Breaking Down Seahawks’ Possible Matchups Ahead of Wild Card Weekend Chaos
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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) runs against Los Angeles Rams cornerback Darious Williams (31) in the second half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images [/caption]
The Seattle Seahawks did it. Thanks to a 13-3 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18, they earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC and, consequently, are the only NFC team in the playoffs that is not playing this weekend. They get to prop their feet up with a cup of (insert complicated coffee concoction from Starbucks here) and enjoy the chaos from the safety of their perch in Seattle.
With that said, the Seahawks do not yet know their opponent for the NFC Divisional Round at Lumen Field the following weekend. By virtue of the seeding, the Seahawks will face whomever is the lowest (or worst) seed remaining in the NFC playoff picture after the chaos that is Wild Card weekend.
By that logic, the two teams the Seahawks cannot play no matter what in their first matchup are the No. 2-seeded Chicago Bears and No. 3-seed Philadelphia Eagles. Any date with those two would come in the NFC Championship Game, which, of course, would be in Seattle.
Let’s break down each possible opponent and how that situation would come to pass:
Green Bay Packers, No. 7 Seed
By virtue of being the worst seed in the NFC, if the Packers were to upset the Bears at Soldier Field this weekend, they would automatically be sent to Seattle regardless of any other result in the Wild Card Round. If you’re the type of fan that is rooting for the Seahawks to face the path of least resistance to the Super Bowl, you are likely rooting for the Packers this weekend (unless you think the Panthers have a shot against the Rams).
That is, because, the Packers are now without Micah Parsons, the all-world pass rusher. He tore his ACL in Week 15 and has a long road to recovery before the start of next season. The Packers have also lost their last four in a row, and have not won since losing Parsons. Quarterback Jordan Love is also banged up, having left their last trip to Chicago, in Week 16, early with a concussion. He hasn’t played since, which was before Christmas. Tight end Tucker Kraft also won’t be available after tearing his ACL earlier in the season.
Given all that, the Packers are definitely the Seahawks’ most vulnerable possible opponent. However, if they find a way to beat the Bears in Chicago, maybe they aren’t as vulnerable as we all thought. However, it should be noted, the lines shifted mid-week to make the Packers the 1.5-point favorite instead of an underdog.
San Francisco 49ers, No. 6 Seed
If anyone is wanting Round Three of the epic movie that is Seahawks versus 49ers, then root for the Bears and 49ers this weekend (just kidding, never root for the 49ers). But if the Bears dispatch of the Packers like the oddsmakers expect, and the 49ers upset the Philadelphia Eagles, the 49ers would be the lowest remaining seed at No. 6. They are currently a 5.5-point underdog to Philly, the second-largest margin of the weekend. The injury to Trent Williams looms large. And no one ever enjoys playing on the road in Philadelphia. That’s a tough task, especially after the Seahawks defense suffocated the 49ers, keeping them out of the endzone completely.
However, if the 49ers can pull off the win, and the Packers lose, it’s Seahawks versus 49ers Part Trois.
Los Angeles Rams, No. 5 Seed
This seems like the matchup most of the country wants in Seattle. The second edition of Rams and Seahawks, on Thursday Night Football a week before Christmas, was one of the most entertaining games of the entire NFL season. The Seahawks scraped out a win in overtime, 38-37. However, the Rams were without star receiver Davante Adams that night. That didn’t deter Puka Nacua from going off for over 200 yards against the mighty Seattle defense.
This would be the matchup fans in Seattle would be most nervous for. The Rams have as high of a ceiling as any team left in the tournament. They are heavy favorites on the road against the NFC South “champion” Carolina Panthers. It’s not very often you see a road favorite of 10.5 points in the playoffs. It’s for good reason. The Rams are legit. And they probably would relish another shot at Seattle. To make it happen in the Divisional Round, all they would need to do is defeat the Panthers and have the Bears and Eagles hold serve at home.
Carolina Panthers, No. 4 Seed
This would be straight chalk with all of the higher seeds winning at home, and yet, it would not be very “chalky” if the Panthers beat the Rams, given they are 10.5-point underdogs at home. However, if every home team beats the road team this weekend in the NFC, it’s Carolina heading to Seattle. Not many people are giving the Panthers a prayer against the Rams. However, if there’s a fanbase that could give Panthers fans hope in this situation, it’s Seahawks fans. Who could forget the 2010 Seahawks that won the NFC West at 7-9, and then consequently upset the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card Round, as underdogs. Of course, they were helped by a Richter scale-triggering run by Marshawn Lynch.
Also, it’s worth remembering Carolina upset Los Angeles in Week 13, so Dave Canales’ team has already done it once. We aren’t sure if Bryce Young and company can summon that kind of… beast a second time, particularly in a playoff setting. Either way, the Panthers are the least likely of the bunch to play the Seahawks, but crazy things have happened during the Wild Card Rounds of yesteryear.
