NFC Playoff Picture: Seahawks not only lose to Falcons, but are currently out of the playoffs

The ramifications of the Seattle Seahawks’ 34-31 loss to the Atlanta Falcons are huge. They are now at 58% odds to make the playoffs according to FiveThirtyEight, and unless the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers fall apart, Atlanta’s probably going to be stuck in the wild card chase, in which case they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Seattle.

Here’s the updated NFC standings:

#1 - Philadelphia Eagles (9-1)

#2 - Minnesota Vikings (8-2)

#3 - New Orleans Saints (8-2)

#4 - Los Angeles Rams (7-3)

——

#5 - Carolina Panthers (7-3)

#6 - Atlanta Falcons (6-4)

——

#7 - Detroit Lions (6-4)

#8 - Seattle Seahawks (6-4)

#9 - Green Bay Packers (5-5)

#10 - Dallas Cowboys (5-5)

#11 - Washington (4-6)

#12 - Arizona Cardinals (4-6)

#13 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6)

#14 - Chicago Bears (3-7)

#15 - New York Giants (2-8)

#16 - San Francisco 49ers (1-9)

Detroit has the tiebreaker on Seattle due to a superior conference record (5-3 vs. 4-3).

Simply put, forget about the first-round bye. It’s not going to happen. Seattle has to worry about the NFC West race and fending off their wild card opponents. The whole landscape on the Seahawks’ season changed on Monday night. It’s time to face the facts that there’s a very realistic chance the Seahawks will miss the playoffs for the first time in the Russell Wilson era.