Affect and effect. To, too and two. There, their and they’re. NFL and tiebreakers.
With just two weeks left in the 2024 NFL regular season, tiebreakers are on many people’s minds. This time of year is filled with countless playoff and clinching scenarios. Some are simple, and others are like trying to build that toy with vague directions on Christmas Eve.
One scenario worth watching is the NFC West division title. Seattle takes the field against the Chicago Bears on “Thursday Night Football” with plenty on the line. The Seahawks once controlled their own destiny, but now the Rams can chart their course.
Here’s a look at the Seahawks playoff picture and how they can make their postseason dreams a reality.
![]()
Seahawks playoff odds
The Seahawks, who can only get into the postseason by winning the NFC West, are +500 to make the playoffs, according to BetMGM. That gives Seattle a 16.7% implied probability of playing more than the allotted 17-game schedule.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
How can the Seahawks make the playoffs?
Thanks to two straight losses, the Seahawks no longer control their destiny. Now, they will need help to reach wild card weekend.
With a Week 18 matchup against the Rams looming, the Seahawks’ easiest path to the postseason is for their L.A. counterparts to lose in Week 17. A loss on Saturday for the Rams would open the door for a win-and-in scenario for both teams, setting up a battle for the NFC West crown in the regular season’s final week.
The Seahawks can be eliminated with a loss or tie against the Bears on “Thursday Night Football” and a Rams’ win on Saturday.
However, a Rams’ loss on Saturday is where things get funky and would render the Seahawks’ Week 17 game result meaningless. They are set to host the Cardinals, who are eliminated from playoff contention. Arizona won the Week 2 matchup in blowout fashion, 41-10. Plenty has changed since then, but the Rams are not guaranteed a victory, especially over a division foe.
That loss would mean the Week 18 game between L.A. and Seattle would be for the NFC West division crown. In that scenario, Seattle would get in thanks to owning the better NFC West record.
If both teams won, Seattle can still cling to their playoff dreams if they get some luck from the out-of-town scoreboard. At that point, the strength of victory tiebreaker comes into play. The Rams have the edge there now and can clinch that tiebreaker this week with positive results in 3.5-of-6 games.
The Rams would own that tiebreaker with 3.5 or more wins from Vikings (vs. Packers), Bills (vs. Jets), 49ers (vs. Lions), Commanders (vs. Falcons), Bengals (vs. Broncos) and Browns (vs. Dolphins).
If both the Rams and Seahawks win, Seattle would then be rooting for at least four wins from the group that includes the Packers, Jets, Lions, Falcons, Broncos and Dolphins to stay afloat heading into Week 18.
DO YOU LIKE FOOTBALL? Then you’ll enjoy getting our NFL newsletter delivered to your inbox
Seahawks remaining schedule
The Seahawks find themselves with a fairly easy schedule in the final two weeks, ranking in at the No. 21 toughest schedule in the league, according to Tankathon. Seattle’s opponents check in with a combined winning percentage of .433.
However, the Seahawks won’t be in the friendly confines of Lumen Field to close out the regular season. While that would’ve been a concern in the past, Seattle is just 3-6 at home. Compared to their 5-1 record on the road, these Seahawks are comfortable living out of a suitcase, something they’ll get used to over the next two weeks.
Below is a full look at Seattle’s schedule:
NFC West standings
The Seahawks only path to the postseason is winning the NFC West. The wild card is out of reach, so the path is narrow but fairly simple heading into their Week 17 game. It’s been a jumbled mess between the four NFC West teams all season and now just two teams are left standing with two games to go.
Below is a full look at the NFC West standings entering Week 17:
- Los Angeles Rams (9-6)
- Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
- Arizona Cardinals (7-8)
- San Francisco 49ers (6-9)
NFL playoff picture Week 17
AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, clinched AFC No. 1 seed, AFC West leaders)
- Buffalo Bills (12-3, AFC East leaders)
- Baltimore Ravens (11-5, AFC North leaders)
- Houston Texans (9-7, AFC South leaders)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, wild card No. 1)
- Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, wild card No. 2)
- Denver Broncos (9-6, wild card No. 3)
In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (7-8), Miami Dolphins (7-8), Cincinnati Bengals (7-8).
NFC
- Detroit Lions (13-2, NFC North leaders)
- Philadelphia Eagles (12-3, NFC East leaders)
- Los Angeles Rams (9-6, NFC West leaders)
- Atlanta Falcons (8-7, NFC South leaders)
- Minnesota Vikings (13-2, wild card No. 1)
- Green Bay Packers (11-4, wild card No. 2)
- Washington Commanders (10-5, wild card No. 3)
In the hunt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7), Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
1. Los Angeles Lakers: 98%
2. Brooklyn Nets: 95%
3. Utah Jazz: 90%
4. Phoenix Suns: 88%
5. Philadelphia 76ers: 85%
6. Milwaukee Bucks: 82%
7. Denver Nuggets: 78%
8. LA Clippers: 75%
9. Dallas Mavericks: 70%
10. Atlanta Hawks: 65%
11. Miami Heat: 60%
12. Golden State Warriors: 55%
13. Portland Trail Blazers: 50%
14. New York Knicks: 45%
15. Boston Celtics: 40%
16. Memphis Grizzlies: 35%
17. Indiana Pacers: 30%
18. Charlotte Hornets: 25%
19. San Antonio Spurs: 20%
20. Chicago Bulls: 15%
21. Washington Wizards: 10%
22. New Orleans Pelicans: 8%
23. Toronto Raptors: 5%
24. Cleveland Cavaliers: 3%
25. Orlando Magic: 2%
26. Sacramento Kings: 1%
27. Detroit Pistons: 0.5%
28. Houston Rockets: 0.1%
29. Oklahoma City Thunder: 0.05%
30. Minnesota Timberwolves: 0.01%
These odds are constantly changing based on each team’s performance, injuries, and other factors. Keep an eye on your favorite team’s chances as the season progresses! #Playoffs #NBA #UpdatedOdds
Tags:
