Tampa and New Orleans have me concerned. As well as having 3 must win against division opponents. Hopefully Lindley and Bradford continue to flounder as well as putting a whole game together against the division leader.

Will know much better after the Chicago game on what I think about the chances of making the playoffs.

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"The Seahawks are now known league wide as the team sooooooo badass and smashmouth and hard hitting that they couldn't even go thru their own practices without laying smack down on fools." - JSeahawks

This chart shows we have a 53% probability of making the playoffs. Interesting how the Vikings actually control their own destiny yet still have only 24% shot at the playoffs. Weird.

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"Make good teams look bad and make bad teams look terrible!" -Michael Robinson

nevermind

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Follow me on Twitter: @ChrisB_Bacon
2012 Adopt-a-Rookie: Bobby "BigDogg" Wagner

This is exactly how I feel, and I'm going to add to it a bit. There's no reason why we can't win out, and taking the #2 seed is certainly possible. Taking the #1 seed would require a lot of help, so I have my sights set on the #2 seed. We can and should beat anyone at home, even SF. If you believe in Football Outsiders' DVOA stats, and I do, we're better than everyone on our remaining schedule except SF, but we can still beat them at home.

I'm pretty much smoking RW's pole right now, but I believe that with his continued growth week to week, he's going to rise up to every remaining challenge this year. Don't bet against this kid.

**Premature Speculation Alert** Part of our problem on the road against SF and DET was the middle of the defense. Pro Football Focus said Mebane started the year as one of the best DTs in the league, and slipped recently. Maybe thats due to a nagging injury or fatigue, and maybe all he needed was a bye week. With how physical this defense is, perhaps the entire defense needed a bye week. I think the bye will reinvigorate the defense. **End premature speculation**

We can beat Chicago. We have a very similar style of team to SF, and they destroyed Chicago. Sherman can take Marshall out of the game. Without him, they don't have much of an offense. They can't pass protect, and if Mebane does actually get better after the bye, we can shut down Forte too. This is a game where our defense should dominate. Hester isn't much of a threat to return kicks or punts for TDs this year. If Cutler is out for any extended period of time with his concussion and misses this game, I would guarantee a victory. All we have to do is not turn the ball over.

I think the biggest hurdle to getting the #2 seed is relying on Green Bay to lose another game. They have some tough games left, but certainly no games you would expect them to lose. They are just as capable as us at winning out.

With all that said, its possible SF beats NO and NE and leaves us with the wild card. That's out of our control. Assuming an NFC North team takes one wild card, our competition for the other wild card is Tampa Bay and Dallas.

Due to beating Dallas earlier this year, they have to finish a game better than us, which means they have to win out (11-5) and we finish 10-6. No way in hell that happens, especially with games against Pittsburgh and New Orleans on their schedule (doesn't matter that those are home games...they have no HFA).

Tampa Bay has a very tough schedule remaining. They play Atlanta twice, at Denver, and at New Orleans. They'd be lucky to finish 10-6, and we'd be unlucky to finish 10-6. So I'd put our chances of making the playoffs at 95% (not 100% because random stuff does happen) and our chances of winning the division at 60%.

Hate to say it (phrase has a history) but I like our chances. The 75% number works for me.

The NFC puts a 9-7 team in the playoffs almost every season. I expect us to go 11-5 (just like in my pre-season prediction ) but 10-6 would not be a huge disappointment, either. Sot the record shouldn't be a problem.

The division losses were bad, but we have won some other games that will weigh heavy in the tie-breakers, against GB, Dallas, and Minn.

With 3 home games remaining, I think the odds are in our favor to make the playoffs, and the Div title is still within reach.

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Talent can get you to the playoffs.
It takes character to win when you get there.

I hope and trust the team can focus on each game and not be distracted knowing they are in a position to make the playoffs. As cliche as this is... they really cannot afford to look past any teams and ahead to the playoffs yet. That will take care of itself. Having said all that... I sure HOPE this team makes the playoffs (I don't care if they're not supposed to yet or not ready yet or not as good as they're going to be yet). This team will be a DANGERUSS (sorry, I couldn't resist) team no one wants to face in the playoffs. I think if they can continue improving and get hot / peak going into the playoffs... anything can happen. The thing about the playoffs is that you don't have to beat every one of the other 5 teams. Good teams will knock off other good teams. I'm not saying we're Super Bowl bound, but... you never know. Stranger things have happened. So, I would be disappointed to have a dangerous team just miss the playoffs. (What was that year again?)

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Team of the Century!

All we have to hope for as far as last weekend's bye is concerned is that RW is not the type of QB that needs to play every week to maintain his quarterbacking production.

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The 2013 Seahawks: NFL's first and only crap-your-pants stellar team

If this team can win some road games there is no doubt they will make the playoffs. The key will be to stay perfect at home and snag a couple away. I have confidence they can do it.

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“There’s no reason, with Mr. Allen and the fan base here and the stadium, that this can’t be a stable, long-term winning organization.” - John Schneider

Umm go Saints.