Where Seahawks stand in latest NFL power rankings

The good news about the Seahawks’ loss Sunday? They still, somehow, have a chance to make the playoffs after the defensive letdown against the Steelers.

The bad news? They need some help to make the playoffs, and that can be hard to come by.

Here’s where national media have them in the latest power rankings.

The Athletic: No. 16

The lesson: Pete Carroll can really coach

Seattle still has a 23.8 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to The Athletic’s projections, despite Sunday’s loss. If the Seahawks can get there, it will be Carroll’s 10th trip in his last 13 seasons as head coach. There’s a lot of angst in Seattle right now because the Seahawks gave up 468 yards to Mason Rudolph and the Steelers on Sunday, but Seattle could do a lot worse than being in the mix every year under Carroll.

Bleacher Report: No. 18

The Seattle Seahawks are floundering, losers of five of their last seven games. And it’s not hard to see why it’s happening.

Seattle can’t stop the run.

Against the Steelers, the Seahawks allowed 202 yards on the ground — and in the opinion of head coach Pete Carroll, that was the difference between winning and losing.

CBS Sports: No. 19

Losing to the Steelers at home really puts a damper on their playoff hopes. They will need to win and get help this week to get into the postseason.

ESPN: No. 16

Biggest offseason contract to watch: QB Geno Smith

The Seahawks gave Smith a three-year, $75 million deal last March, but the guarantee structure was such that they could move on after this season with a nonprohibitive $17.4 million in dead money if the quarterback didn’t maintain his [2022] Pro Bowl form. Smith’s numbers during his up-and-down [2023] season have declined across the board, which brings that possibility into play. The date to know is Feb. 16. That’s when Smith’s $12.7 million base salary for next season would become fully guaranteed if he’s still on the roster, which makes that a likely deadline to determine his immediate future.

NFL.com: No. 19

The Seahawks entered Week 17 controlling their own destiny, needing wins in their final two games to guarantee a playoff berth. Uh, yeah, about that … Perhaps allowing 178 rush yards after contact to a Steelers team that was averaging fewer than 90 rush yards in the previous three games wasn’t a winning formula. It also didn’t help that Kenneth Walker III, who made some noise early in the game, was injured in the third quarter and missed most of the second half. After Walker recovered his own fumble on a direct snap midway through the third quarter, the Seahawks handed off one more time on their final 20 plays of the game. Walker’s one appearance in the fourth quarter came on the strip-sack of Geno Smith, and the RB’s chip left a bit to be desired. The Seahawks’ surest path to the playoffs now? Beating a highly competitive Cardinals team in Week 18 and having the Bears defeat the Packers. That’s not completely improbable, but it’s hard to assume it’ll happen.

The Ringer: No. 16

What a deflating loss for Pete Carroll’s team on Sunday. Seattle allowed a Mason Rudolph — led Pittsburgh offense to rack up 468 yards, including 202 rushing yards, in a 30-23 loss. Seattle’s season is now on the brink: The Seahawks need to beat the Cardinals in Week 18 and hope the surging Packers lose to the Bears in order to sneak their way into the playoffs as a wild card. Sunday’s disappointing defensive performance, though, wasn’t surprising, and whether or not Seattle succeeds next week and gets into the postseason, defensive changes probably should be coming to Carroll’s staff next year.