Lead
On , after a Week 17 win over the Carolina Panthers, the Seattle Seahawks remain the unanimous No. 1 team in five major national power rankings. The rankings follow a dramatic Week 16 prime-time victory over the Los Angeles Rams and set up a decisive Week 18 meeting with the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC West title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Multiple outlets singled out Seattle’s defense, key roster moves and the midseason quarterback switch as defining features of the season. The result: Seattle enters the finale with momentum but with everything still on the line.
Key Takeaways
- All five national outlets polled—NFL.com, Pro Football Talk, Bleacher Report, ESPN and CBS Sports—rank Seattle No. 1 following the Week 17 win.
- Seattle improved from 10 wins in 2024 to 13 wins so far in 2025, a three-win jump that underpins national consensus.
- The Week 18 game against San Francisco will determine both the NFC West champion and the NFC No. 1 seed.
- CBS Sports and NFL.com emphasized the defense; NFL.com highlighted a blend of veteran leadership and youth, naming rookie Nick Emmanwori and veteran DeMarcus Lawrence.
- Bleacher Report and Pro Football Talk focused on offensive trends and Sam Darnold’s late-season role after a midseason quarterback change.
- ESPN credited general manager John Schneider with transformative roster moves, including swapping Geno Smith for Sam Darnold and acquiring Rashid Shaheed late in the season.
Background
The Seahawks’ 2025 campaign followed a notable transition: Seattle went from a 10-win club in 2024 to 13 wins in 2025 (so far). That improvement is anchored in roster turnover, schematic adjustments and key in-season transactions. General manager John Schneider’s decisions—most prominently installing Sam Darnold at quarterback and adding role players such as Rashid Shaheed—have drawn widespread attention and, by several outlets’ assessments, paid dividends.
Defensively, the unit’s performance escalated as the season progressed. A mix of veteran additions and young contributors has allowed Seattle to generate pressure and tighten coverage in critical situations. Offensively, the Seahawks shifted toward a more aggressive approach compared with 2024, an evolution cited by multiple analysts as a reason for the team’s improved scoring and complementary play between offense and defense.
Main Event
Week 16’s prime-time game versus the Los Angeles Rams was widely described as a roller coaster; that result, followed by a controlled win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 17, left Seattle atop the national power rankings compiled by five major outlets. The immediate storyline is simple: a Week 18 showdown at or versus the San Francisco 49ers will decide the NFC West champion and the NFC’s top playoff seed. Game planning will emphasize limiting San Francisco’s strengths while exploiting matchups on both lines.
On defense, analysts singled out the Seahawks’ front and secondary for their ability to generate timely stops. NFL.com praised a “mix of young and old” that combines the emergence of rookie Nick Emmanwori with steady play from veterans such as DeMarcus Lawrence. CBS Sports went further, saying the defense could be the foundation for a No. 1 seed — provided Seattle handles the 49ers first.
Offensively, the conversation centers on Sam Darnold, who replaced Geno Smith earlier in the year. PFT noted Darnold’s renewed opportunity to steer Seattle to a No. 1 seed with a strong Week 18 performance. Bleacher Report highlighted how the offense has shifted toward more aggressive play-calling in 2025, a change that has produced higher output and helped sustain the team through injuries and midseason adjustments.
Analysis & Implications
National consensus at No. 1 carries both reward and scrutiny. Being the unanimous top team elevates expectations for playoff performance and increases the pressure in a single-elimination postseason format. A Seattle victory in Week 18 would secure home-field advantage through the NFC side of the bracket, a tangible competitive edge given travel and matchup factors in January.
If Seattle loses the divisional decider, consequences extend beyond seeding: the team would face a more difficult playoff draw and lose the margin for error that comes with the No. 1 seed. That outcome would also recast evaluations of midseason personnel decisions, particularly the switch to Sam Darnold and late acquisitions such as Rashid Shaheed, shifting the narrative from triumph to unfinished business.
From a roster-building perspective, ESPN’s praise of John Schneider frames 2025 as successful risk-taking. Trades and in-season moves can be judged on playoff performance; home-run characterizations will be tested if the Seahawks fall short in the postseason. Conversely, a deep playoff run would reinforce the front office’s approach and influence offseason strategy, including salary-cap planning and draft priorities.
Comparison & Data
| Season | Regular‑season wins | Consensus rank (5 outlets) | Notable changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | Not consensus No. 1 | Baseline season; fewer wins |
| 2025 (so far) | 13 | 5 of 5 ranked No. 1 | Midseason QB change; key trades |
The table highlights a three-win improvement from 2024 to 2025 (so far) and unanimous top ranking across the five outlets surveyed. That combination of improved record and cross-outlet agreement is rare and elevates expectations entering the postseason; it also concentrates scrutiny on Week 18 as the tipping point for the team’s seeding and public evaluation.
Reactions & Quotes
National outlets offered succinct takes that capture how different aspects of the roster are being judged.
“Their defense could be the unit that carries them to a top seed—if they can first solve the 49ers.”
CBS Sports (national media)
CBS Sports framed the defense as a potential foundation for a No. 1 seed while stressing that the matchup with San Francisco is the immediate hurdle. The line underscores a common view among analysts that defensive consistency will determine Seattle’s postseason trajectory.
“A mix of young and old has energized the unit.”
NFL.com (national media)
NFL.com pointed specifically to contributors ranging from rookie Nick Emmanwori to veteran DeMarcus Lawrence. That characterization supports the notion that youth infusion plus veteran savvy has been a practical recipe for recent defensive gains.
“A series of home-run moves by the GM have reshaped this roster.”
ESPN (national media)
ESPN’s commentary credited general manager John Schneider for pivotal personnel decisions, including the quarterback switch and late-season trade activity. That praise ties roster construction directly to the team’s improved record and national standing.
Unconfirmed
- Exact injury statuses and last-minute roster decisions for Week 18 were not fully confirmed as of Dec. 30, 2025; final gameday availability could alter matchups.
- How Rashid Shaheed’s late-season acquisition will specifically influence the Week 18 game plan and target distribution remains open to game-to-game adjustments.
- Potential tiebreaker permutations involving other NFC clubs remain contingent on Week 18 results elsewhere and were not finalized at the time of publication.
Bottom Line
The Seahawks enter Week 18 with unanimous national recognition as the top team among five major outlets, driven by a three-win improvement over 2024, defensive emergence and decisive roster moves. That consensus reflects both real progress and higher expectations for the postseason. A win against the 49ers would lock up the NFC West and the No. 1 seed, granting Seattle home-field advantage and a clearer path in January.
But the script is incomplete: one game will materially alter the franchise’s postseason outlook and the public narrative around the front office and coaching staff. Observers should watch health reports, matchup breakdowns and in-game adjustments closely; those factors will determine whether 2025 becomes a foundational step forward or a near-miss that prompts fresh questions in the offseason.
Sources
- Field Gulls (regional NFL coverage / media)
- NFL.com (national media)
- ESPN (national media)
- Bleacher Report (national media)
- Pro Football Talk (national media)
- CBS Sports (national media)