In August I wrote a column suggesting that for the first time ever, the Mariners might go to the World Series and the Seahawks might go to the Super Bowl in the same year.
Back then it was reasonable to think the Mariners’ 49-year World Series drought might end, but the Seahawks? There was a chance they’d be good this season, but good enough to make it to the Super Bowl? Likely not. I went with the topic anyway because I was fishing for something to write about, to be completely honest.
Now look what’s happened. The Mariners darn near made it to the World Series, finishing eight outs short, and the Seahawks are suddenly the hottest team in the NFL, Super Bowl contenders to anyone and everyone after winning six of their last seven games and putting on a spectacular show Sunday night on national TV.
They clobbered the Commanders 38-14, looking unstoppable on offense, impenetrable on defense, and the special teams were solid too, recovering a fumble on a kickoff return.
Have they finally been noticed outside of the Northwest? I’d say so.
Pat McAfee, host of “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN, tweeted: “The Seattle Seahawks are a PROBLEM.”
Iain MacMillan, senior editor for SI Now, said the Seahawks are the best team in the league in his Tuesday morning tweet.
Until recently I only focused on the Seahawks’ chances to get to the Super Bowl by comparing them to other teams in the NFC. As it stands there, Mike Macdonald’s team is tied with three other 6-2 teams for best record in the conference - the Rams, Eagles and Buccaneers with the Packers a half-game back at 5-2-1.
But now it’s fair to compare them to teams in the AFC too. Can you picture a scenario in which they not only get to the Super Bowl but win the whole darn thing? At this point, of course you can. The AFC has a slew of surprising teams with the best record - the Patriots, Colts and Broncos - at 7-2.
The way they’re playing now, I’m guessing the Seahawks would be slight favorites over all three of those teams on a neutral field. I think every 12 would love to see a Super Bowl revenge match with the Patriots and a repeat blowout of the Broncos.
Only four teams have better odds of winning the Super Bowl at Draft Kings - the Bills at 6-1, Chiefs at 6 1/2-1, the Rams at 8-1 and the Lions at 9-1. The Seahawks are at 11-1.
This kind of stuff has gone from laughable to possible as the Seahawks have produced one unlikely development after another.
I think most of us hoped Sam Darnold would be a better option than Geno Smith but we weren’t too sure about that. To expect that he would be was going too far. But Darnold has been, emphasizing as much with a perfect first half against the Commanders, completing all 16 of his passes for 282 yards and four touchdowns.
Every throw was beautiful, on target, hitting receivers in stride. It figured that Jaxon Smith-Njigba was on the receiving end seven times for 119 yards since he’s having a sensational season himself, on a pace for more than 2,000 yards.
The prevailing thought was that there would be an adjustment period to the loss of DK Metcalf to Pittsburgh. But as it’s turned out, DK’s departure has allowed JSN to take over in a big way and open things up for his lesser known teammates along with an older version of Cooper Kupp.
What made Darnold’s performance even more impressive? He did it with three injured receivers on the sideline - Jake Bobo, Dareke Young and Kupp. No matter, Cody White just came up from the practice squad and caught one of Darnold’s four touchdown passes.
It’s happening on defense too. I usually think when coaches say “Next Man Up,” it’s a bunch of B.S. The “Next Man Up” is usually not as good as the man he’s replacing. But with the Seahawks, he is. The defense hasn’t missed a beat in spite of injuries that might decimate other teams.
The pass rush is there, so is the run defense, and the pass defense, yep, they have it all, allowing just 18.8 points a game.
Can we start calling the head coach “Mastermind Mike” Macdonald? The Seahawks are 11-1 on the road since he took over last year, further evidence that defense travels.
Maybe it’s too early to get this jacked up about the Seahawks. But thus far they’ve looked terrific, on a pace to win 12 or 13 games, clearly a team with a good shot to win their second Super Bowl in franchise history.
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.