Last place a lock for Seahawks after loss

After the final kneel down, the few remaining snowballs being tossed from the stands were no longer only directed toward officials or the Chicago Bears. Some were being flung toward the home sideline and tunnel as the Seattle Seahawks left the field.

What was already a lost season for the Seahawks hit a new low Sunday, when they blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead in a 25-24 loss to the Chicago Bears that eliminated Seattle from playoff contention in the NFC.

The crash has been swift and painful for a team that a year ago won 12 games and was NFC West champions. Seattle (5-10) already was assured of finishing with a losing record, but clung to the slimmest of playoff hopes entering the week. Now, it’s guaranteed the worst season of Pete Carroll’s tenure with the Seahawks — and his first 10-loss season since his first season as an NFL head coach in 1994 with the New York Jets.

Seattle will finish in last place in the NFC West for the first time since moving to the NFC in 2002. The last time the Seahawks finished last in their division was the AFC West in 1996.

MAJOR INJURIES FOR BILLS, JAGUARS >> The Buffalo Bills’ already beleaguered offensive line was dealt another blow when left guard Ike Boettger was carted off the field with a ruptured Achilles tendon in a big win against New England, and Jacksonville running back James Robinson left the Jaguars’ game against the New York Jets with an torn Achilles tendon.

Those were the major injuries on a day when several teams had multiple players out after being placed on the COVID-19 list.

Boettger was carted off early in the second half of the Bills’ 33-21 win at Foxborough. Buffalo looked to be on its way to being in decent shape health-wise up front after left tackle Dion Dawkins was cleared from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday. However, starting right guard Jon Feliciano wasn’t cleared from COVID-19 list in time to play.

Robinson went down without contact on Trevor Lawrence’s handoff to Tavon Austin late in the first quarter. He remained down for a few moments, appearing to reach at his lower right leg.