The Seattle Seahawks Control The NFC
This was the game we were supposed to be worried about. This was supposed to be the Seattle Seahawks vs. the next best thing, unless it was the Seahawks vs. the one thing better than the Seahawks. Instead it turned out to be the same old story: a blowout win.
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The Seahawks beat the formerly-first-place Arizona Cardinals 35-6 in Phoenix, setting a franchise record for total yards in a game. We knew the Cardinals offense was at less-than full strength, but this was supposed to be a huge defensive challenge with the division hanging in the balance. Instead, the Seahawks put up as much offense as anyone could have dreamed of.
By this point it’s clear that the Seahawks are the best team in the NFC. Probably the best team in the NFL, and it’s been this way for a while now. Couple years, for sure. But this win resonates in the same sort of way the Super Bowl did: everyone expected a crazy-close game, but instead what happened was a slaughtering. Sometimes the next-best thing isn’t even close.
Russell Wilson was 20 for 31, good for 339 (!) yards in the air plus another 88 (!) on his feet. He threw two touchdown passes and ran for a TD, too. Marshawn Lynch gave us what is probably his second-best run of all time. There were classic moments all over this game, be it the big name stars coming through or Luke Willson with an 80-yard touchdown reception. This was a timeless performance by the ‘Hawks across the board.
What this means, of course, is that the Seahawks are 11-4. Same as the Cardinals, same as the Packers, same as the Lions. Except the ‘Hawks have tiebreakers everywhere, and are currently slated for a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. It’s been hardly a month since they were seen as likely to miss the playoffs. Look at them now.
There’s still the St. Louis Rams to get through, and the Rams are somewhat of a notorious thorn. But the Cardinals had spent most of the year acting like the best team in the game, and the Seahawks just beat them by 29 points. The 2013 Broncos were an all-time team until the Seahawks whooped ’em in The Big Game. Maybe it’s just as simple as the Seahawks are the best team football has seen in a long, long time, and nobody, not now, not ever, can stop them.
One week to go. One last obstacle to overcome before the playoffs. We’ve been treated to five weeks of an invincible football team. Here’s to one more week.