Editor's note: this article has been updated to reflect the Seahawks' win against the Bears.
After losing two games to fall out of first place in the NFC West, the Seahawks no longer control their own playoff destiny, but there are still ways they can make the postseason, depending on how the final two weeks play out.
The NFL put out its weekly playoff clinching scenarios on Tuesday, including the ways in which the Rams can clinch the division before they host the Seahawks in Week 18.
Scenario 1
If the Seahawks had lost on Thursday, the Rams, who host the Cardinals on Saturday night, would have clinched the NFC West with a win, but they've avoided this scenario by beating the Bears.
Scenario 2
If the Rams lose to the Cardinals, the Week 18 game between the Seahawks and Rams will be for the NFC West, regardless of the Seahawks' win against the Bears. That's because, if both teams were to lose, the Seahawks would be a game behind the Rams going into Week 18, and if they were to win that game, they would win the tiebreaker of better NFC West record, again, assuming a Rams loss to the Cardinals.
Scenario 3
If the Rams join the Seahawks in winning this week, however, it's not as simple, because in that scenario, a Seahawks Week 18 win would leave both teams with the same record, a head-to-head split, the same NFC West record, the same record in common games, and the same conference record. The fifth tiebreaker after all of that is strength of victory, and heading into Week 17, the Rams have the edge there, thanks largely to the fact that they have wins over the Bills and Vikings.
And thanks to that strength of victory lead, the Rams could clinch this week with a win even with the Seahawks' win in Chicago, doing so if they get 3.5 or more wins from the Vikings (vs. Packers), Bills (vs. Jets), 49ers (vs. Lions), Commanders (vs. Falcons), Bengals (vs. Broncos) and Browns (vs. Dolphins).
So basically for the Seahawks, to still be in the NFC West race after Sunday, they need either a Cardinals win over the Rams, in which case Week 18 is for the division title no matter what, or if the Rams win Saturday, the Seahawks need four wins from the Packers, Jets, Lions, Falcons, Broncos or Dolphins out of the above six games.
The Seattle Seahawks take on the Chicago Bears on Thursday, December 26, 2024 for Week 17 of the 2024 season. Kick off is set for 5:15 p.m. PT. Take a look back at some of their previous matchups.
Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton (34) leaves Seattle Seahawks cornerback Cornell Webster (38) sprawling as he gains 11 yards with a pass from quarterback Bob Avellini in first quarter, Sunday, Nov. 5, 1976 in Chicago. Play was good for a first down. (AP Photo/Fred Jewell)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ray Butler (83) eludes Chicago Bears cornerback Reggie Phillips (48) during an NFL game in Chicago, Ill., Dec. 20, 1987. The Seahawks defeated the Bears 34-21. (AP Photo/Damian Strohmeyer)
Seattle Seahawks head coach Chuck Knox hears words of encouragement from Bears head coach Mike Ditka following the Seahawks 17-0 loss to the Chicago Bears on September 9, 1990 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Seattle Seahawks Cortez Kennedy (96) during a game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois against the Chicago Bears from his 1999 season. The Seahawks beat the Bears 14-13. Cortez Kennedy played for 11 seasons all with the Seahawks, was an 8-time Pro Bowler and inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.(David Durochik via AP)
Umpire Darrell Jenkins, left, flies into the pile as Chicago Bears quarterback Chris Chandler (12) scores on a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2003, in Seattle. At right are Seahawks' Norman Hand (96) and Cedric Woodard (98). (AP Photo)
Chicago Bears wide receiver Bernard Berrian, left, catches a 40-yard pass for a touchdown as Seattle Seahawks' Kelly Herndon, center, and Oliver Celestin, right, defend during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006 in Chicago. (AP Photo)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Mike Williams (17) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 18: Linebacker Julian Peterson #59 of the Seattle Seahawks eyes the quarterback against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, November 18, 2007 in Seattle, Washington. Seattle won the game 30-23. (AP Photo/Thomas E. Witte) Julian Peterson
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS VS CHICAGO BEARS - Julius Jones scores on a 39-yard touchdown catch and run up the sideline in the first quarter.
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch carries the ball against the Chicago Bears defense and safety Danieal Manning, right in the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, left, talks with his brother, Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett, right, after an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Bears 26-0. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) makes a touchdown reception against Chicago Bears defensive back Kyle Fuller (23) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
