SEATTLE — The Seahawks took care of business on Sunday, but still will need some help to clinch the final spot in the NFC playoffs.
Six of the seven seeds have been clinched, and the Seahawks will be competing with the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers for that final berth.
The Washington Commanders held the seventh position heading into Sunday's games, but took a 24-10 loss thanks in part to three interceptions by Carson Wentz.
If the Green Bay Packers had lost to the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle would have controlled its own destiny heading into the final week of the regular season. A win over the Los Angeles Rams would have clinched that postseason spot.
Instead, the Seahawks will need a win in Week 18 and a loss by the Packers to the Detroit Lions in order to earn a playoff spot. Seattle has the tiebreaker over the Lions since the Seahawks beat Detroit earlier this season.
If Green Bay beats Detroit, it will have the tiebreaker of a better in-conference record than the Seahawks, and thus will earn that final postseason berth.
The NFL announced the full Week 18 schedule on Monday, and the Seahawks will be in a difficult position on Sunday.
The Seahawks' game against the Rams will kick off at 1:25 p.m. PT at Lumen Field, but the league flexed the Lions-Packers matchup into the Sunday Night Football slot at 5:20 p.m. PT.
What this means is that if the Seahawks win, they will eliminate the Lions from the playoffs. Detroit will know its fate before their game against the Packers kicks off, and therefore would have nothing left to play for as far as the postseason is concerned.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell was emphatic in a Monday press conference that his team will play to win regardless of the Seahawks' result. Regardless, it will make for a stressful Sunday night as Seahawks fans hope the Lions can get a road win at Lambeau Field against the Packers.
Here is how the NFC standings looked after the late-afternoon games Sunday:
1. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) -- Clinched
2. Minnesota Vikings (12-3) -- Clinched
3. San Francisco 49ers (11-4) -- Clinched
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) -- Clinched
5. Dallas Cowboys (12-4) -- Clinched
6. New York Giants (9-6-1) -- Clinched
7. Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
8. Green Bay Packers (8-8)
9. Detroit Lions (8-8)