Seahawks playoff picture: Breaking down Seattle's seeding scenarios in NFL bracket

Vinnie Iyer

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Seahawks playoff picture: Breaking down Seattle's seeding scenarios in NFL bracket image

The Seahawks (11-4) go into their Week 17 game at the 49ers as the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs. They can still finish the 2020 NFL season as the top seed, also securing home-field advantage and the lone first-round bye.

Seattle already has succeeded San Francisco as NFC West champion, and is hoping to also succeed its division rival as No. 1. To do so, the Seahawks need to take care of their business and get the right help elsewhere.

Here's breaking down their three seeding scenarios for the tournament toward Super Bowl 55:

MORE: NFL playoff clinching scenarios for every team in Week 17

1. How the Seahawks would earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs

The Seahawks first need the Packers to lose to the Bears to fall to 12-4. The Seahawks also need to beat the 49ers to get to 12-4 and for the Saints to either lose or tie against the Panthers to fall to 11-5 or 11-4-1.

This would create a two-way tie between the Seahawks and Packers. Because they didn't play each other and the conference records would be even at 9-3, then the next tiebreaker is record in common games. The Seahawks would have gone 5-0 against the Vikings, 49ers, Falcons and Eagles. The Packers would be only 4-1 against those teams, giving No. 1 to the Seahawks.

2. How the Seahawks would jump to the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs

The Seahawks won't get No. 1 with a Packers win. The Seahawks can still get to up No. 2 at 12-4 with a win over the 49ers plus a Saints loss or tie against the Panthers. The Seahawks also would get No. 2 with a win, a Packers loss and a Saints win.

3. How the Seahawks would keep the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs

The Seahawks would lose the conference-record tiebreaker to the Saints should they have the same record in a two-way tie after Week 17, whether it's 12-4, 11-4-1 or 11-5. If the Packers win to get 13-3 and the Seahawks ahouls do whatever the Saints do, win, lose or tie, the Seahawks would stay at No. 3. That's because the Saints go into Week 17 with.a one-game edge (9-2) in conference record over the Seahawks (8-3).

Vinnie Iyer

Vinnie Iyer Photo

Vinnie Iyer, has been with TSN since 1999, not long after graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He has produced NFL content for more than 20 years, turning his attention to full-time writing in 2007. A native of St. Louis, Mo. but now a long-time resident of Charlotte, N.C. Vinnie’s top two professional sports teams are Cardinals and Blues, but he also carries purple pride for all things Northwestern Wildcats. He covers every aspect of the NFL for TSN including player evaluations, gambling and fantasy football, where he is a key contributor. Vinnie represents TSN as host of the “Locked On Fantasy Football” podcast on the Locked On network. Over his many years at TSN, he’s also written about MLB, NBA, NASCAR, college football, tennis, horse racing, film and television. His can’t-miss program remains “Jeopardy!”, where he was once a three-day champion and he is still avid about crossword puzzles and trivia games. When not watching sports or his favorite game show, Vinnie is probably watching a DC, Marvel or Star Wars-related TV or movie.