Playoffs for the Seattle Seahawks? Three the reason why it is not absurd – Seattle Seahawks Weblog

SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks‘ probabilities of making the playoffs for the ninth time in 10 seasons took one other huge hit with their 17-0 loss on the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Whereas the considered a 3-6 group that was simply shut out for the primary time in a decade nonetheless having a shot on the postseason would possibly recall to mind that previous Jim Mora clip — “playoffs?!” — it is a risk. Even when not an excellent one.

ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index gave the Seahawks a 23.1% probability after they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8. That rose to 31.3% after a bunch of different NFC groups fell whereas Seattle was on its Week 9 bye. It is now all the way down to 12.4%, decrease than all however 5 groups within the convention.

FPI projected a couple of 44% probability with a win over Inexperienced Bay.

“It is a huge alternative that we missed out on,” coach Pete Carroll mentioned. “It is simply disappointing. This was an actual shot and we may really feel it and we knew it. And sadly, we could not get the suitable performs made on the proper time to get it performed.”

As dire because it appears for the Seahawks, listed below are three causes to assume they’ll at the least make issues attention-grabbing in December.

Their protection seems to be for actual

Earlier than Sunday, the legitimacy of the turnaround from its early-season struggles may have been questioned. Seattle allowed the fourth-fewest factors per sport (18.0) from Weeks 4 by means of 8, a stretch through which they confronted one wonderful quarterback in Matthew Stafford and a number of other lesser ones in Jimmy Garoppolo/Trey Lance, Ben Roethlisberger, Jameis Winston and Trevor Lawrence.

That turnaround appears much more actual after the Seahawks held reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers and a very good Packers offense to solely three factors by means of three-plus quarters, even when Rodgers was impacted by his bout with COVID-19 and the ensuing 10-day layoff.

“We’re enjoying actually good,” Carroll mentioned. “I made an announcement to these guys [Saturday] about that I am enthusiastic about all the areas we have been so effectively in. It is simply the reality. I will inform the reality on Monday, and I advised the reality on Saturday of this week. They went on the market and performed like loopy all night time. And I am actually, actually happy with the way in which they received after it.”

The Seahawks nonetheless want extra from their loaded go rush and they should drive extra turnovers. They’d one Sunday when security Jamal Adams picked off Rodgers for his first interception as a Seahawk. Adams has been enjoying higher of late however hadn’t made an enormous play till then.

After all, it is honest to surprise how again he actually is after his uncharacteristically unhealthy displaying in Inexperienced Bay. Wilson mentioned his surgically-repaired finger felt fantastic and that it wasn’t the explanation he accomplished solely 20 of 40 makes an attempt with two interceptions and a few errant throws.

If it was actually extra the product of his month-long absence, a troublesome Packers protection and/or enjoying within the freezing chilly, then none of these must be huge points going ahead. Then once more, Seattle faces one other good Arizona protection this week (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox).

However nine-plus years of Wilson main the Seahawks to unbelievable comebacks makes it robust to fully write them off now that he is again.

“With my hand, I really feel 100% assured the place I am at,” he mentioned. “I would not be out right here if I did not. It is too necessary. And I really feel nice about the place we are able to go nonetheless. It was difficult. This might have been an enormous, huge step for us right here to get this win on the street and every thing else. However sadly, due to my mishaps right here and there, it did not occur.”

The schedule and the standings

You may just about overlook in regards to the Seahawks catching both the Los Angeles Rams (7-3) or Arizona Cardinals (8-2) within the NFC West standings. However with an additional wild-card berth, they’re nonetheless alive for the convention’s seventh and ultimate playoff seed. They’re two wins behind the groups at the moment sitting within the sixth (the 5-4 New Orleans Saints) and seventh (the 5-5 Carolina Panthers) spots.

9 wins may conceivably be sufficient within the NFC, and the Seahawks have a path to a 9-8 end, albeit a tough one.

They both may or must be favored in 5 remaining video games (versus the Washington Football Team, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers). In the event that they win all 5 — that is clearly an enormous if for a 3-6 group, particularly with the 49ers taking it to the Rams on Monday night time — they’d must beat at the least one favored opponent to get to 9 wins. They play the Cardinals twice and the Rams yet one more time.

With Kyler Murray and backup Colt McCoy each hurting, Sunday’s dwelling sport in opposition to Arizona may be the Seahawks’ greatest shot at that upset win.