Idle Seahawks Benefit as Other Playoff Hopefuls Stumble

With nine games down and the playoff race starting to take shape, the Seahawks have a chance to pull within half a game of the NFC West-leading 49ers on Monday night.

But while Seattle waited for its next championship opportunity, however, the team's overall playoff chances received a boost with several other postseason hopefuls losing on Sunday.

The Los Angeles Rams, who entered the weekend with a 5-3 record and in third place behind the Seahawks and Rams in the NFC West, lost a 17-12 decision to the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Quarterback Jared Goff threw two interceptions, including a game-sealing pick to safety Minkah Fitzpatrick inside the final minute.

Meanwhile in snowy Green Bay, the Panthers nearly pulled off a last-second comeback, but Christian McCaffrey was stuffed at the goal line and the Packers held on for a 24-16 home victory. Like Los Angeles, Carolina's latest defeat dropped the team to 5-4 on the season.

Seven weeks remain on the schedule and it's still early, but if the Seahawks could find a way to win in Santa Clara, they'd further distance themselves from the Rams and Panthers in the wild card standings. A victory would move them 2.5 games in front of both teams heading into their bye week.

Of course, Seattle isn't looking to clinch a wild card again. Unlike last year, coach Pete Carroll's squad wants to play at least one home playoff game for the first time since 2016, which would require them to win the division.

To keep those dreams alive, a win on Monday night remains critical for the Seahawks, as a loss to the 49ers would ultimately put the team three games back with just six games left to play. It wouldn't be an impossible task to make up such ground, but it'd require the bottom to completely fall out from under their bitter rivals, which seems unlikely.