Thursday's nap-inducing, 6-3 win for the Seattle Seahawks over the Chicago Bears didn't do much to change the overall playoff picture around the NFL,

The Seattle Seahawks kept their postseason hopes alive by defeating the Chicago Bears but remain on the outside looking in.

The playoff picture came into sharper focus Wednesday when the Chiefs clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed and the Ravens leapfrogged the Steelers for the AFC North lead.

The Seattle Seahawks remain in the mix to win the NFC West and clinch a playoff spot. In an ugly game at Soldier Field, the Seahawks defeated the Chicago Bears 6–3 on Thursday night to improve to 9–7.

If the Seahawks lose, then the Rams would just need to beat the Cardinals on Saturday to clinch the NFC West. However, if the Seahawks win, things won't be so easy. The Rams would still be able to clinch the NFC West this week,

What does it mean? What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference's seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized on Sunday,

Chris Simms and Mike Florio expect the Rams to be "highly motivated" in Week 17 with the NFC West on the line and predict a bounce back at home against the Cardinals.

How strength of victory could knock the Seahawks out in Week 17. There are six games this weekend involving teams either the Seahawks or Rams have beaten—in the case of the San