RENTON, Wash. (AP) — By now, making the playoffs might seem as if it’s just supposed to happen for Pete Carroll's crew.
Nine playoff trips in 11 seasons can create that level of expectation.
But the Seattle Seahawks haven’t won an NFC West title since 2016. They haven’t hosted a playoff game since beating Detroit on a Saturday night in January 2017.
So while Seattle’s 20-15 win over Washington on Sunday was important for wrapping up the Seahawks spot in the postseason yet again, what happened thousands of miles away in Los Angeles was even more important.