When Geno Smith took down the 49ers a few weeks ago with a game-winning drive, he put the Seahawks in control of their own fate in the NFC West. But after a loss in Week 15, Seattle's playoff outlook got a little more complicated.
Just a week after the Seahawks took a major step in the right direction by sweeping their season series with the Cardinals, they fell 30-13 to the Packers on "Sunday Night Football," allowing the Rams to take over first place in the NFC West. With Seattle now second in the division and the Cardinals also lurking, the margin of error for Seattle is shrinking in crunch time of the regular season.
Just three games remain for the Seahawks, and all three could be critical in the team reaching the postseason, especially with Geno Smith (knee) banged up ahead of a pivotal Week 16 matchup vs. Minnesota.
Here's an updated look at the Seahawks' playoff chances after their Week 15 loss against the Packers.
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Seahawks playoff picture
NFC West standings
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1 | Rams | 8-6 |
| 2 | Seahawks | 8-6 |
| 3 | Cardinals | 7-7 |
| 4 | 49ers | 6-8 |
Following their loss to Green Bay, the Seahawks no longer hold first place in the NFC West. The Rams beat Seattle 26-20 earlier this season, giving Los Angeles the head-to-head tiebreaker for the time being. The two rivals will face off once again to end the season in Week 18.
The Seahawks' season sweep of the Cardinals is still their biggest asset in the chase for the NFC West title. Not only does it give Seattle a clear advantage over Arizona, but it also allowed the Seahawks to boost their divisional record from 1-2 to 3-2. That could be important in the event of a tie.
Seattle remains in a strong position to compete for the NFC West title, but each matchup is critical from this point on. The Rams are neck-and-neck for the division crown right now. By the time Week 18 comes around, Seattle and Los Angeles could be playing for division.
NFC wild-card standings
| Seed | Team | Record |
| 5 | Vikings | 11-2 |
| 6 | Packers | 10-4 |
| 7 | Commanders | 9-5 |
| 8 | Seahawks | 8-6 |
| 9 | Cardinals | 7-7 |
| 10 | Falcons | 6-7 |
| 11 | 49ers | 6-8 |
| 12 | Cowboys | 6-8 |
| 13 | Saints | 5-9 |
| 14 | Bears | 4-9 |
| 15 | Panthers | 3-11 |
| 16 | Giants | 2-12 |
With the Rams claiming the NFC West for now, the Seahawks do not own a playoff spot. In the wild-card race, they trail the seventh-seeded Commanders by one game.
Of course, Seattle's goal is an NFC West title and at least one home playoff game, but if Los Angeles continues to surge, the Seahawks' playoff chances may come down to the wild-card race. At 8-6, they'll need a strong finish to the season, plus losses from Washington, in order to sneak in and claim the final NFC playoff spot.
MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture for Week 15
Seahawks remaining schedule
| Week | Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| 16 | Dec. 22 | vs. Vikings | 4:05 p.m. |
| 17 | Dec. 26 | at Bears | 8:15 p.m. |
| 18 | Jan. 5 | at Rams | TBD |
The Seahawks face an NFC North gauntlet before the end of their season, coming off a matchup against the Packers to then host the Vikings and go on the road to face the struggling Bears.
Seattle closes its season with what could be a pivotal matchup against the Rams, though the Seahawks' hope is they will lock up the NFC West before then.
Seahawks updated playoff chances
ESPN's Football Power Index rates the Seahawks' playoff chances at 36.5% after their Week 15 contest, with a 34.6% chance of winning the NFC West.
