We loved the 2013 Seahawks, and this year’s model comes with similar hopes

1 week ago 2

The last time the Seahawks were 13-3 in 2013, did we have as many concerns as we do with this 13-3 team now?

I don’t think that was the case, not with a stifling defense and a more than capable offense led by Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch.

This current version of the Seahawks has a defense that draws favorable comparisons to the Legion of Boom but also features an interception or fumble waiting to happen in Sam Darnold.

The Seahawks’ quarterback leads the league in turnovers with 20, causing insiders and outsiders to wonder if they can succeed in the postseason if Darnold continues to give the ball to the other team.

It’s also a team that has scored only two touchdowns in the first half of its last seven games, and surely those sputtering starts won’t cut it in the playoffs when the competition stiffens.

But in a rare appearance from my bright side, which is usually buried deep down inside of 220 pounds of flesh and flab, I’m here to provide reasons why the Seahawks can overcome their deficiencies and excel in the playoffs.

Good defense

We know it as a cliche, but as it pertains to the Seahawks, let’s trot this one out again - defense wins championships, and to double down, a good defense typically stops or limits a good offense.

In the Super Bowl 12 years ago, the supposedly high-flying Broncos were grounded by the Seahawks in a 43-8 win.

The last few weeks we’ve seen Brock Purdy and the 49ers’ offense tear everyone up, showing no need to even have a punter on their roster.

This Saturday in a battle for the No. 1 NFC seed, I suspect a much different game with Purdy looking baffled at times or certainly off of his game, facing a Seahawks’ pass rush and secondary that will cause issues all night long.

Bad defense

Conversely, I expect Darnold to have a huge game, throwing for 300 yards and three touchdowns while committing no turnovers.

That San Francisco defense is awful, susceptible to anything and everything as we saw Monday night when the Bears racked up 38 points. The 49ers have the worst pass rush in the league, recording just 18 sacks in 16 games. So Darnold should have plenty of time to work through his progressions and find receivers over and over again.

But wait a minute, I hear you, hey Jim, isn’t this the week Darnold turned into a wreck last year when the Vikings lost a shot at the No. 1 seed to the Lions?

Yeah, you’re right, but I like to think that Lions’ defense in 2024 was much better than this 49ers’ defense, and I hope the way Darnold finished off the Rams in overtime two weeks ago is a sign that he’s knocked his big-game demons out for good.

Odds

Don’t take my word for it, Las Vegas and ESPN analytics think the Seahawks are good enough to beat the 49ers this week and win the whole darn thing.

The Seahawks are favored by 1 1/2 points over the 49ers, and according to Draft Kings, they have the best odds to win the Super Bowl at +475 or just less than 5-1.

ESPN’s analytics department gives the Seahawks a 13 percent chance to win the Super Bowl, which doesn’t sound great, but every other team is at 12 percent or lower.

Every team has flaws

Along those lines, when was the last time you’ve seen an NFL championship postseason that was this wide open?

Three weeks ago, the Rams were viewed as the team to beat. Not so much anymore after consecutive losses to the Seahawks and Falcons.

Whoever you think will hoist the Lombardi Trophy, that team has flaws, maybe more than the Seahawks.

Go ahead and cite the reasons why the Seahawks can’t possibly go all the way, and I’ll call your bet and go all in on why they not only can but likely will.

Jim Moore has covered Washington’s sports scene from every angle for multiple news outlets. He appears Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. on Jason Puckett’s podcast at PuckSports.com. He writes a Substack blog at jimmoorethego2guy.substack.com. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) @cougsgo.

Read Entire Article