How the Seahawks Can Secure the NFC West in Their Final Five Games
The NFL regular season has entered December, and teams are vying for playoff spots as the playoff hunt heats up in both the AFC and NFC with five games remaining. Several division titles are still up for grabs, with six of the eight divisions having the first and second-place teams separated by two games or fewer. One of the most intriguing races is for the NFC West title. Heading into Week 14 this weekend, the Seattle Seahawks hold a one-game lead in the division with a 7-5 record over the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams, who both sit at 6-6. While the Seahawks currently have the edge, the question remains: Can they stand strong and secure their 12th division title in franchise history, their first since 2020?
After finishing the 2023 season with a 9-8 record and missing the postseason, Seahawks general manager John Schneider decided to relieve longtime head coach Pete Carroll of his duties, transitioning him into an advisory role with the team moving forward. In his place, the Seahawks brought in former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, known for coaching one of the NFL’s top-ranked defenses last season in categories such as points allowed, sacks, takeaways, and yards per play allowed. Macdonald’s notable success led the Seahawks to hire the 37-year-old as their new head coach. Heading into the 2024-25 season, the Seahawks and their fanbase had renewed hopes, with a dynamic, defensive-minded coach in Macdonald and the addition of game-changing free agents. The roster was bolstered by the re-signing of defensive lineman Leonard Williams and the addition of safety Rayshawn Jenkins in free agency.
Through the first 13 weeks of the season, the Seahawks have experienced the ups and downs that many NFL teams face. After starting the season undefeated through their first three games, the Seahawks caught the attention of many, despite not being considered favorites to win their division, with last season’s NFC West Champions, the San Francisco 49ers, being the betting favorites. Following their 3-0 start, the Seahawks regressed, dropping their next three games to sit at 3-3 at the midpoint of the regular season. They entered their Week 10 bye with a 4-5 record and needed to address several issues moving forward. Since then, however, the Seahawks have rattled off three straight wins, including two key divisional victories over the 49ers and Cardinals, and now sit at 7-5 as the current betting favorites to win the NFC West by the season’s end.
With a crucial divisional rematch against the Cardinals on deck in Week 14, the Seahawks look to sweep the season series against Arizona and secure a much-needed tiebreaker over Kyler Murray’s Cardinals, should the two teams end the season tied. Heading into their final five games, if the Seahawks hope to hold off their division rivals and clinch the NFC West, they will need to become a more balanced offensive team. So far this season, the Seahawks have relied heavily on 11-year journeyman quarterback Geno Smith, who has spent the past five seasons in Seattle, to carry much of the offensive load. While Smith ranks fourth in the league with 3,241 passing yards, he has been prone to turnovers, throwing 12 interceptions this season, just one fewer than his 13 passing touchdowns.
As a result of Smith’s vulnerability to turnovers, the Seahawks had hoped for a more dominant running game to relieve pressure on the passing attack. However, entering Week 14, Seattle ranks fifth-worst in rushing yards per game, averaging just 92.9 yards, with third-year back Kenneth Walker III leading the team with 542 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. For the Seahawks' offense to thrive down the stretch and secure the division, they will need more consistent production from Walker and backup running back Zach Charbonnet to help carry the load. If they can achieve that, Seattle will be well-positioned to clinch a playoff spot and potentially make some noise in the postseason next month.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks' defense, led by tackle Leonard Williams, who leads the team in sacks with seven, and safety Julian Love, who leads the team in total tackles with 82 and is tied for the team lead in interceptions with two, has largely been a middle-of-the-pack unit. So far this season, the Seahawks defense ranks 18th in total yards allowed per game at 337.6 and 12th in points allowed per game at 22.1. With the Seahawks' offense also being average in most categories, it is critical for the defense to set up the offense in short-field situations by forcing turnovers. However, they have not been successful in this area, ranking 15th in interceptions with nine and 24th in fumbles recovered with four. If the Seahawks defense can start forcing more turnovers and provide better field positioning for the offense, they could play a key role in helping the team secure a division title this season.
