Seahawks Stay in NFC West Driver’s Seat, But the Road Ahead Is Anything But Easy
The Seahawks pulled off a wild one against the Rams - a 38-37 comeback thriller that reminded everyone just how dangerous this team can be when it’s clicking. Down 16 in the fourth quarter, Seattle stormed back to snatch a win that not only electrified Lumen Field but also kept them atop the NFC West at 12-3.
But as linebacker Ernest Jones put it after the game: “There’s a new schedule of football. It’s over with.
We’re ready to go play the Panthers.”
That mindset? It’s exactly what Seattle needs right now, because the division race is far from over - and the 49ers aren’t going anywhere.
Niners Keep Pace With Statement Win
On Monday night, San Francisco made sure the rest of the NFC heard them loud and clear. The Niners dismantled the Colts in a 48-27 road win that was as much about firepower as it was about intent. The same Colts team that Seattle edged 18-16 the week prior got steamrolled by a 49ers squad that’s now won five straight.
That win pushed San Francisco to 11-4, tied with the Rams but ahead due to a better division record. The Niners are 4-1 in NFC West play, with their lone division loss coming against the Rams. The Rams, meanwhile, have dropped two division games - one to San Francisco and one to Seattle - which puts them behind in the tiebreaker column.
So here’s the picture: With two weeks left in the regular season, all three teams - Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles - have clinched playoff spots. But the division crown? That’s still up for grabs.
What’s at Stake
For Seattle, the path is clear: win out, and the NFC West title is theirs for the first time since 2020. That means taking care of business on the road against Carolina (8-7) this Sunday, then heading to Santa Clara in Week 18 for what could be a winner-take-all showdown with the 49ers.
If the Seahawks win both, they don’t just win the division - they lock up the NFC’s No. 1 seed. That means a first-round bye, home-field advantage through the playoffs, and a much more favorable path to the Super Bowl.
But the 49ers are in the exact same position. If they beat the Bears at home this Sunday night and then take down Seattle in Week 18, they leapfrog the Seahawks and claim the top seed themselves.
And don’t sleep on the Rams. At 11-4, they’re still very much in the mix, especially with the softest remaining schedule of the three contenders.
They’ll visit Atlanta (6-9) and then host Arizona (3-12) to close out the season. If they win both - and if Seattle or San Francisco slips up just once - the Rams could sneak in and steal the division at 13-4.
Here’s how that scenario plays out: If the Rams win out and the Seahawks also finish 13-4 by losing one of their final two games, L.A. would win the West based on a better record in common games (10-2 vs. 9-3). It’s a slim margin, but in a race this tight, every edge matters.
The Wild Card Reality
Whichever two teams don’t win the division will fall to the NFC’s fifth and sixth seeds. That’s still playoff football, but it’s the hard road - three straight games on the road just to reach the Super Bowl. For teams as talented as the Seahawks, 49ers, and Rams, that’s not ideal, but it’s the reality of a stacked NFC.
The Message Inside the Locker Room
After Thursday’s emotional win over the Rams, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald didn’t let his team get too high. He gathered the group in the locker room and reminded them what’s still ahead. Veteran defensive tackle Jarran Reed summed it up best: “We’ve got more work to do.”
That’s the tone Seattle needs to carry into Carolina - focused, hungry, and aware that the margin for error is razor-thin. The NFC West is shaping up to be a heavyweight fight to the finish, and the Seahawks are right in the center of it.
They’ve got the lead. Now they’ve got to hold it.