Following the Los Angeles Rams’ victory against the Arizona Cardinals, the Seattle Seahawks pinned their hopes on a series of results to secure the strength of victory tiebreaker. However, these hopes were dashed when the Washington Commanders defeated the Atlanta Falcons, ultimately eliminating the Seahawks from playoff contention.
As we navigated through Week 17, it became evident that we never fully outlined the requirements for the Seahawks to clinch the NFC West in Week 18. So, let’s address that now! Let’s imagine a scenario where the Falcons had utilized their timeouts effectively and had a kicker capable of long-distance field goals.
What the Seahawks would have needed in Week 18 (in addition to defeating the Rams)
– Chicago Bears over Green Bay Packers
– New England Patriots over Buffalo Bills
– Tampa Bay Buccaneers over New Orleans Saints
– Atlanta Falcons over Carolina Panthers
– Miami Dolphins over New York Jets
– Denver Broncos over Kansas City Chiefs
– Arizona Cardinals over San Francisco 49ers
– Los Angeles Chargers over Las Vegas Raiders
– Detroit Lions over Minnesota Vikings
While many of these outcomes were feasible, the Packers’ intention to field their starters against the Bears presented a significant hurdle. This alone could have foiled Seattle’s chances completely.
Ultimately, the likelihood of Seattle securing the SOV tiebreaker in Week 18 was slim. The disappointment lies in missing out on a potentially meaningful Seahawks vs. Rams matchup that could have served as a playoff-like game. Instead, the final regular-season game may resemble a preseason contest.
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