make the playoffs this weekend Mychal Kendricks News , it will mean that the Seattle Seahawks have played every NFC postseason team this year save for themselves and the New Orleans Saints. In those games, they beat the Dallas Cowboys and Vikings, while losing twice to the LA Rams and once to the Chicago Bears.In my opinion there’s only one team in the NFC — in reality, the whole NFL — that I don’t think you want to face if you don’t have to and that’s the Saints.New Orleans is one home game against the Carolina Panthers away from finishing 14-2 and that alone puts them a step ahead of every team. Records can be deceiving but the Saints’ isn’t. It’s surprising to me that they’re only third in DVOA, but they’re second in weighted DVOA and only .2% behind the Kansas City Chiefs for first. Yes, Drew Brees is the face of the city and having another season appropriate for potentially the best quarterback of all-time but what sets this Saints team apart from the many that have let Brees down over the years is a defense that ranks 10th by DVOA.Consider that New Orleans has twice looked this good: in 2009 and in 2011. They went 13-3 in both of those season with a point differential of +169 in the former and +208 in the latter. This season, they are +170 and actually if they lost 21-20 to the Panthers this Sunday, they’d have the exact same record, point differential, points scored, and points allowed as they did in ‘09.And they won the Super Bowl that year.The issue in 2011 was that there were too many good teams and beyond all reasonable expectations, the Saints won their last eight games, finished 13-3, and still had to play a wild card game. They hosted the Detroit Lions and won 42-28 but then had to go on the road to face the 13-3 San Francisco 49ers. The 15-1 Green Bay Packers took the one-seed (and had an even more disappointing postseason) while San Francisco got the two-seed by way of conference record. The Niners scored 380 points that year, compared to 547 for Brees and co.The Saints went 9-0 at home that season, including the wild card game, but were just 5-4 on the road following a divisional round loss to the Niners. As you probably recall in that classic game, the lead changed four times in the final four minutes, with Alex Smith giving San Francisco the 36-32 win by way of a touchdown throw to Vernon Davis with :09 seconds left.If that game is played in New Orleans, I could see a different result. This year, the road to the Super Bowl does go through New Orleans. At least, unless you get super lucky and avoid it, which is what the Seahawks should be hoping to do.If Seattle beats the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday, they’ll guarantee themselves the five-seed. If they lose Jason Myers Jersey , they open the door for the Minnesota Vikings to take the five and push the Seahawks down to the six. There is only one opponent they could possibly face in that scenario, which would be the Chicago Bears. No, they cannot face the LA Rams in the first round because in order for the Rams to fall to the three seed, it will mean that the Bears beat the Vikings and therefore, Seattle would be the five seed.Say whatever you want about the matchup vs the Cowboys compared to the matchup vs the Bears, here’s what I can guarantee: If the Seahawks are the six seed, and they win, they have no choice but to go to New Orleans. That’s not a scenario I’d be looking forward to and it’s one you want to put on hold while also crossing fingers that somebody can upset the Saints in the same way that the New York Giants shocked everyone and upset the Packers in 2011.But if they’re the five seed, there’s still a chance that the Seahawks will play the two seed if they happen to advance past the wild card round. If that team happens to be the Rams, you, me, and everyone we know is aware of how close Seattle was to beating LA in both matchups this season. If it’s the Bears, I’d still say that they present a much more favorable matchup than New Orleans does, even in freezing, outdoor conditions.And of course if the Seahawks secure the five seed and it ends up mattering in that way, i.e. if the six seed upsets the three seed and sends Seattle to the two seed, then it keeps hope alive for the most important scenario of all: not just avoiding New Orleans entirely but hosting an NFC Championship game. All of that is too far down the line to really care about, I know it, but what all of that information actually does is this: gives more weight to Seattle’s game against the Cardinals this Sunday.It does matter. They can’t bank on the Vikings losing. They’re at home vs the worst offense in the NFL. They do need to win this one and move into the playoffs with a 10-6 record and a better opportunity. Seeding has had huge implications throughout NFL playoff history and this is no different. It may seem like a small thing, but this win could actually be very significant.Swerving Points, Week 3: Not all flags are created equal As always, Swerving Points is not about the game’s biggest plays, which would be turning points. We know what those were in Sunday’s win, on defense at least.Interception 1: Just the right ankleMcForced McFumbleInterception 2: Earlectic BugalooTake a bow? Take a bow. Why the hell not?Chris Carson even unlocked the RB TD vault. May much unclaimed loot spill out of there onto the Seattle Seahawks’ 2018 season. Jaron Brown caught his first score as a Seahawk David Moore Jersey , and Tyler “Guess That Extension Wasn’t Such A Bad Idea” Lockett hauled in his third TD in as many games.Fine, you can have Steve Raible calling the Lockett TD. But only because you’ve all been very good boys and girls all week.Highlights galore. You’re welcome. Now there are four penalties I’d like to talk about, four flags that shaped the game on the contours, if not the core.Roughing the passer on Tyrone Crawford (DAL), first quarter, 11:17. Result of the play: First down SEAOf all the big penalties in the game, this one probably had the lowest impact on the final result. The EPA (expected points added) was 1.58, a significant amount for a single play on one’s own side of the field, but Seattle still had to punt at drive’s end. Because they simply don’t score opening-possession touchdowns. That wouldn’t be very sporting. Anyway, what made me want to cite this event is that it overruled a third-down incompletion and led to a 12-play drive by the Seahawks. Field flipped, first downs gained, intelligence gathered, a semblance of rhythm attained: though you’d always like to score points, at least you achieved something with the football in your hands. For a change, the possession wasn’t a complete waste.Also: there is a ton of research on how referees favor home teams. Two of my favorite hits lie below.In the NBA (includes great custom chart)In the NFL (a lot to process here)It was awfully nice to see Seattle benefit from what might have been a hometown call. Things are tougher on the road, and you don’t always get all the breaks you’d like (see: Week 1 in Denver with the non-fumble and the maybe-touchdown fiasco). Being at home matters in more ways than one.On to the more swervy flags.Illegal touch on Ezekiel Elliott (DAL), second quarter, 5:39. Result of the play: Cowboys settle for a field goalElliott’s footwork was just sloppy enough that he stepped out of bounds before making a reception near the south end zone and racing down the far sideline for a sure score. On a 3rd and 2 from the SEA 31. Four points come off the board for Dallas, with seven turning into three.Up until this point, the Seahawks have also earned some penalties, as is their habit. 12 men on the field (VERY ON BRAND) during the Cowboys’ first possession, the weekly holding on J.R. Sweezy, and especially running into the kicker to prolong a Dallas drive. But each was followed shortly by a positive play that mitigated the error, or eliminated its bad effects altogether.By game’s end Quinton Jefferson Jersey , Seattle would be called 10 penalties to the Cowboys’ 7, costing the hosts 67 yards to the visitors’ 55. As halftime approached, the Seahawks were already losing the penalty battle, but winning the war, and the biggest call of all was yet to come.Personal foul, unnecessary roughness on Randy Gregory DAL, second quarter, 0:07.Result of the play: first down SEA in field-goal territoryGregory, who may or may not have been baited by Joey “Breno” Hunt, gifts Seattle 15 yards of field position to transform a potential 62-yard FG into a quite different 47-yard attempt. Sebastian Janikowski remembers how to make the mid-range ones and delivers three points as the half ends. This game feels awfully different in the fourth quarter without that kick as extra cushion.We would be remiss to tell the story of this costly (to Dallas!) penalty without mentioning that Pete Carroll was aggressive on defense with the timeouts. He called two on the Cowboys’ previous possession and gave his offense 49 seconds to get into field-goal range one last time before half.Somehow, Carroll had managed to preserve all three timeouts for the first 28 minutes — while Jason Garrett had spent all of his minutes ago, two on defense and another for play clock reasons. Pays off sometimes to be the team that isn’t wasteful.Personal foul, taunting on Earl Thomas, SEA, fourth quarter, 3:17Result of the play: another unforgettable Earl Thomas momentThere is very little more to say than the unsaid words behind Earl’s bow. Yes, he just vaporized Dallas’ last best chance of the game with a red zone pick. Yes, it’s his second. Yes, there have been a shit-ton of rumors. Endless billows of smoke circle around Thomas, even today, but as of yet no fire is spotted. Well. Not since Earl set the sideline ablaze with the play of the game, then the statement of the game.So he takes a bow. Maybe to drive the point home about how much better off they’d have been with him wearing a star on his helmet instead of a bird. And he earns a personal foul. This moment’s a swerving point that could very easily become a turning point for his career. Maybe the quality and ferocity of his play on Sunday leads to an extension here; maybe he sits out more practices; maybe he delivers the best season of his life and walks away in free agency to earn the financial security he craves.Meanwhile, the Legend of Earl Thomas grows.(Extend him.)