of 12s think that Seattle needs to find a new quarterback beginning in 2024. Some might like Drew Lock and some others might like Geno Smith, but rarely does a person like them equally, it seems. But most people would probably agree that the Seahawks need to take a quarterback relatively high in the 2024 NFL Draft. The issue is that Seattle does not have a second-round choice after trading the pick away for defensive lineman Leonard Williams earlier this season. This means Seattle would need to probably take a quarterback with their first pick, and this might be unlikely.
But NBC Sports' Mike Florio has another idea. Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is currently having the best season of his relatively underwhelming career but only signed with Tampa Bay for one year ahead of the 2023 season. Mayfield is an unrestricted free agent this coming offseason. Unless the Buccaneers place the franchise tag on him (which would likely pay Mayfield $35 million next season), Mayfield is free to sign anywhere.
Florio thinks the Seahawks could be a possible destination for Mayfield if Seattle moves on from Geno Smith. Smith is signed through 2025, but Seattle could save $13.8 million by releasing Smith. This savings would probably not be enough to lure Mayfield to Seattle, though.
Plus, there is no guarantee Mayfield would be better in the future than Smith or even Drew Lock. In the last three seasons (after Smith had a hiatus from being a starter in the NFL in 2014 until 2022), Smith has a touchdown percentage of 4.7 percent and an interception percentage of 1.9. Both of these are better numbers than Mayfield has had over his six-year career. Mayfield's 2023 season could be a one-off good year and there is no guarantee of future success.