Seattle Seahawks Playoff Scenarios: Who Could Seahawks Host In 2017 NFL Playoffs?
Seattle Seahawks playoff scenarios lay out how the team can clinch a first-round bye in the 2017 NFL Playoffs, as well as which opponent might be coming to CenturyLink Field for a second-round matchup. Two games remain on the regular season schedule for the Seahawks, with the Arizona Cardinals coming to town on December 24, and then a road game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 1. The playoff scenarios are quite simple in that regard, as the Seahawks clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC by winning both games.
As previously reported by the Inquisitr, the updated NFL playoff standings reveal that the Dallas Cowboys have clinched the No. 1 seed for the conference. The Atlanta Falcons (9-5) and Detroit Lions (9-5) are also right behind the Seahawks (9-4-1) and have a shot to take away that No. 2 seed. If the Seahawks lose one of their final two games, then the Lions and Falcons could presumably pass them in the standings. That could drop the Seahawks all the way to the No. 4 seed in the 2017 NFC Playoffs, setting up a home game against the top Wild Card team in the conference.
Depending on how the Falcons and Lions also finish the season, the Seattle Seahawks’ playoff scenarios could lead to the team finishing with the No. 3 or No. 4 seed as well. Clinching the No. 2 seed means a bye and not having to play on Wild Card Weekend. As the No. 3 seed, the Seahawks would host the No. 6 seed, meaning they would host the No. 5 seed if they fell all the way to the No. 4 seed. The good news for Seahawks fans is that no matter how the regular season finishes, the team will be hosting at least one playoff game.
The NFL playoff format rearranges the bracket in the second round so that the highest seed in each conference plays the lowest remaining seed in the same conference. If the season ended today, the first-round NFC playoff matchups would be the Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants. If the No. 3 Falcons win, no matter what takes place in the other game, the team would advance to play the Seahawks. That would then leave the Dallas Cowboys to play either the Lions or the Giants on the other side of the bracket.
There are other Seattle Seahawks playoff scenarios that could take place if the first-round turned out differently. If the Packers pulled off an upset, then the Seahawks would play the winner of the Lions vs. Giants game. Either way, that second-round game takes place in Seattle. If the Seahawks dropped to the No. 3 seed, they would host the No. 6 Green Bay Packers and then head out on the road to play the No. 2 seed in the second round. If the Seahawks fell all the way to No. 4, they would host the No. 5 New York Giants and then head to Dallas in the second round.
One additional scenario that could be very interesting is if the Seahawks won in the second round of the NFC Playoffs, but the Cowboys lost on the other side of the bracket. This would make the Seahawks the top-seeded team left in the field, giving the team a chance to host the NFC Championship Game at CenturyLink Field. It would certainly give the team a big home field advantage on the path to another Super Bowl appearance.
There is a lot left to be decided in the final two weeks of the NFL season, raising the stakes in just about every game for the league. The only thing set in stone for the NFC is that the Dallas Cowboys have won the NFC East and are the top seed and that the Seahawks have clinched the NFC West. Everything else is up in the air, including how the seeding will shake out for the final five NFC playoff teams. It sets up many possible Seattle Seahawks playoff scenarios, with the potential of two home games at CenturyLink Field.
[Featured Image by Otto Greule, Jr./Getty Images]
