Pete Carroll credits the Jets for making Seahawks ride home even sweeter

The Seattle Seahawks’ bus ride back was certainly better thanks to the Jets. 

It’s customary when someone helps out another, a token of gratitude is returned. What gift should the Seattle Seahawks send the New York Jets for Sunday’s unexpected win?

Despite Seattle clinching a playoff berth in a 20-15 victory over the Washington Football Team, the race for the NFC West still resided in a Week 16 showdown against the Los Angeles Rams. It still does, but Seattle now has the edge after the Jets took down the Rams in a 23-20 win.

“On the ride home we got to watch the Jets get their first win, which was fun, too,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said during his weekly radio show on ESPN 710 Seattle.

The Jets were a 17.5-point underdog to the then 9-4 Rams. The loss now boosts Seattle’s odds to win the NFC West up to 65 percent, according to FiveThirtyEight.com.

Stats don’t lie, but other teams struggling also help.

Should fans view Seattle as a playoff threat?

The Seahawks won ugly on the road against the NFC East-leading Football Team. Carlos Hyde broke through a huge hole on the right side for a 50-yard touchdown, giving the Seahawks a 20-3 lead.

Meanwhile, Russell Wilson’s MVP campaign took another hit when he threw for only 121 yards on 27 attempts. The run game also took a hit with the loss of third-down runner DeeJay Dallas.

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Seattle’s defense has stepped up immensely over the past several weeks and shut down Dwayne Haskins late. DJ Reed and Shaquill Griffin both picked up interceptions, while do-it-all safety Jamal Adams sacked the former top-15 pick for his 9.5th sack of the season.

Seattle got sacks on consecutive plays from second-year man L.J. Collier and trade acquisition Carlos Dunlap.

Seattle’s offense will need to play better down the stretch if they hope to be taken seriously in the playoffs. It starts Sunday against the Rams, who are holding on in the NFC West title race by a thread.

In Carroll’s 11 seasons with the franchise, Seattle’s made the playoffs nine times. If they win the division Sunday, at least send gang green a fruit basket as a thank you gift.