Seahawks playoff chances look crystal clear over the remaining four games

With four straight wins to take back the lead in the NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks are one of the hottest teams in the NFL right now. After falling to 4-5, Seattle has rattled off four in a row to improve to 8-5 and currently hold a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Rams in the division. However, with such a small margin for error, clinching the division won't be easy.

The Los Angeles Rams, who currently hold a head-to-head tiebreaker with Seattle, are only one game back at 7-6. Behind them are the Arizona Cardinals a game back at 6-7, who Seattle swept this season. And rounding out the bottom of the division is the San Francisco 49ers, who are also 6-7 but are slotted in last place thanks to a 1-3 division record.

The easiest, most concise, and most satisfying way for the Seahawks to make the playoffs would be to win the division. However, that's technically not the only way Seattle could sneak into the postseason in January. A wildcard berth is a possibility, but they'd need some serious luck. Here's every possible way the Seahawks could clinch the playoffs over the next four weeks.

What are the scenarios the Seattle Seahawks can make the playoffs?

Seattle wins out

I mean, duh. With a one-game lead in the division currently, all Seattle has to do to win the division is win out. Easy enough, right?

Well, Seattle still has the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and a road game against the Rams still on their schedule. Winning out at this point is possible, but quite unlikely. This team seems to be firing on all cylinders and is playing some elite defense, but running the table at this point seems far-fetched.

Let's look at some more realistic scenarios.

Seattle wins two of their next three games, beats the Rams in Week 18

With two very tough games right around the corner in Green Bay and Minnesota, it is safe to assume the Seahawks may drop at least one of them. And let's assume the Rams win their next three games. Both teams would be 10-6 when they meet at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood in Week 18. That game would be for all the marbles.

If the Seahawks go into that game and win, they would wind up 11-6 and an NFC West crown. The winner of the NFC West would, in all likelihood, end up with the third seed in the NFC, hosting the sixth seed. In this scenario, Seattle needs no help from anyone else. It doesn't matter if the Rams win out (up until Week 18) if the Cardinals win out, or if the Niners win out. If Seattle can manage to come out of the next three weeks with only one loss, they'll be set up to escape California as NFC West champs if they win.

Seattle wins their three next games, but loses to the Rams in Week 18

There's a chance the Seahawks could lose in Week 18 to the Rams and still make the playoffs. In this scenario, the Seahawks rattle off three in a row against Green Bay, Minnesota, and Chicago -- but lose to the Rams. This is one of those scenarios where Seattle would need help.

If Seattle wins all of their next three games, and Los Angeles loses just one of their next three games, Seattle could clinch the division by the end of Week 17. The Rams play the 49ers, the New York Jets, and the Cardinals over their next three weeks. Let's assume the Seahawks beat all three of their upcoming opponents and the Rams lose to one of the Niners, Jets, or Cardinals. At the end of Week 17, the Seahawks will have a two-game lead over the rest of the division with only one game left to go.

Seattle goes 2-2 the rest of the way, including a Week 18 win vs. Rams:

Yes, there is still a possibility of winning the division even if the Seahawks lose two of their next three games. And that is a very real possibility, as Minnesota and Green Bay are both very good football teams. Assume Seattle loses their next two games, beats Chicago, then beats the Rams. Seattle would be 10-7, but they'd be in some trouble without help.

If the Seahawks lose the next two games, here's what needs to happen. San Francisco has to beat the Rams on Thursday night. In Week 17, it doesn't matter who wins in the Cardinals versus Rams game. If the Cardinals win out and Seattle wins two of their next four, the Cardinals and Seahawks will have identical 10-7 records.

However, Seattle will own the head-to-head tiebreaker. If the Rams beat the Cardinals, but lose to the Niners on Thursday night and lose to the Seahawks in Week 18, the Seahawks finish with a one-game lead over both the Rams and Cardinals.

Seattle loses the division, still sneaks in as a wildcard playoff team:

With four weeks left and a rough schedule to finish the season, the Seahawks could absolutely fumble the division lead. However, as dejecting as that would be, it doesn't have to be the end of the world. Seattle could still clinch a playoff berth, with some help of course.

If Seattle does not win the NFC West and wants to earn a Wildcard spot in the playoffs, many things have to happen. Firstly, the Seahawks absolutely have to win at least two of their remaining four games. Secondly, the Washington Commanders would need to lose at least three of their next four games. Thirdly, Arizona must lose at least one game. Finally, the NFC South second-place finisher cannot eclipse nine wins.

That sounds like a lot, but we've seen crazier things happen. Remember 2022? The Seahawks needed to beat the Rams in Week 18 and have the mediocre Detroit Lions defeat Aaron Rodgers and the Packers on Sunday night. Seattle got the help they needed and ended up in the playoffs.

The point is, there are many ways the Seahawks can make the playoffs. The most likely and safest scenario is by outright winning the NFC West. And Seattle can even do that before Week 18 if they get a little bit of help. However, there are still four serious threats looming ahead of the finish line and Seattle must take care of business and finish strong.

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