By most objective measures, the Seahawks were among the truly elite teams in football last season. Seattle boasted a top-five offense, defense and margin of victory, all typical hallmarks of a Super Bowl winner. Instead, the Seahawks fell short of even the NFC Championship game — followed by Marshawn Lynch calling it a career. While Lynch is gone, cornerback Jeremy Lane is back in Seattle after a sojourn with the Patriots and Saints, giving the Legion of Boom another solider to throw at opposing offenses. Other than adding Lane and tackle J'Marcus Webb, however, Seattle was quiet this offseason. Now, Pete Carroll's team has to hope that Russell Wilson can carry the offense, which could be a problem if the Seahawks' offensive line struggles once again.
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The Seahawks defense is much bigger than just Sherman, who came in at No. 20 on the NFL's list of the 100 best players of 2016, but he's certainly the face of Seattle's wrecking crew. Could this be the season that his reuptation takes a slight step back, however? Sherman posted career lows in interceptions and tackles in 2015. Whether he rebounds could go a long way toward determining the Seahawks' chances at a championship.
You already know to keep an eye on Wilson, so we won't direct your attention his way. Instead, all eyes should be on Rawls, the second-year running back who will try to replace much of what Lynch has done in the past few years. The Seahawks will rotate in a number of RBs this year, but the bulk of the burden falls on Rawls. Fortunately for Seattle (and for Rawls), Lynch's anticlimactic denouement gave Rawls plenty of experience in 2015. FANTASY SPIN
With Russell Okung now a member of the Denver Broncos, Gilliam slides from right tackle to left in 2016. That's where he started his career in 2014. Asking the undrafted Gilliam to replace the former Pro Bowler might prove to be Seattle's undoing. If the Seahawks can't keep Wilson upright, they're doomed.
The Seahawks are bursting with talent on the offensive side of the ball, but nothing would fully unlock their potential as a unit like a fully integrated, fully healthy Jimmy Graham. Although he started to become a bigger factor in the offense late last season, a knee injury burst that bubble and hit the reset button on his chemistry with Wilson. Despite that, any player with Graham's level of talent is worth gambling on -- especially since he's in an offense where he's no longer the opposing defense's top priority to stop.
(All lines courtesy of Bovada.com, as of 8/31)
Season win total over/under: 10.5 (over -140, under +110)
Odds to win the Super Bowl: 9/1. This kind of feels like a trap. The Seahawks will miss Lynch, and the offensive line is an issue. But at 9-to-1, Seattle offers clear value as a preseason Super Bowl bet. If you're not in love with Cam Newton, and if you think the Packers are overrated, the Seahawks are your best bet in the NFC.
One thing we wish we could bet on: Russell Wilson getting sacked more than any other QB. Seattle was about league-average in sacks surrendered in 2015 — because the Seahawks attempted fewer passes than all but five teams last season. In reality, Seattle's offensive line gave up the most sacks per dropback in the league. With Okung gone and the Seahawks likely throwing a few more passes per game in 2016, Wilson could be in for a world of pain.
November 13, at New England
A Week 10 matchup with the Patriots should be a nice test just past the halfway point of the season to see where the Seahawks stand. Plus, this is the first meeting between these two teams since their epic title clash. Seattle will take any chance it can get to exact some modicum of revenge against New England for Super Bowl XLIX.
December 4, vs. Panthers
Speaking of revenge, the Seahawks host Carolina almost one year after the Panthers eliminated them from last season's playoffs. This Sunday night clash should be one of the best games of the year.
December 24, vs. Cardinals
Week 16 could decide the NFC West and home-field advantage in at least one round of the playoffs, as the two best teams in the division square off on Christmas Eve. Both teams have secondary concerns, so we could be in for a high-scoring holiday affair.
We say: 11-5, NFC Championship game loss
WhatIfSports simulation says: 11-5, Divisional Round playoff loss
-- Andrew Lynch, D.J. Foster (fantasy)
