With their Week 18 win in Los Angeles, the Seahawks finished the season with an impressive 7-1 record away from home, matching their best road record in franchise history, tying the mark set by the 2019 team.
Going 7-1 on the road is a heck of an accomplishment, especially for a team that is the most geographically located in the NFL, meaning it regularly is among the NFL leaders in miles traveled every season. The Seahawks also regularly play multiple games that kick off at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, including three such games in 2024, an added challenge that West Coast teams face. The Seahawks also won six straight road games after their lone road loss in Detroit, matching a franchise record also set in 2019.
Yet as Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald noted, this year's impressive road record was something of a bittersweet accomplishment, because the Seahawks also went 3-6 at home, a big factor in their missing the playoffs. Only two other NFL teams won seven or more road games this season, the Lions, who were 8-0 on the road, and the Chiefs, who were 7-2, and both of those teams secured No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences because they also had strong road records.
"The first thing that comes to mind is, we've got to play better at home," Macdonald said after being asked about the Seahawks' road record. "It's great to be 7-1 on the road, but we've got to make this place a nightmare for teams to come in and play us, and utilize our fans and the crowd and the 12s. The whole 12 as one mantra, we've really got to make that come to life when we're at Lumen, so that's going to be a major focus for us this offseason."
But even if the Seahawks' home struggles overshadowed an impressive road record, Macdonald and company can still take some pride in the way the team was able to play away from home throughout the season.
"The way we travel and how it's set up, I thought our operations folks like (director of team travel) Jeremy (Young) and (president of football operations/general manager) John (Schneider) the way they set everything up, and (director of performance nutrition) Andrea (Vanderwoude) with the food, it's really seamless when we travel, guys can really just focus on football, so I think we do it at a first-class level. And just the focus on keeping the team tougher—the 'business trip' we don't really use that language, it's really just, hey, let's stay loose, let's stay focused, let's keep the teaks at hand and go try to win a football game. We try to keep it simple. It's just the mentality of the guys, and operation wise, offensively, operating on silent cadence. Defensively, it's a little more quiet, so it's easier to communicate."
Go behind the scenes with team photographer Rod Mar as he shares moments from the Seahawks' victory over the L.A. Rams in the team's season finale.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV boards the team's charter flight for the trip to Los Angeles to face the Rams in the season finale.
Seahawks president of football operations/general manager John Schneider talks a call while the team buses wait to depart the tarmac in Los Angeles.
On gameday, Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith boards the team bus on a sunny Southern California day.
Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba makes his way to the team buses.
Seahawks receiver Cody White makes a leaping grap during early pregame warmups.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon stretches on the field during pregame.
Seahawks president of football operations/general manager John Schneider tosses a football up to a young Seahawks fan sitting behind the team's bench before the game.
Seahawks defensive backs Devon Witherspoon, Tre Brown and Rayshawn Jenkins chat before kickoff.
Seahawks head athletic trainer David Stricklin works with center Olu Oluwatimi before the game.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith strikes a pose in the locker room before the game.
In the locker room, offensive tackle Charles Cross gathers the linemen before they head to the field for pregame warmups.
Seahawks veteran wideout Tyler Lockett addresses the team before they take the field.
Seattle's Uchenna Nwosu makes his way from the locker room to the field.
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett was one of the last to leave the locker room before the game.
Seahawks game captains Michael Dickson and Tyler Lockett after they, along with Ernest Jones IV, won the opening coin toss.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight combines with Ernest Jones IV and sacks Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald with safety Coby Bryant during a break in the action.
Seahawks receiver Jake Bobo leaps to make his first touchdown catch of the season to open the scoring for Seattle.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald congratulates quarterback Geno Smith after Smith's TD pass to Jake Bobo in the first quarter.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant manhandles a Rams receiver.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith celebrates with receiver DK Metcalf after the duo combined for a touchdown pass in the second quarter.
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett created lots of space to make this catch.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers lines up a 56-yard field goal which he converted in the second quarter.
Seahawks safety Julian Love celebrates his first half interception with teammates.
At halftime, head coach Mike Macdonald addressed the defense.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams flies through the air to sack Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams performs his signature sack celebration.
Seattle's defense stuffed this second half run with Uchenna Nwosu and Devon Witherspoon making the stop.
Seahawks president of football operations/general manager John Schneider hugs receiver Tyler Lockett in the locker room after the victory.
Receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf shake hands in the locker room after the game.
Seahawks defensive stalwarts Uchenna Nwosu and Leonard Williams celebrate after the win.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith is congratulated by assistant coach Devin Fitzsimmons in the locker room after the game.
Seahawks assistant head coach Leslie Frazier awards a game ball to head coach Mike Macdonald after the game.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is celebrated by his team after being awarded a game ball.
Upon arriving back in Seattle, the Seahawks were greeted by these loyal 12s who stood in the dark and cold to thank the players for the season.
