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Seahawks NFL playoff odds, scenarios and prediction ahead of Week 18

The Seattle Seahawks need some luck on their side to make the 2023 NFL Playoffs

By Iain MacMillan

Dec 31, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and wide
Dec 31, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and wide / Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
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The Seattle Seahawks fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17 and now no longer control their own destiny to make it into the NFC Playoffs. Instead, the Seahawks need to win and get some help along the way if they want to return to the postseason.

Let's take a look at their odds to secure a spot in Week 18 as well as exactly what they need to happen to do so.

Seahawks playoff odds

Unfortunately for the Seahawks, oddsmakers don't have a ton of faith in them making the playoffs again this season. Heading into the final week, they have been given +270 odds of securing a playoff berth which translates to an implied probability of 27.03%.

Obviously, the San Francisco 49ers have already clinched the NFC West, so a wild card berth is the Seahawks only possible path to playing in the postseason.

Seahawks playoff scenarios

The Seahawks can clinch a playoff spot with the following scenarios:

  • Seahawks win (vs. Cardinals) + Packers lose or tie (vs. Bears)
  • Seahawks tie + Packers lose + Buccaneers lose or tie
  • Seahawks tie + Packers lose + Saints lose or tie

As you can see, for the Seahawks to have any chance of making the playoffs they need to beat or tie the Cardinals. The easiest path is for them to defeat the Cardinals and for the Green Bay Packers to lose to the Chicago Bears. This is the exact same scenario they were in last season, needing a Week 18 win and a Packers Week 18 loss. Last year, the win for the Seahawks had to come against the Rams and the loss for the Packers had to come against the Lions.

The good news is the Seahawks are listed as 3-point favorites against the Cardinals in their must-win game, the bad news is the Packers are also 3-point favorites against the Bears. The Seahawks beat the Cardinals at home by a final score of 20-10 in their previous meeting on October 22nd, but that was before the return of Kyler Murray.

Seahawks playoff prediction

The Seahawks defensive woes down the final stretch of the season have cost them, but believe it or not, I do think Seattle will get into the playoffs. While unlikely based on the odds, the Seahawks offense has enough to get the job done against the Cardinals and I think the Bears matchup really well against the Packers, who have also struggled defensively in the second half of the season.

Let's not forget the Seahawks were in this exact same situation last year and were able to pull through by beating the Rams and then having the Lions upset the Packers to eliminate Green Bay from the playoffs. This time, it's the Bears who will need to play spoiler and I think they're up for the challenge.

At +270 odds, the Seahawks are well worth the bet to make the playoffs despite needing some help in the final week.

If you agree with me and want to back that up with a bet, click the link below to sign up for an account at FanDuel Sportsbook. If you do exactly that, you'll receive $150 in bonus bets when you place your first $5 wager!

Bet on the Seahawks to make the playoffs at FanDuel now!

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

You can check out all of Iain's bets here!

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