There is no question that the Seattle Seahawks are very happy to have defeated the San Francisco 49ers last week and secured the top seed for the NFC playoffs. Though I argued that Seattle needed the win more for psychological than practical reasons, those practical benefits are undeniable.
The week off will provide welcome rest, especially to veteran defenders like Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Jarran Reed. It also allows banged-up players like Charles Cross, Coby Bryant, and Elijah Arroyo an extra week to heal.
Home-field advantage up until the Super Bowl is also a huge perk, despite Seattle’s brilliant road record.