After embarrassing the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII, the Seattle Seahawks seemed to have reached the peak of their success. By Week 7 the Seahawks had managed a mere 3-3 record, and suddenly the Super Bowl champions were in danger of missing the playoffs. Well after winning 8 of their last 9 game, the Seahawks are now not only the number one seed in the NFC but also favorites to repeat as Super Bowl champs in Super Bowl XLIX.   

The Seahawks are sitting at 11-4 heading into their final game of the season where they will host the St. Louis Rams. If the Seahawks win this game, they will finish the season 12-4, win the NFC West for the second season in a row, and host all of their playoff games in 2015. This last one is arguably the most important. The Seahawks pride themselves on their home record, an impressive 14-2 over the last two seasons. With the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC going through Seattle, the Seahawks have no doubt they will make it back to the big game.  

The Seahawks don’t win like most teams. Seattle relies completely on its outstanding defense to get the job done and set up the offense in short field situations. The Seahawks defense is led by linebacker Bobby Wagner and cornerback Richard Sherman. Sherman, the self-proclaimed “best cornerback in the league,” is the heart and soul of the Seattle defense. Although most people perceive them as arrogant, the Legion of Boom (the self-given name of the Seahawks secondary) sure can back up their talk on the field. In 2014, the Seahawks have held opponents to 20 or fewer points in 10 of their 15 games, including the last five games.   

Needless to say, the Seahawks offense takes advantage of the plethora of turnovers their defense forces. The Seahawks offense is not championship material by any means on their own, but they don’t need to be. Regardless, the offense does get the job done: Marshawn Lynch is one of the top power running backs in the NFL, and the Seahawks receiving core is top notch. Quarterback Russell Wilson is a good game manager and fantastic at keeping drives alive with his feet; however, his inability to make consistent throws downfield does come back to haunt the Seahawks in close games.  

The Seahawks aren’t perfect, but their main strength is how well they match up against other playoff teams in the NFC. The Seahawks have beaten virtually every NFC Playoff competitor they have faced this season, including a 36-16 blowout of the Green Bay Packers. Teams like the Packers that rely on their high-powered, high-scoring offense have almost no chance of pulling an upset road victory in Seattle—especially in the playoffs.  

The only team that was able to win in Seattle this season was the Dallas Cowboys. Although the Cowboys rely on their rushing offense and Dez Bryant, they survived their trip to Seattle by simply holding onto the ball and minimizing turnovers. This may seem like a simple concept, but it is much easier said than done with the 12th Man’s cheers raining in from the stands.  

The Seahawks also match up very well against the competitors in the AFC. After embarrassing the Broncos in the Super Bowl last season, the Seahawks also pulled out an overtime victory in Week 3. The Seahawks also took down the New England Patriots the last time they visited Century Link Field, and although that was a few seasons ago now the Seahawks certainly have the favorable match up against the Pats.  

The Patriots are arguably the most talented team in the NFL. The Pats boost both the number one defense in the NFL and the best tight end in the NFL in Rob Gronkowski, so a game between the two teams would make for an exciting one. The game would come down to which team turns the ball over less. The Seahawks will certainly come up with a way to render Gronk useless, which in turn will make Tom Brady a non-factor. One or two interceptions by the Legion of Boom and suddenly the Seahawks are in a position to win back-to-back Super Bowls.  

With one week left in the regular season, the playoffs are right around the corner. Don’t overlook the Seahawks when making your Super Bowl brackets.What do you think please comment on our Facebook Fan Page (Click Here)

Sports Columnists: Chris Maurice Sports Central Dosage

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