Seahawks overtake Rams for NFC No. 1… this is how much top seed actually matters

The Seattle Seahawks are the new No. 1 seeds in the NFC after a dramatic overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Thursday Night Football in Week 16. But with both teams already headed to the postseason, does it really matter?

Seattle is now 12-3 for the season with two games remaining and could still be overtaken by three teams: the Rams (11-4, two games left), the Chicago Bears (10-4, three games left), and the San Francisco 49ers (10-4, three games left).

But with Mike McDaniel’s team riding a five-game winning streak, confidence is high as they prepare for final road matchups against the Carolina Panthers (7-7) and the 49ers.

The perks and pitfalls of the No. 1 seed

In theory, finishing the regular season as the No. 1 seed means a more favorable schedule. The top NFC and AFC teams skip the Wild Card round, giving them time to rest, recover from minor injuries, and prepare for the playoffs.

But there’s an argument that a two-week break can disrupt a team’s rhythm, especially one on a winning streak that just wants to keep rolling.

Of course, almost every coach would take a break over no break, although that’s not to say it always works in a team’s favor.

History shows top seeds have an edge

Since 1975, more than half (50.9 percent) of the 51 Super Bowls have been won by the top seed in either the NFC or AFC. The most recent was the Kansas City Chiefs, who became the 26th No. 1 seed to claim the championship at the end of the 2023 season in February 2024.

By contrast, only 11 No. 2 seeds (21.6 percent), two No. 3 seeds (3.9 percent), and six No. 4 seeds (11.7 percent) have lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy in that time.

A crucial step toward Super Bowl glory

Perhaps, then, the Seahawks’ victory over the Rams was a pivotal moment in their bid for a first championship since their maiden triumph in 2013. Seattle has two more weeks to secure the top NFC spot and, if history is any guide, more than double their chances of Super Bowl glory.

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