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UPDATED 11:03 pm PT:
The Seahawks took care of business this afternoon in dispatching the 49ers, moving to 10-4 and eliminating San Francisco from Playoffs contention. With the win, combined with a Packers' loss this morning in Buffalo, Seattle is now in control of their own destiny in terms of getting into the playoffs, and by winning out give themselves a very solid chance at the #1 seed in the NFC.
If Seattle beats the Cardinals next week in Arizona, then finishes the season off strong agains the Rams in Week 17, they'll have put themselves in excellent position for the NFC's top seed and that coveted and important homefield advantage throughout the Playoffs.
By winning their next two games, the only scoreboard watching the Seahawks will have to do will involve the Cowboys. If the 'Boys win out and finish 12-4, they'll own the tiebreaker head-to-head vs. the Seahawks (they beat Seattle earlier this year). However, here's the catch: if the Seahawks, Cowboys and Lions or Packers all finish 12-4, the Seahawks would hold the three-way tiebreaker for the #1 seed, based on their superior conference record.
Mr. Playoffs: Just to make sure everyone is on the same page. If Seahawks win final 2 games to finish 12 -4, they will be #1 NFC seed if...
— mitch levy (@kjrmitch) December 15, 2014
Mr. Playoffs (cont): ...either the Cowboys lose a game OR the Green Bay/Detroit NFC North champ also wins last 2 to finish 12-4.
— mitch levy (@kjrmitch) December 15, 2014
Reasoning: a 12-4 Seahawks team can ONLY lose a tiebreaker if Cowboys finish 12-4 AND no other division winner is also 12-4.
— mitch levy (@kjrmitch) December 15, 2014
So: bottom line -- root first for the Seahawks to win out and finish 12-4. Then, hope that the Cowboys do not finish 12-4. If the Cowboys do finish 12-4, hope that at least one other team -- the Packers or Lions, also finish 12-4 to force a three-way tiebreaker. Playoff seedings are weird, and we're still two games away though. So, regardless, Go Hawks.