“That’s our entire resume, but especially (Macdonald’s), so he’s not trying to get away with a loss,” receiver DK Metcalf said. “We try to win every game. If they keep the score, he tries to win. That’s the mentality of the coach. That’s the mentality that all his players have. Yes, it’s just good to build on for next year. Like we all said, it’s his first year. He has things that he will carry over to next year, I think it’s just a good first year for everyone in the building.

Linebacker Ernest Jones IV said: “In our eyes, we’re still playing for a lot – 10 wins, just a chance to start this year off right and go into next year. So I feel like we’re going to come out and play like we should.

“Even though we are eliminated from the playoffs, even though this is our last game, we keep our brand, our style of football at a high level. I think it just comes from that. We have another game. No matter what it is for or not for. Because we have to go out there and play as men for that name on the back of your jersey and also for the Seattle Seahawks logo.”

And as Metcalf pointed out, playoffs or not, NFL players are too ambitious and proud to watch it before the season ends just because the stakes have changed.

“I have to say, just being in the NFL, there are a lot of competitive players in this league, especially on this team,” Metcalf said. “So, I mean, I would expect nothing less than for us to go out there and play like we’re still fighting to get into the playoffs. I think it just sends a message to the opposing team about what kind of identity this is. “No, this team will advance. I don’t think people will just lie down and accept that they won’t make the playoffs.

Individual goals can also serve as motivation, such as financial incentives or statistical benchmarks. Second-year receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is five catches away from breaking Tyler Lockett’s franchise record of 100 sacks in a season, while Leonard Williams has 9.0 sacks, becoming the first Seahawks player with a double-digit sack season since Frank Clark can become 2018. And as has been widely reported, Geno Smith has several significant contract incentives within reach while also having a good chance of setting his own single-season records for passing yards and Completions to break and completion percentage.