Week 17 of the 2024 NFL season got off to an early start with two games featuring some of the AFC's top teams. At the beginning of the game, kansas city chiefs knocked down pittsburgh steelers The final score was 29-10. baltimore ravens They won against AFC North in the second half of the game, keeping the AFC North dream alive. houston texans.
The action will continue on Thursday. seattle seahawks Go to the windy city chicago bears.
Chicago has already been eliminated from the playoffs, but depending on how tonight's game plays out, the Seahawks could either keep their playoff hopes alive with a win or find themselves eliminated.
seahawks playoff photos
A few weeks ago, the Seahawks took control of their playoff destiny.
Now their fate is largely outside of their own control.
Seattle doesn't qualify for the playoffs in Week 17, but faces elimination. If any of the following scenarios occur, Seattle will be eliminated from the playoffs.
Bears playoff photos
The Bears have already been eliminated from the playoffs. The Bears currently hold the No. 9 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Impact on tiebreak
This game has no tiebreaker implications for Chicago, as the Bears have already been eliminated from the playoffs.
For the Seahawks, a win against Chicago would improve their conference record to 5-6. Why does this matter? There's a far-fetched scenario in which the NFC West title could go deep into the tiebreak procedure. I referenced this earlier. Let's assume Seattle beats Chicago and then beats the Los Angeles Rams again in Week 18. If that happens, Seattle would finish with a 10-7 record and 6-6 in the NFC.
Then, if the Rams win against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17 and lose to Seattle in Week 18, the Rams would also finish 10-7. It also means the Seahawks and Rams have defeated the season series, starting an incredible tiebreaker.
in fact, Seahawks team site Please explain this crazy scenario:
But if both the Rams and Seahawks win this week, things won't be that simple. Because in that scenario, if the Seahawks win in Week 18, both teams would have the same record, head-to-head split, and the same NFC West record. Same record in general games, and same conference record. The fifth tiebreaker after that was a strength of victory, and heading into Week 17, the Rams have the advantage there thanks to the fact that they have wins over the Bills and Vikings.
And thanks to the strength of their win lead, the Rams could clinch victory this week, even if the Seahawks win, with at least 3.5 wins over the Vikings (vs. Packers) and Bills (vs. Jets). . 49ers (vs. Lions), Commanders (vs. Falcons), Bengals (vs. Broncos), Browns (vs. Dolphins).
Basically, in order for the Seahawks to remain in contention for the NFC West after Sunday, they either need the Cardinals to beat the Rams, in which case they will be competing for the division title no matter what happens in Week 18, or if the Rams win on Saturday, they will be in contention for the division title. Either the Hawks have to win. They need to win, and they need to win four of the six games listed above against the Packers, Jets, Lions, Falcons, Broncos, or Dolphins.
Understood?
good.
