The Seattle Seahawks have the advantage over the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West. All three teams are vying for the NFC West title, and they can’t afford to lose with these squads right behind them.
The Carolina Panthers are not an easy team to beat and have already upset the Rams. The Seahawks are facing a tougher task now as Rashid Shaheed left the game with an injury.
What Happened to Rashid Shaheed?
Shaheed left the game in the second quarter with an injury. He was being examined for a potential concussion after taking a huge hit. Shaheed was a major addition for Seattle at the trade deadline and played a monster role in their victory over the Rams last week.
The Seahawks need Shaheed to be healthy as a threat opposite Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has been one of the best receivers in the NFL. Shaheed only had one catch for eight yards when he exited, while only Smith-Njigba had the other four for Seattle before Shaheed’s injury.
Shaheed didn’t return to the game in the first half as the Panthers’ defense gave the Seattle offense trouble. He was eventually ruled out in the third quarter.
Seattle needs to get more out of their other receiving threats. Cooper Kupp and AJ Barner have been shut out in the first half, while the running backs have picked up some of the slack in the receiving game.
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The Seahawks cannot afford to drop this game. The 49ers and Rams are breathing down their necks. They’ll be hoping that Shaheed can play in Week 18. He is the 67th-ranked receiver in PFSN’s WR Impact metric with an impact score of 72.5.
Seattle has the most straightforward path to the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They win their final two games, and the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC will run through Seattle. Teams will be hoping that the Seahawks can’t secure the top seed because Seattle is one of the toughest places to play in the NFL. The 12th Man is no joke and gives opposing offenses headaches with its atmosphere.
They have a big second half ahead of them. If they rely on their great defense, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and their tandem of running backs, they could be one step closer to finalizing their spot atop the NFC.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
