In addition to helping themselves with another dominating win over San Francisco, Seattle’s competitors for a playoff spot also decided to throw the Seahawks a bone. Philadelphia, Atlanta and Minnesota all took an L on Sunday, allowing the ‘Hawks to creep closer to one of the NFC Wild Card spots.

Granted Minnesota is still tied with the Packers for the NFC North lead, but with a loss the Seahawks are in better position to pull even when they travel to Minnesota in Week 13. That is of course if they can beat the Steelers at home this Sunday. 

Speaking of this Sunday’s games, another game just as important for the Seahawks is being played in Atlanta between the Falcons and Vikings. Both are the only two teams that stand in the way of the ‘Hawks capturing a Wild Card spot.

With the way Atlanta has been playing as of late, losers of three straight and four of their last five, one would have to think they are not ready to face a team the caliber of Minnesota. Take a look at their four losses, and they have all come to sub-.500 teams. They barely even managed a 10-7 win against lowly Tennessee. At present, the Falcons do not look like a playoff team, ripe for a late season fade.

Still, this Pittsburgh game is a huge test for the Seahawks. If they drop this one, then they really cannot afford to lose any more games. Luckily it is at home and LaVeon Bell is out for the year. Unfortunately DeAngelo Williams is no slouch second stringer and Big Ben is back from injury. 

With Seattle’s secondary as thin as it is, and the fact that the Steelers have two outstanding wideouts, look for Roethlisberger to attack in the air early and often. If they get out to a lead early, it is imperative that Seattle doesn’t immediately revert to the pass like in games past. As we have seen, Russell Wilson isn’t capable of keeping up in a shoot out this year. Rather a steady diet of Thomas Rawls should be a better recipe for success.

If the Seahawks can pull out a W this Sunday, it will make their path to the playoffs a whole heck of a lot easier. If they can’t they might as well start planning for next year.

Photo: Flickr/Keith Allison