Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Ron, the lead editor of FantasyFootballOverdose.Com – great source of fantasy football news and rumors. You can follow @NFLRankings via Twitter or via Facebook for more updates.
No NFL team has repeated as Super Bowl champions since the New England Patriots did so a decade ago. If you look at all the previews heading into the 2014-2015 season, barely anyone is picking the Seattle Seahawks to repeat. The Seahawks are one of the youngest teams in the NFL, still possess the best defense and have the league’s toughest venue to play in. Most are picking against them because repeating as champions just doesn’t happen very often. This Seattle team was underestimated heading into last year’s Super Bowl against the Denver Broncos who they throttled 43-8. Go ahead and not pick them to win the Super Bowl again, but this Seahawks team is poised to become the first team to repeat as champions in a decade.
Did the Seahawks lose a lot?
Last year’s defending champion, Baltimore Ravens, lost a lot during their championship offseason. Gone were Ray Lewis and Ed Reed along with some other key players. They resigned Joe Flacco to a long-term deal but didn’t have much around him. As for Seattle, they did suffer some personnel losses but that happens to every team. Gone are Chris Clemons, Golden Tate and Sidney Rice. Those departures were expected though. The main offseason goal for the Seahawks was to sign Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas to long-term extensions. They accomplished that. Michael Bennett wreaked havoc with his play on the defensive line last season. Resign him? Check. Percy Harvin was last offseason’s big splash but barely played last season. Is he healthy heading into this season? Yes and should more than make up for the loss of Tate.
Is the schedule tougher?
Seattle plays in the league’s most difficult division, the NFC West. They play the San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals each twice this season. All of those games are very difficult. They also play against the Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles, all NFC division champions last season. Their crossover games include a Super Bowl rematch with the Denver Broncos and two games against the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers, both AFC playoff teams last season. Yes, the schedule is very difficult. For any division champion, it is difficult the following season, but they do get the Packers and Broncos at home which should help a lot.
Did conference rivals improve in the offseason?
The 49ers, Packers and New Orleans Saints are the main contenders for the NFC crown along with the Seahawks. The 49ers offensive playmakers have improved, but the offensive line remains a question mark and the defense will not be as good as previous years. With the loss of NaVorro Bowman for at the least the first six games and the nine-game suspension of Aldon Smith, San Francisco will be very vulnerable on that side of the ball. The Packers have a great quarterback and great weapons around him. Their offensive line is a question mark and defense has struggled so while they are a big-time offense, the Seahawks shut down the greatest offense in NFL history last year. The Saints have Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham and a solid defense. They will be in the mix but aren’t as talented as the Seahawks.
The key to Seattle’s repeat will be controlling the home-field advantage. Green Bay and New Orleans play in less tougher divisions so they have an easier path to home field. However, Seattle has the roster to repeat and it would come as no surprise if they did. And as the Seahawks have shown up to now in the pre-season, they do have what it takes to at least make a decent run towards their second Super Bowl in a row.
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