As Seattle Seahawks nation winds down from all the turkey, pumpkin pie, and terrible football, we turn our attention toward the final six games of a rollercoaster of a season in Seattle.
From 3-0 to 4-5, and now sitting at 6-5 while controlling their destiny for a division championship, how the Seahawks are able to finish these final games will go a long way to deciding the trajectory of the franchise.
From teams ascending like the Packers and Vikings to teams in despair like the Jets and Bears, we'll walk through the final six games of the season. Let's project how Mike Macdonald’s first season finishes up and see if it's good enough for some playoff football back in Seattle.
Predicting the last six games of the Seattle Seahawks' 2024 season
Seahawks at New York Jets - Week 13
While it won't be Geno Smith's first game back at MetLife Stadium, it will be his first time back against the team that drafted him. The vibes are low in New York as we may be watching the last ride of Aaron Rodgers, but I expect the Jets to have some fight in them. At the end of the day, the Seahawks will pull away, and with Sataoa Laumea inserted into the lineup at guard, perhaps a spark of a run game for the stretch run?
Prediction: Seahawks over Jets 26-16 (7-5)
Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals - Week 14
As Seattle heads into the desert, I expect them to be facing a Cardinals team on the ropes. After the Seahawks manhandled the Cardinals in Seattle last week, the Cardinals will be in Minnesota this week and are staying down the very real possibility of watching their playoff hopes slip away.
I expect the Cardinals to play desperate and will likely lead for the majority of the game, but look for Jason Myers and Kenneth Walker to make some key plays late, and Seattle to finish off the Cardinals (for good) in overtime.
Prediction: Seahawks over Cardinals 30-24 in OT (8-5)
Seahawks vs Green Bay Packers (Sunday Night Football) - Week 15
In Seattle’s third primetime game of the season, they will face a Green Bay team that is surging right now. Primetime has not been kind to the Seahawks so far this season, and this will be a tall hill to climb as well. Jordan Love appears to be taking the next step and looking for the Packers to jump out to a large early lead. The Seahawks will battle back, but eventually come up short against a team that looks like a dark horse Super Bowl threat.
Prediction: Packers over Seahawks 27-19 (8-6)
Seahawks vs Minnesota Vikings - Week 16
After another difficult defeat at home, the Seahawks get another difficult challenge as the currently 9-2 Minnesota Vikings come to Seattle a few days before Christmas. Kevin O'Connell and Brian Flores present serious challenges for Mike Macdonald and Ryan Grubb to deal with, but this also feels like the game where Macdonald gets his first real signature win at Lumen Field.
The defense makes life miserable for Sam Darnold, as he throws three interceptions, with Riq Woolen returning one to the house, and Geno Smith protects the ball and does enough for Seattle to get a massive win.
Prediction: Seahawks over Vikings 24-17 (9-6)
Seahawks at Chicago Bears (TNF) - Week 17
This game is currently a primetime game in Chicago on the day after Christmas, but I strongly believe that it will be flexed out. While a ten-day rest period before the final game of the season, it will be nice for the Seahawks to be at full possible health when they take on a Bears team that is currently in disarray. There's a strong chance the Bears will have an interim coach and may be protecting Caleb Williams at this point.
Sounds like the perfect Seahawks game for them to lose. I do think that Seattle will win this game, but I expect it to be a grind as the defense carries an inconsistent offense yet again.
Prediction: Seahawks over Bears 20-14 (10-6)
Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams - Week 18
In the season finale, the Seahawks will hope to avenge a game that they gave away at home when Matt Stafford walked off the Seahawks in overtime. This time around, we may be seeing a game with more backups than playoff implications.
If Seattle were to go 4-1 in their next five games, there's a really strong chance a victory over Chicago could clinch Seattle their first NFC West title since 2020. With the 49ers playing at Arizona during the final week of the season, there is still the possibility that the Seahawks have to win in order to either win the West or make the playoffs as a wildcard.
Assuming the Seahawks have to play, and looking at how brutal the final six games of the season are for the Rams, I think they will already be looking toward the draft and a potentially high pick while Seattle prepares to hang another division title banner.
Critical red zone turnovers cost Seattle the game in Seattle, and with better care of the ball, I expect DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba to light up the Rams once again. The Seahawks win comfortably in a Seahawks-friendly crowd and officially punch their ticket to the playoffs.
Prediction: Seahawks over Rams 31-20 (11-6) and Seattle is NFC West champions and the number three seed in the NFC.