After narrowly missing the playoffs last season, the Seattle Seahawks have defied expectations in 2025. Their massive win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16 completely changed the playoff picture in the NFC, and they maintained their position with a victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 17.
With just one week remaining in the regular season, we break down Seattle’s chances of winning the NFC West and securing the No. 1 overall seed in the conference’s playoff bracket.
What Are the Seahawks’ Chances for NFC’s No.1 Seed?
Mike Macdonald has been nothing short of amazing in his two seasons as the Seahawks’ head coach. He’s posted a 23-10 record through his first 33 games at the helm. The former Baltimore Ravens and Michigan Wolverines defensive coordinator has breathed new life into a franchise looking to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2014.
Seattle finished 10-7 last season, but it still wasn’t viewed as a legitimate Super Bowl contender heading into 2025. This team looked every bit like a contender entering Week 17. The Seahawks have already won more games than they did a season ago, behind a top-3 defense and a top-10 offense in PFSN’s Impact metrics.
When Seattle signed Sam Darnold in the offseason, skeptics wondered if he could build off the revival he had in Minnesota. The move has panned out for Klint Kubiak’s offense, and for Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s stock as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Through 16 games, Smith-Njigba has caught 113 passes for a league-high 1,709 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Darnold and Smith-Njigba’s instant connection, coupled with an elite defense, makes the Seahawks extremely dangerous against any opponent. The Seahawks have a challenging Week 18 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers ahead, but they have already secured a playoff berth. This bunch is hungry for more, though.
After a thrilling overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle gained the inside track to winning the NFC West. According to PFSN’s NFL Playoff Predictor, the Seahawks entered the week with a 53.2% chance of winning the division, a 46.0% chance of securing the NFC’s No. 1 seed, and a 12.2% chance of winning the Super Bowl.
The win over the Panthers significantly boosted those odds. Seattle now have a 67.7% chance of winning the division, a 60.8% chance of securing the No. 1 seed, and a 13.6% chance of winning the Super Bowl.
The Niners entered the week with a 27.5% chance of winning the division, while the Rams had a 19.3% chance.
Seattle can clinch the NFC West this week if both the Rams and 49ers lose or tie in their respective matchups. The Seahawks can also clinch the No. 1 seed, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage with a Rams loss, and a tie between the 49ers and Bears.
Seahawks’ Remaining Schedule
- Week 18: Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
Seattle faced a tough two-game stretch to close out the regular season, with each matchup against a playoff contender. The Seahawks held serve against the Panthers, who wanted to maintain their slim lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South. Meanwhile, the 49ers are trying to overtake the Seahawks in the NFC West.
Macdonald and company are still in the driver’s seat. If the 49ers beat the Bears on Sunday night, the Week 18 tilt will be for the NFC West crown. While they could receive some help from other teams, the cleanest path to ensuring the NFC goes through Seattle is to take care of business in the regular-season finale.
