2014 Seattle Predictions
The reigning Super Bowl Champions begin the season in pursuit of a very difficult goal – a repeat Super Bowl performance. The Seahawks opted to mainly “stay the course” with their roster- to stick mostly with the players that saw their defense dominate and their offense do enough to get them to the top of the mountain.
Seattle has an enormous target on their backs and they do play a tough first place schedule this upcoming season, making a repeat performance a more monumental task than many would think. The Hawks went 13-3 last season and with a stacked lineup once again there is little reason to think that a major drop-off is imminent.
Odds to win the 2015 Super Bowl XLIX: 7/1
Odds to win the 2015 NFC Conference: 17/4
Odds to Win the 2014 NFC West: +130
Let’s take a look at the numbers
The Seahawks will enter the season with the best defensive unit in the game. Gone are Walter Thurmond and Brandon Browner from the fold but standouts Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor still exist for a secondary that allowed just 172 yards per game last year. Seattle’s defense allowed just 14.4 points per game last season – by far the best in the NFL.
The defensive line will also saw some players parlay the Super Bowl win into lucrative free agent contracts elsewhere. Red Bryant, Chris Clemons and Clinton McDonald are gone but Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril remain and should fill those holes adequately.
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Offense is one area in which the Seahawks could and probably will improve – having Percy Harvin healthy and ready to terrorize opposing defenses will certainly help that goal. Sidney Rice retired and Golden Tate was also another free agent casualty. But Russell Wilson still exists as one of the most humble, most exciting talents in the league. He went for 3,357 yards passing last year – middle of the pack in terms of NFL quarterbacks but he improved every game out and was a master of sticking to the game-plan set out in each game by his coaches.
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Wilson looks like a legitimate franchise quarterback – solid as they come. Besides – his average passing numbers may be good enough as long as Marshawn Lynch can get over the fact that he is “only” making $7 million this year and can come close to replicating his numbers from last year. Seattle averaged 137 yards on the ground last year and Beast Mode was the main reason. Christine Michael and Robert Turbin provide the change of pace options for Seattle out of the backfield – both are hungry and both are very talented.
Betting Prediction:
Simply put, there are zero holes on the Seattle Seahawks – even their kicking game was near the top of the NFL last season!
While they could take a minor step back in their season win total because of a daunting 2014 schedule, it is reasonable to expect that Seattle’s depth and overall talent to carry them to another NFC West Championship.
The NFC Championship will likely go through Seattle again this year – I don’t expect any team to head to the Pacific Northwest and knock of the defending champs in front of the 12th man in January.
Translation – I have to back the Seahawks again this year. The only hiccup may be in the Super Bowl where an improved and uber-motivated Broncos team could be waiting.
San Francisco will be on Seattle’s heels all season long but the 49ers, on paper just don’t have the depth or perfectly rounded nature of the Seahawks.
Take Seattle to win it all again this year – the NFC West, the NFC Championship and the Super Bowl. Dynasty anyone?
With training camps next up for the NFL betting offseason Cappers Picks NFL Football handicappers have been hard at work putting out the team by team Football Predictions and NFL Season Previews for those of us who can’t wait.
Bet on the Super Bowl XLIX winner, plus 2014/15 Conference and Divisional winners today.
