The Seattle Seahawks will host the Detroit Lions next Saturday, January 7 in the NFC Wild Card round at CenturyLink Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. PT and the game will be broadcasted nationally on NBC.
The Packers defeated Detroit 31-24 in a clash between the two teams on Sunday Night Football, and with Washington losing its regular-season finale to the New York Giants, the loser of the primetime matchup was set to take the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoff picture and match up against the NFC West champion and No. 3-seeded Seahawks.
"Here we go," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said following Sunday's road win over the San Francisco 49ers. "It's time, and these guys are really pumped. They know it's finally time to get ready for playoffs."
During the regular season, Seattle posted a 7-1 record at home, and after having to go on the road for last year's playoff run, this year's postseason trip will begin in front of the 12s at CenturyLink Field, where the Seahawks have posted a 5-0 playoff record since Carroll took over in 2010. Dating back to 2005, Seattle has won nine home playoff games in a row.
"We're excited about the opportunity," said quarterback Russell Wilson. "Obviously we'll come back home in front of the 12s, and I know everyone in Seattle will be pumped up and ready to roll. We can't wait for that opportunity to play another game at home."
By defeating the 49ers, 25-23, in Week 17, Seattle finished a season with 10 or more wins for the fifth-consecutive year. Additionally, the Seahawks are preparing for their fifth playoff appearance in a row, and the team has advanced to at least the divisional round of the playoffs every year since 2012, including back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 2013 and 2014, which yielded the franchise's first Lombardi Trophy after a 43-8 win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
"We have the potential," Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril said of Seattle's upcoming postseason opportunity. "We have the personnel to do it. It's all about us going out there and making it happen. But I'm definitely confident in the guys we have, from the leaders to everybody. I think we have the personnel for it, we've just got to go make it happen now."
If the Seahawks advance, they will hit the road to face the No. 2-seeded Atlanta Falcons on January 14 at 1:35 p.m. PT. The Falcons received a first-round bye after defeating New Orleans 38-32 on Sunday. NFL.com has a full picture of the playoff race here.
Tickets for the Wild Card game are currently available for purchase.
Action photos from Seahawks vs 49ers during Week 17 at Levi's Stadium.
