Seeking division championships with two weeks remaining on the schedule, the Seahawks and Panthers’ hopes on Sunday could rest on which offensive line can fend off ferocious defensive fronts the best. Which matchups will dictate who earns a massive Week 17 win?

For nearly 50 minutes, the Seahawks looked dead in the water, trailing by 16 with the offense floundering under the lights. But a special teams touchdown and Sam Darnold’s resiliency ignited an improbable comeback to vault into first place in the NFC West.

The architect of a Super Bowl winner and double-digit playoff teams, John Schneider has done his best work yet calling the shots on his own with the Seahawks in 2025. It’s well past time for him to finally receive his due as the best of the best.

Viewed as a linebacker whisperer coming over from Baltimore, Mike Macdonald’s most impressive coaching job lies the middle of the Seahawks’ vaunted defense with long flowing hair and infectious energy as a do-it-all cog in the team’s top-three defense.

Forcing five turnovers and pitching their first shutout of the 2025 season, the Seahawks received key contributions from all three levels of their defense in a commanding 26-point blowout of the Vikings. Who starred in Seattle’s ninth win of the year?

Forcing five turnovers while racking up a bunch of sacks and pressures along the way, the Seahawks didn’t let the Vikings find their comfort zone with a rookie quarterback under center, punishing the opposition to move into a three-way tie for the NFC’s best record.

Though Sam Darnold completed under 50 percent of his passes and took a quartet of sacks in the first two quarters, the Seahawks feasted on Vikings rookie Max Brosmer, turning a critical mistake into six points to build a 13-point advantage at the break.

As both a head coach and defensive coordinator, Mike Macdonald has consistently tied up rookie quarterbacks into knots over the years. But from a planning perspective, the Seahawks will have a different challenge on Sunday against an undrafted rookie in Max Brosmer.

Entering Sunday’s road tilt as heavy favorites against the one-win Titans, the Seahawks should have several advantageous matchups working in their favor, though the underdogs may have a big one to lean on with the visitors dealing with offensive line injuries.

After already missing the previous two games, the Seahawks will be without their standout rookie playmaker for at least another month as he continues to battle through a shin injury.

Already down two key contributors for Sunday in Tennessee, it remains to be seen how close to full strength the Seahawks will be in Week 12, particularly on offense with three starters listed as questionable.

Now tied for the league lead in turnovers after throwing a quartet of picks in a two-point loss to the Rams, Sam Darnold may find himself under fire for the first time with the Seahawks. But that heat certainly isn’t coming from the locker room.

Racing out to 7-2 starts, the Seahawks and Rams have been stingy allowing points to opponents with ferocious defensive lines, underrated linebackers, and versatile secondaries. Where does each team hold an edge going into Sunday’s first matchup at SoFi Stadium?

Named a captain alongside current - and former - teammate Cooper Kupp, Ernest Jones will be in uniform for the Seahawks heading into a massive NFC West matchup with the Rams. Who’s in and who’s out at SoFi Stadium for Mike Macdonald’s team?

For the first time this season, the Seahawks will have to navigate a significant injury along the offensive line, while it remains unclear whether Ernest Jones and other injured players will return for a crucial contest against the Rams on Sunday.

The Seahawks could have some significant advantages in the trenches against the Commanders on Sunday night, but the return of one of the NFL’s most dynamic dual threat quarterbacks creates an even bigger issue for Mike Macdonald to scheme around.

Just outside the top five in scoring defense, the Seahawks have lived up to expectations in Mike Macdonald’s second season in many regards, but Ernest Jones and company still have a ways to go to play up to their high standards.

Stifling the Texans’ offense from the outset, the Seahawks received strong contributions from all three levels of their defense to land a fifth win in six games. Who stood out the most in an eight point win over Houston on Monday Night Football?

Even as injuries mounted over the past month, with one blemish as an exception in Week 5, the Seahawks have kept momentum rolling with a top-five defense, further evidenced by stars and role players alike shining under the prime time lights against the Texans.

Turnovers and dropped interceptions kept a game that appeared to be teetering towards a blowout close on Monday Night Football, but the Seahawks found a way to close out a pesky Texans squad and keep pace in the NFC West heading into their bye week.