The Seahawks are sitting on top of the NFC West, and a win Saturday could make the path to the Super Bowl much smoother.

Still, there is plenty to play for Sunday. Not only does Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales insist that this week of preparation will resemble every other week — there will be no “scoreboard watching,” so to speak — the Seahawks also have a No. 1 seed in the NFC to attempt to lock up, too.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/nfl/seahawks/onsi as Seattle Seahawks’ running game rounding into playoff form.

Following that turnover, it set the Seahawks offense up at the Carolina 21-yard line to score. On the drive, Seattle rushed the ball four times, including the touchdown run and qu

The Seattle Seahawks have beaten the Carolina Panthers 27-10 to close in on the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

The Seattle Seahawks standings in the NFL playoff picture is starting to take shape as the franchise looks to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Seattle faces two challenging tests against the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers to close the regular season.

Sunday’s finale will bookend a season that started with the 49ers in Seattle, eking out a 17-13 victory over the Seahawks as a late Brock Purdy touchdown to Jake Tonges earned them their first win of the season. Seattle has won 11 of its last 13 games to set up this showdown that will determine the NFC West.

Entering a key Week 18 game and the playoffs, the Seattle Seahawks have 2 of the NFL's 5 highest-ranked RBs according to Pro Football Focus.