'Scrappy' Seattle Seahawks Set For Playoff Berth Under Mike Macdonald?

The Seattle Seahawks narrowly missed out on a playoff spot last season, but in Mike Macdonald's first year as head coach, can he guide them to the postseason?

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) escapes from Arizona Cardinals linebacker Dennis Gardeck / Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY

The Seattle Seahawks were coming off a superb season under Geno Smith's guidance in 2022 as he led the franchise to the playoffs in the first year post-Russell Wilson.

The same was expected in 2023 as the Seahawks looked to restock and reload after their 2022 exploits. For the first half of the season, things looked to be on track, with Seattle sitting at a comfortable 6-3 record after its 29-26 win over the Washington Commanders in Week 10.

But a run of four consecutive defeats meant that the Seahawks slipped into the chasing pack and their playoff destiny wasn't in their own hands. While Seattle would win three of its last four games, the 30-23 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17 was the brutal blow it couldn't recover from.

Can the Seahawks mount a playoff challenge in the first season under Mike Macdonald? According to CBS Sports, Seattle is listed as one team that could make the postseason that didn't a season ago.

Mar 26, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald speaks to the media. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

"They're clearly in transition, sidelining Pete Carroll for first-time head coach Mike Macdonald while openly admitting long-term uncertainty under center," CBS Sports wrote. "But the skill talent is still apparent, from DK Metcalf to Kenneth Walker III, and Macdonald has savvy pieces at every level of the defense. If he maximizes the talent there, why can't they be scrappy again?"

Seattle's path to the postseason will be a tricky one. The NFC West harbors the juggernaut that is the San Francisco 49ers along with the Los Angeles Rams, who won it all just two seasons ago before the Kansas City Chiefs went back-to-back. Sean McVay's team is on the up and the 49ers have been up for a while. If the Seahawks are to return to the postseason, we get the sense one of them will have to make way.

Of course, we have seen three teams from one division make the playoffs before (NFC East 2022), so it isn't out of the realms of possibility that Seattle, along with the 49ers and Rams, make the postseason in 2024.

Still armed with a host of talent on both sides of the ball, the Seahawks again could loom as a dark horse for a playoff spot. With Macdonald and his defensive wizardry taking over a Seattle defense last season that was ranked 25th (23.6 points per game), many expect the unit to be far better.

As for Ryan Grubb's offense, with D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kenneth Walker, Zach Charbonnet and Noah Fant, there are weapons for Geno to utilize.

But will all of that add up to the Seahawks being a playoff team in 2024? There's no reason why it shouldn't.