An NFL team hasn’t repeated as Super Bowl champions since the New England Patriots achieved the accomplishment in 2004 and ‘05. If the Seattle Seahawks want to snap the streak and join the elite back-to-back Super Bowl club, they accomplished the first step by securing home-field advantage in the NFC.
Things started out pretty rough for the Seahawks standards. A 3-3 record, including consecutive losses to the Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Rams, thinks looked bleak for their hopes of repeating. In those three losses, the opposing defense held Marshawn Lynch under 100 rushing yards and out of the end zone. With key defensive players like Bobby Wagner and Kam Chancellor banged up and a 3-3 record, Seattle needed a second-half resurgence.
Over the remaining 10 games, Seattle stormed to a 9-1 record and clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs thanks to their Week 1 tiebreaker over the Green Bay Packers. Everything started click again for the Seahawks; they re-committed to running the football often to wear down the opposing defense and limit the offensive opportunities for their opponent. This team battled injuries throughout the year with key starters like Russell Okung and Max Unger missing action, but starting to improve later in the season.
It was a solid year for Russell Wilson statistically (3,475 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, 7 interceptions), but reality is he took a step back this year as a quarterback. Wilson showed off plenty of arm strength, a skill he doesn't get enough credit for, but his ball placement and throws under pressure took a hit. He finished 11th in accuracy percentage under pressure per PFF, while his overall accuracy percentage finished 17th. Wilson's "great season" perception has largely been inflated by the Seahawks' second-half resurgence and Wilson's 849 rushing yards.
Seattle now has a week off before they must prepare for their divisional round opponent, which will very likely be either the Arizona Cardinals or Carolina Panthers. Both are very winnable games thanks to the Seahawk's stout defense and power running game, but they'll need the offensive line and Wilson to step up more. Home field advantage is a tremendous factor in their favor and the noise provides problems for an opponent, but they'll need more against teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers or even New England Patriots.
By the Numbers
6.5: Average points allowed by the Seahawks defense after Bobby Wagner's return in Week 12
17.8: Coverage snaps per reception allowed by Richard Sherman this year, which led the league per PFF.
172.6: Seattle's league-leading rushing yards per game this season.
1,362: Combined receiving yards this season by Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse. 5 NFL WR's had more individually.
Result Projection:
Super Bowl XLIX Champions