A 3-3 start doesn’t slam the door on Seattle’s Super Bowl hopes, but it does narrow the path fast.
That’s the reality for the reigning champion Seahawks after they opened the year 2-0, stacked up a franchise-record 12 straight wins dating back to last season, and then hit a rough patch that has left them sitting at .500. The three losses in their last four games have all come with a little extra sting: turnover issues, tight margins, and a combined defeat total of just eight points. Their 3-3 record already equals last season’s loss total.
Leonard Williams didn’t sound like a player ready to panic, but he also didn’t pretend this is business as usual.
“Three losses is definitely not going to take us out of a run for the championship, but it’s definitely time to really hone in and focus on what’s stopping us from winning these games,” three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Leonard Williams said. “It’s definitely like crunch time right now.”
And history backs him up.
According to Stathead, seven teams in the 60-year Super Bowl era have reached the league’s championship game after starting 3-3. That group includes two winners and five teams that fell short. The list: the 2014 Seahawks, 2010 Packers, 2001 Patriots, 1996 Patriots, 1995 Steelers, 1985 Patriots and 1980 Raiders.
That’s not exactly a comforting sample size, but it is proof that a shaky first six games doesn’t have to define a season.
There’s another wrinkle worth noting: two of those seven teams were actually 3-4 before their turnaround. The 2001 New England Patriots and the 1995 Pittsburgh Steelers both dug a little deeper before making their late pushes. On the flip side, no team has ever gotten to a Super Bowl after starting 3-5.
Seattle also has a little recent precedent of its own. The 2014 Seahawks opened 3-3 after losses to the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys and St.
Louis Rams. They were staring at the possibility of dropping to 3-4 before Russell Wilson found Luke Willson for a last-minute touchdown in a 13-9 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 7.
From there, Seattle ripped off 11 wins in 12 games and marched to the Super Bowl.
That’s the road map the current Seahawks are hoping to follow. But the margin for error is thin, and the schedule won’t do them many favors. ESPN’s Football Power Index lists Seattle with the NFL’s third-toughest remaining strength of schedule, and the back half includes the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs, another matchup with the unbeaten San Francisco 49ers and two games against the Los Angeles Rams.
So yes, a 3-3 start can still lead somewhere big. But for Seattle, the calendar has already turned to urgency. As Williams put it, it’s “crunch time” in mid-October.
In Other News...
Seahawks May Finally Get The Backfield Boost They Need Most
Zach Charbonnet is closing in on a season debut, and for a Seahawks offense that has been searching for more traction on the ground, the timing could hardly be better. After recovering from a torn ACL, the running back was designated to return to practice on Oct. 1, and Mike Macdonald said there is a good chance he could be back in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Seattle has needed a lift in its running game, and Charbonnets return would add a familiar piece to the backfield at a moment when the team could use one. The final step is whether he gets through the week and onto the field, but the possibility alone gives the Seahawks a different look as they head into a tough matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Trade Deadline Debate Starts With One Urgent Roster Question
Before the Seahawks make any real push toward the trade deadline, the conversation has to start with the middle of the offensive line. Seattle has been linked in recent days to a few big names, including Colts guard Quenton Nelson, Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack and running backs Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley, but the clearest case may be on the interior. Nelson is drawing attention not just because of his talent, but because his contract situation and fit make him the kind of move that could actually address an obvious need without forcing the club into a long-term gamble.
The Seahawks also have some help on the way in the backfield, with Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price expected back from injury. That makes a running back splash less urgent, and it helps explain why Nelson looks like the cleaner fit if Seattle chooses to spend. The teams general manager has also shown a willingness to trade for players on expiring deals and work out new contracts later, which keeps the door open for a deadline move even if the details are still very much in flux. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Suddenly Linked To A Move That Could Change Their Offense
Jonathan Taylor has suddenly become one of the more interesting names to watch as the trade market starts to take shape around a Colts team that has already slid to 2-4 and is trying to sort out its future. Indianapolis recently fired general manager Chris Ballard, and the front office picture is only getting messier with reports that Peyton Manning could be in the mix as a replacement. Against that backdrop, it is no surprise that teams looking to strengthen their offense are checking in.
The Bengals are one of the clubs linked to Taylor, and the Seahawks have also reportedly inquired, which tells you how much attention a proven running back can draw when a season starts to wobble. For Seattle, it is the kind of phone call that fits a bigger search for answers on offense, even if nothing is settled yet. The real question now is whether Indianapolis is willing to listen seriously, or whether this is just the first wave of interest before the market gets even busier. [Read more 🡒]