Packers’ Rooting Guide for NFL Playoff Implications of Week 17
Mason RudolphJoe Sargent/Getty ImagesOf the two NFC West teams that currently occupy the two remaining wildcard seeds, the Seattle Seahawks are the more vulnerable one on paper. They will host a Pittsburgh Steelers team that will be trying to keep its own slim playoff hopes alive.
The Steelers stayed in the game last week with a 34-11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The offense looked better than it has all season with Mason Rudolph at the helm, so they might have found something that can help the unit finish the season strong.
Kenny Pickett has been out with an ankle injury and Mitchell Trubisky struggled to replace him. Pickett continues to work toward being cleared, but Rudolph is in line to play on Sunday which could actually be good news for those hoping the Steelers win.
The Seahawks haven’t been nearly as consistent as the Rams of late. They have won back-to-back 20-17 games against the Eagles and Titans, but the pair of wins snapped a four-game losing streak.
The Steelers defense will be vital in this one. The unit was strong early in the season, but really struggled for a few weeks giving up three touchdowns to a hapless New England offense before allowing 30 to Gardner Minshew and the Colts.
They were back to their old ways against the Bengals last week. However, stopping the trio of D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a tall task.
