I know, I know, the headline and this article seem fairly obvious. But that does not negate its importance. The path laid out for the Seattle Seahawks is simple: win your next two games, and you’ve earned homefield advantage throughout the playoffs to the Super Bowl. Simple in theory, but hardly in practice.
Seattle’s final two opponents are the Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers. Carolina will be up first this weekend, and then a Week 18 finale in Santa Clara. However, the Seahawks cannot afford to look past the Panthers the way they may have done so with the Indianapolis Colts earlier this month.
With the Los Angeles Rams looming shortly after a Week 15 game on Sunday, the Seahawks merely had to get past the Colts. Much to the shock of everyone at Lumen Field, Seattle struggled to dispatch 44-year-old Philip Rivers and his Indy squad. The Seahawks required six field goals to eek out a narrow 18-16 win. Although no coach or player would admit it, it was clear Seattle was looking four days ahead to the showdown with the Rams.
Seattle cannot do this with Carolina.
The Panthers may not be Super Bowl contenders, but they are dangerous. After all, this is a team that knocked off the Rams not too long ago. Carolina has taken a leap from being a bottom feeder to a team figuring out how to grow and compete for division titles. In a year or two, this could be a conference contender.
For the Seahawks, the stakes couldn’t be any clearer: win on Sunday, and it sets up a battle for first place in the NFC. Lose, and you allow the Rams to get back into first place in the division. Oh yes, the Rams are still lurking, just like the 49ers. If Seattle and Los Angeles finish with identical 13-4 records, the Rams will win the NFC West, and 13-4 seems to be the most likely outcome for the Rams as they will end the season with games against Atlanta and Arizona.
Seattle needs to treat Carolina like they would any other opponent, especially a first place, division-leading opponent that looks like they’ll earn a playoff spot. Because right now, that’s exactly what the Panthers are.