The Seattle Seahawks are heading into Week 18 with a 13-3 record tied for the best record in the NFL with two AFC teams. The final game of the regular season against the San Francisco 49ers will determine the NFC West championship, the division’s top seed, a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The stakes really couldn’t be higher.
ESPN recently released its Week 18 power rankings. Heading into the finals, the Seahawks were atop ESPN’s rankings. This week’s show was full of praise for general manager John Schneider and the bold offseason moves that have led to the Seahawks’ current 13-3 record.
“A series of home runs by the longtime general manager puts the Seahawks on track to win the NFC West and become the conference’s No. 1 seed“, Brady Henderson wrote.”Schneider traded quarterback Geno Smith for a third-round pick and replaced him with Pro Bowl-bound Sam Darnold for less money. Schneider’s slew of free-agent acquisitions included outside linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence, another Pro Bowl player. The general manager’s top two draft picks in 2025 — left guard Gray Zabel and nickelback Nick Emmanvory — are the deciding figures. Finally, Schneider completed a mid-season trade for wide receiver Rasheed Shaheed, who made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner“.
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Schneider had a phenomenal offseason. He deserves serious consideration for Executive of the Year honors. From Smith-Darnold’s decision to Zabel, Emanworth, Lawrence and others, Schneider basically hit a home run every time he got on base.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks atop ESPN Power Rankings heading into Week 18 finale