Could Seahawks reach playoffs without needing Lions to beat Packers?
No.
Update: It was not meant to be, but what a world that would have been.
There is nothing clear about the report from Mike Florio that just came out, but he has now brought up one potential “fix” to the NFL’s ongoing issue of what to do about the cancellation of the Bills-Bengals game. There does not appear to a desire on the part of anyone involved with that specific game, or most fans, to see the Bills and Bengals finish their game from Monday night.
The game would be declared a no contest and Buffalo, Cincinnati would play 16 games this year, not 17. Because both of these teams were in contention for high seeds in the AFC playoff field, it mucks up the gears for playoff seeding and the NFL is trying to handle the situation with care but also with fairness.
Florio has mentioned the approach of having eight playoff teams, not seven, so that nobody gets a bye week. This would, of course, mean that the Seattle Seahawks make the NFC playoffs if they just beat the Rams on Sunday.
The question then becomes seeding the AFC playoffs without Bills-Bengals. Winning percentage becomes the most obvious method. But there are concerns about equity, given that the winner of the Bills-Bengals game would have been in position to be one of the top seed AFC seeds.
One possibility would be to add an eighth team to the playoff field in the AFC. This would eliminate the bye for the No. 1 seed.
To ensure competitive balance, there would have to be eight teams in the NFC, too.
The NFL Players Association would have to agree to a temporary expansion of the playoff field.
The Seahawks would finish 9-8 if they beat the Rams, and then the loser of Lions-Packers would finish 8-9. There is also the chance that the Saints finish 8-9 and the Commanders could finish 8-8-1. Seattle would be the eight-seed if the Packers win, the seven seed if Detroit wins, and we do not yet know who the one and two-seeds will be in the NFC.
It’s hard to say that any solution seems “farfetched” right now because it is such an unprecedented situation. The Seahawks may not need to watch Lions-Packers after all.
Well that does sound fair and one more Playoff game means a lot more money. Sorry to sound crass but the NFL is in the business of making money. Here is an opportunity to do just that. I still don't see how they sort out the top seeds, so don't hold your breath. Also all the best to Damar and his family, which is the most important.
That would be the back door of all back doors. But looking at the schedule it could happen – so there’s that. I believe the last time we backed into the playoffs with a losing record was the beast quake game. Which outside of the Super Bowl against Denver is my favorite Seahawks game of all time.