We are eight weeks into the NFL season, and the Seattle Seahawks own first place in the NFC West. The Hawks’ season got off to a bumpy start when they fell to the Los Angeles Rams in blowout fashion, 30-13 in Week 1. It looked like that could spell the end of a really fun 2022 campaign, and maybe it was a reality check about what the Hawks would see for the rest of the season.
Wrong.
Instead, Seattle has gone on a tear, losing just one other game in their next six against a really talented Cincinnati Bengals team. The Hawks have first place, but holding onto it will be a challenge. The NFC West doesn’t have four competent and playoff-caliber teams in it this season, but there is no denying how good the San Francisco 49ers are despite a current bumpy stretch.
Here are my top five reasons why the Seahawks are going to hold onto the NFC West championship from this point moving forward.
This defense is legit
The Seahawks aren’t just a defense that is good, as evidenced by their just over 19 points allowed per game to opponents, but I believe it is actually getting better. Their worst performance came in week one against the Rams, but it has been solid since then.
In the last four weeks, they allowed an average of 12.5 points per game. A Bengals team that just hung a 31 spot on the 49ers, whose defense seems to be regressing, was held to 17 against the Hawks. Last year, the issue was this defense, and it kept them out of certain games, but that doesn’t seem to be the case thus far this year. I think the best is yet to come.
Leonard Williams and Frank Clark are major additions
I love that the Hawks got aggressive and made an all-in move on Leonard Williams, who is a guy who sets the tempo on the defensive line. They also signed Frank Clark, who was a staple in Kansas City for years. They may be down in production when writing this, but both of these guys were playing for teams that weren’t in contention. A new environment and atmosphere can easily change that.
These are two guys with legit experience, and they know what it takes to win and get to the postseason. You can tell Pete Carroll is happy, especially with the trade.
“We’ve watched him for a long time and have known him for a good while, a [USC] Trojan and all that,” Carroll said via ESPN. “He’s a fantastic football player. He’s the kind of guy that can make a difference in games. He’s really a nice player.”
Healthy Weapons
The 49ers’ biggest issue for the remainder of the season will be health. Deebo Samuel has a fracture in his shoulder, Christian McCaffrey has been dealing with oblique soreness, and Brock Purdy had a concussion.
The Hawks can’t really complain about their issues outside of DK Metcalf missing a game, and Geno Smith had a small scare but has bounced back easily from it. The Hawks are healthy, and they have just as many weapons as the Niners. You could argue that their wide receiver depth is the best in the league, and Kenneth Walker II is running just as well as he did last year.
Established Geno Smith
Quarterback play is something that gives me a ton of confidence with the Seahawks. I know last year, the big question was whether or not Geno Smith’s breakout season was a fluke. Well, it is safe to say that it isn’t. Smith is performing at the level needed for a QB to help win a division. He has the 12th-highest QBR in the league, has a 67 percent completion rating, and is positive in touchdowns to turnovers.
It’s essential for a playoff team to really buy into their quarterback, and I think there is no doubt that Geno is the guy for the Hawks. He was rewarded with a huge contract this offseason, and if any of his teammates were wondering if it was the right move, it’s clear at this point that it was.
Schedule Breakdown
I see the Hawks getting one more win than the Niners when I look at the schedule. At the end of the day, that’s what it all comes down to, right? Let’s take a closer look.
The Hawks have ten remaining games and are currently 5-2. Here are the contests I have them winning:
Commanders, Rams, 49ers (home), Titans, Steelers, Cardinals
I think they even give Dallas and Philly a run for their money, and there is no doubt they can win those games. But this is a conservative guess on my part. That is six wins over their next ten games.
It would leave them with a record of 11-6.
The 49ers have nine remaining games and are currently 5-3. Here is what I have them winning:
Buccaneers, Seahawks (home), Cardinals, Commanders, Rams.
That would leave them with a record of 10-7.
The 49ers will struggle against the Eagles, who have the offensive firepower to match them. Winning at Jacksonville is tough, and I think Seattle steals a game from them. They still have Baltimore on the slate, and they seem like one of the top teams.
