The Seattle Seahawks just delivered one of the most dramatic wins of the NFL season - and maybe their biggest in years - rallying from 16 points down in the fourth quarter to edge out the Los Angeles Rams in a wild 38-37 overtime finish. In a game packed with playoff implications, this was more than just a comeback. It was a statement.
Let’s break it down.
A Revenge Win with Playoff Implications
This wasn’t just about avenging last month’s narrow 21-19 loss to the Rams - though that certainly added fuel to the fire. This was about taking control of the NFC playoff picture. With the win, Seattle now sits at 12-3, one game ahead of both the Rams (11-4) and the NFC North-leading Bears (11-4), and 1.5 games clear of the 49ers (10-4) in the NFC West race.
That puts the Seahawks in the driver’s seat for the NFC’s No. 1 seed - and all the benefits that come with it: a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. In a conference this competitive, those perks aren’t just nice to have - they’re potentially season-defining.
The Turning Point
For most of the game, the Rams looked like the better team. Through 51 minutes, they had control - dictating tempo, winning the line of scrimmage, and making the Seahawks' offense look pedestrian. But then, Seattle flipped the switch.
The comeback was fueled by a relentless fourth-quarter surge, capped by clutch execution in overtime. It was a reminder of how dangerous this Seahawks team can be when they find their rhythm - and how quickly they can change the narrative.
Are the Seahawks Now the NFC Favorites?
That’s the big question - and the answer might depend on how the next two weeks shake out.
NFL analyst Sheil Kapadia weighed in on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk, offering a measured take: “In the NFC, I feel like the Rams and the Seahawks are 1 and 2 in some order,” he said. “Now, if you told me they’re going to play Sunday on a neutral field, I might still pick the Rams.”
And that’s fair. For most of Thursday night, the Rams looked like the more complete team.
But the Seahawks’ ability to close the gap - and ultimately win - can’t be overlooked. If Seattle secures the No. 1 seed, that changes everything.
A bye week, plus the advantage of playing in front of their home crowd, could swing the postseason in their favor.
The Road Ahead
Seattle’s final two games come against the Panthers (8-7) and the 49ers - two matchups that are anything but gimmies. Win both, and the Seahawks lock up the top seed. Split them, and things get complicated.
According to The Athletic’s NFL Playoff Simulator, if Seattle loses to the Panthers but beats the 49ers, they’d have a 33% shot at the top seed. Flip that scenario - beat the Panthers but lose to San Francisco - and their chances drop to just 17%.
That’s the razor-thin margin we’re dealing with.
Failing to win the division would drop Seattle to the No. 5 seed, since the top four spots go to division winners. That would mean no bye, no home field, and a much tougher road to the Super Bowl.
Trust vs. Trajectory
Kapadia also pointed to the “trust factor” with the Rams - namely, the proven playoff track record of their coach and quarterback. That’s something Seattle’s still building, especially with Sam Darnold, who hasn’t yet had his postseason moment.
But if the Seahawks lock down the 1-seed and force teams like the Rams to go on the road for three straight weeks, that could be enough to tip the scales.
“It’s such an advantage to have the 1-seed,” Kapadia said. “And they need to hold onto that the last two weeks. If they do that, I think we might go into the playoffs and say they’re the favorites.”
Final Thoughts
This win didn’t just keep Seattle’s Super Bowl hopes alive - it might’ve elevated them. The Seahawks showed resilience, poise, and the kind of late-game execution that championship teams are built on.
But the job’s not done. The next two weeks will determine whether they enter the playoffs as the team to beat - or one of many chasing the crown.
For now, they’re in pole position. And if Thursday night was any indication, they’re not planning to give that up without a fight.