Seattle Seahawks: Monday night could decide playoff fate
By Ed Stein
![DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 9: Tight end Will Dissly #88 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with his team after scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on September 9, 2018 in {Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Bart Young/Getty Images) DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 9: Tight end Will Dissly #88 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with his team after scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on September 9, 2018 in {Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Bart Young/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/c67e8f53a495eb90e5ab027292eee9a4b3fada80dca620a64f20969d4658ac85.jpg)
Odds are not in Seahawks favor
Pop quiz: What are the odds of a 0-2 team making the NFL playoffs?
Answer: Very Poor
Seriously, the odds of a team making the playoffs after a 0-2 start is 10.8 percent. Every year, 12 teams advance to the postseason, according to the odds it means that one team with a 0-2 start will be playing football the first weekend in January. Considering how competitive the NFL is in general, it doesn’t bode well for the Seattle Seahawks.
A comeback from 0-2 usually happens within a division. Last year eight teams opened 0-2. Only the Saints rallied from their dismal start to make it. New Orleans closed 11-3 to win the NFC South.
The NFC West has preseason 2018 co-NFC Super Bowl favorite, the Los Angeles Rams at the top. Judging by last week’s performance in Oakland, they deserve the high expectations. So a Seahawks division title after a 0-2 start is highly unlikely.
That leaves a wild card slot. The NFC has several playoff caliber teams. You know about New Orleans, but the other seven 0-2 teams didn’t make the postseason. In fact, six of the seven teams finished last in their division, and the other team Cincinnati played in a division that included the winless Cleveland Browns. Unless the conference, as a whole, tanks this year, a 0-2 record to start 2018 could kill any playoff hopes the Seattle Seahawks have.
It’s not optional for the Seahawks to beat the Bears Monday night, it’s mandatory. A loss just about ends their chances of sniffing the Lombardi Trophy in February.