Seahawks looking like threat again
The Seattle Seahawks started the season at 2-4 and people began throwing dirt of the group. Through six games, quarterback Russell Wilson had been sacked more than any other player in the National Football League, while the Legion of Boom was coming off consecutive games in which it allowed fourth quarter leads to slip away.
It was a rough time for this proud group, which was trying to overcome both a slow start and the injury to Marshawn Lynch. Lynchhas been the bell cow for this group over the past half-decade, allowing Seattle to call the run-option with great effectiveness. However, Lynch’s availability was nixed with a hernia, leaving the job to Thomas Rawls.
Rawls was cruising along as one of the most productive undrafted rookie free agents in recent memory until he broke his ankle in last Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. Still, Seattle is checking into Week 15 at 8-5 and sitting in the fifth seed of the NFC.
While the Seahawks are not going to win the NFC West for the third straight year – the Arizona Cardinals will be taking home that honor – Seattle remains one of the most dangerous teams in the league. With Kam Chancellor back to form and the defense starting to play with is swagger, teams know that allowing more than a few touchdowns likely means a loss.
Barring some major upsets over the final three weeks of the season, Seattle is going to stay in the fifth seed as the NFC’s top wild card. Should that be the case, the Seahawks are going to draw the winner of the NFC East, which is likely to be either the New York Giants, Washington Redskins or Philadelphia Eagles, who all are 6-7. Regardless of the opponent, Seattle will be favored substantially despite the game being on the road.
With a win in that game, Seattle would almost surely go to face the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. In fact, there is a very good chance that the two divisional matchups in the NFC would be the aforementioned, along with the Arizona Cardinals hosting the Green Bay Packers. Now that is the time to sit down and grab a beverage.
Without question, Seattle is a team nobody wants to face come January. The Seahawks are two-time conference champions with the knowledge of how to go on the road and take down any opponent. Carolina could very well go into the playoffs undefeated, and barely be a favorite at home versus the Seahawks.
Ultimately, Seattle is a team playing better by the week, hoping it won’t peak for another month or so. The Seahawks are primed for another deep postseason run, something the Emerald City is very accustomed to.
