After ten weeks of the NFL season, the playoff race is starting to get into full swing. And yet again, there are a lot of teams sitting just outside the playoffs waiting for a chance to swoop in and grab a wild card spot. In both conferences there are an array of teams battling for the two coveted spots and a shot at the Super Bowl.
In this series, I will go over all of the contenders for the wild card spots, and how they stand entering Week 11 (Assuming all division leaders hold on and win the division):
6. Seattle Seahawks (6-3)
| Week | Team |
| 12 | vs Cardinals |
| 13 | @ 49ers |
| 14 | @ Eagles |
| 15 | vs 49ers |
| 16 | @ Cardinals |
Key Wins (for tiebreakers): Green Bay (Week 1)
Key Losses (for tiebreakers): Dallas (Week 6)
The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks entered the season as favorites to repeat. They may be one of the most talented teams in the NFL, and are led by Marshawn Lynch and their NFL best rushing attack. Their defense has not proven to be the juggernaut they were the year before, but still remain in the top ten in both rushing and passing defense. Their main problems have been in the passing game. Despite the skill of quarterback Russell Wilson, they still have the second worst passing attack in the NFL.
They opened up the season with a huge 36-16 win against fellow Super Bowl hopeful Green Bay. They won three of their first four games, and looked as though they would be in control of their division again.
In week six, they hit a roadblock. They dropped a game at home to the Cowboys in a key playoff match up. They went on to lose to division rival St. Louis, dropping to a disappointing 4-3, and with the Cardinals off to an amazing start, they fell way behind in the NFC West race.
Although they would win their next three, there are still many worries about those games. They beat a struggling Carolina team on a last minute touchdown and only beat a winless Oakland team by seven. In their third game, they struggled early against the Giants, but were able to take over in the second half.
The Seahawks have had the NFL’s hardest schedule so far, and still have one of the toughest to come. After a tough matchup against the Chiefs in Kansas City, they are visited by the first place Cardinals at Century Link Field. The Cardinals are without quarterback Carson Palmer, and playing at home, the Seahawks will be heavily favored.
Their next two games are away from home, and are should be their two toughest of the season. First, they play arch rival San Francisco. With the 49ers also in the playoff hunt, this will be tough battle that can decide both teams’ postseason fate.
They then go east to take on Philadelphia. The Eagles are a tough team that may have quarterback Nick Foles back by then, and will be in a fight for their division.
They finish up the season by playing each of their division foes once, with two being at home. It will be a huge opportunity to not only get ahead in the playoff race, but to even win the division. Those final three games will be crucial and could decide their season.
The Seahawks have a great chance at making the playoffs, and their amazing home record should lead them the way. They have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL, but they have a talented team that can hang with any other team in the league.
Prediction: 11-5 (5th Place)
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