Whatever way things pan out, this has been a superb season for the Seattle Seahawks. The regular season had several firsts for the franchise, including their best-ever regular-season record of 14-3 and the best points-differential in the team’s history.
Expectations at the beginning of the season were mixed, although most considered Seattle a Playoff contender. The team exceeded expectations, going into the playoffs as the favorite in the Super Bowl betting odds and No.1 seed in the NFC.
Of course, the season had its ups and downs, including an opening weekend defeat, but there were several wins across the regular season that felt pivotal for the Seahawks. Below, we look at five of those in the context of a season where the Seahawks went from middle-of-the-road team to Super Bowl contenders:
- 31-17 @ Pittsburgh Steelers – Week 1
After tasting defeat in the opening week to the 49ers, this matchup against the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium already felt like a must-win game. The Seahawks duly delivered with the first win over the Steelers since 2019. It wasn’t always comfortable – the Steelers led 14-7 at halftime, but a strong 4th quarter (something that has been a characteristic of the Seahawks’ season) saw Seattle home with room to spare. Winning in Pittsburgh is always tough, but this was about getting back on track.
- 20-12 @ Jacksonville Jaguars – Week 6
The Jaguars had an unbelievable turnaround season, though they came up a little short against the Bills in the Wild Card Weekend. The Jags were 4-1 going into this, coming off big wins over the 49ers and Chiefs. The Seahawks, meanwhile, wanted to get the season back on course after a defeat to the Buccaneers. It was no classic, but the Seahawks left Jacksonville with their third road win of the season, improving to 4-2 and firmly setting their sights on the Playoffs.
- 18-16 Vs. Indianapolis Colts – Week 15
This one arguably needs some context. The Colts were one of the best teams in the first ‘half’ of the NFL regular season, but they really struggled coming off their bye week. This was a tough, grinding matchup where the Seahawks simply had to wait until the 4th quarter to score a touchdown. It wasn’t the prettiest win of the season, and the game wasn’t a thriller, but it told us a lot about the mettle of the Seattle players.
- 38-37 Vs. LA Rams – Week 16
This one was huge for the perception of Super Bowl contenders, as the Rams were considered favorites for the championship going into this game. The script was reversed in a thrilling battle at Lumen Field, which saw the Seahawks overturn a 16-point deficit to win it in overtime. It was one of the best games in a season largely characterized by instant classics, and it really put the Seahawks in the driving seat for the Playoffs.
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- 13-3 @ San Francisco 49ers – Week 18
This felt like a full-circle game, beating the team that handed the Seahawks a defeat in their opening game of the season. It rubber-stamped the Seahawks’ position as the best performers in the NFC. The win halted a six-game streak of victories for the 49ers, who went into the game with a lot of momentum. Of course, it wouldn’t be the last time the pair met this season.
