SEATTLE — After another loss, albeit one without its starting quarterback against the best team in the NFL, it will be an uphill climb for the Seattle Seahawks to qualify for the playoffs.
The Seahawks lost 28-16 to the San Francisco 49ers in the Bay Area on Sunday. It was Seattle's fourth straight loss and dropped the team's record to 6-7.
The road doesn't get easier up next for the Seahawks either, as they will welcome in the reigning NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles for Monday Night Football in Week 15, the NFL's first Monday flex under the new broadcast rules.
Here's where the NFC stands after Week 14, with a quick reminder that the top seven teams in each conference advance to the postseason.
- San Francisco 49ers (10-3)
- Dallas Cowboys (10-3)
- Detroit Lions (9-4)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-3)
- Minnesota Vikings (7-6)
- Green Bay Packers (6-6)
- Los Angeles Rams (6-7)
- Seattle Seahawks (6-7)
- Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
A brief refresher on the NFL's playoff format: The top four seeds in each conference represent the leaders of each division, ranked by their current record. Hence why the 6-7 Buccaneers are ahead of the 10-3 Eagles.
The next three teams are simply the three non-division-leaders with the best records.
The road will get a bit easier for the Seahawks after the upcoming clash with Jason Kelce and the Eagles. Two of Seattle's final three games are against teams with losing records, with the exception being the Pittsburgh Steelers and their lackluster offense.
Geno Smith's health will be a key part of the Seahawks salvaging a spot in the playoffs. Smith was inactive for Sunday's loss, but he will have eight days to recover before the Seahawks' next game.