The stakes don’t get much higher than this for the Seattle Seahawks heading into Week 16. With the NFC West hanging in the balance and playoff positioning on the line, Seattle’s showdown with the Los Angeles Rams is more than just a divisional rivalry-it’s a statement game.
Let’s set the table. Both the Seahawks and Rams enter the week at 11-3, tied atop the NFC West.
The Rams already punched their ticket to the postseason in Week 15, becoming the first NFC team to do so. Seattle, meanwhile, is knocking on the door-and this game could be their key to unlocking it.
A win on Sunday wouldn’t just clinch a playoff berth for the Seahawks-it would vault them into sole possession of first place in the division and, crucially, into the driver’s seat for the NFC’s No. 1 seed. With just two regular-season games left after this one, that top spot would put Seattle in prime position for a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
But there’s more than just seeding at stake. There’s history-and a little redemption-in play here, too.
Last season, in Mike Macdonald’s first year at the helm, the Seahawks finished 10-7 but missed the postseason after losing a tiebreaker to the Rams. It was a bitter pill to swallow, especially given how tight the margins were. Now, with both teams once again neck-and-neck, Seattle has a chance to flip the script.
The Rams got the better of the Seahawks earlier this season, edging them out 21-19 in Week 11. That loss is the lone blemish on Seattle’s impressive 8-1 run over their last nine games.
This time, the rematch comes at Lumen Field, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Not only is this Seattle’s opportunity to avenge that loss, but it’s also a chance to prove they’ve grown since that November meeting.
There’s also a playoff-clinching scenario that doesn’t involve beating the Rams-Seattle would get in if the Detroit Lions lose or tie against the Pittsburgh Steelers. But let’s be real: the Seahawks want to handle business themselves. Backing into the playoffs isn’t the mentality of a team with championship aspirations.
Still, the margins are razor-thin. Depending on how the chips fall, Seattle could end the week as the NFC’s top seed-or slide all the way down to a low Wild Card spot. That’s how tight the race is in the NFC, and that’s what makes this game so pivotal.
It would also mark a milestone moment for Macdonald, who’s looking to secure his first playoff berth as a head coach. His squad has shown resilience and growth throughout the season, but this is the kind of game that defines a coach’s early tenure-one where preparation, poise, and execution under pressure all come to the forefront.
Of course, the Rams have had the upper hand in this rivalry recently. Seattle has just one win in the last five meetings, though it’s worth noting that four of those games were decided by a single score.
These teams know each other well, and the margins are always slim. Expect another tight, physical contest.
Bottom line: this isn’t just a game-it’s a measuring stick. For the Seahawks, it’s a chance to prove they belong at the top of the NFC.
For Macdonald, it’s an opportunity to take that next step as a head coach. And for fans?
It’s the kind of late-December football that reminds us why we love this game in the first place.
Sunday can’t come soon enough.