Seahawks are still one of best in league, even following loss

Dec 22, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) rushes against the Arizona Cardinals during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

So, the Seahawks lost.

It hadn’t happened in 729 days at CenturyLink Field, but it happened. As frustrating as the game was to watch, it should be refreshing to know that the team is still having one of the best seasons in the history of the franchise. They are still front-runners in the NFC and all they need to do next week is win to clinch the No. 1 seed in the conference.

So today, I shall proudly wear the new Seahawks hat and Seahawks long-sleeve shirt I got for Christmas because I am proud of my team as we all should be.

#WhatAreYouTalkingAbout? There is never a bad day to wear Seahawks blue and neon green. And I don’t think we are reminding anyone that the Seahawks lost. ESPN did more than their fair-share of informing the world that it was the biggest upset since David rocked Goliath.

The Seahawks are that team this year. The team whose fan base loves through good times and bad and the team whom everyone else in the league hates. I can’t count how many people have tried to call out the Seahawks as “overrated” or just plain “bad.”

Or even better, the Seahawks are just “lucky”:

Is that true though?

Let’s think about this for a minute. The NFC playoffs will consist of the Carolina Panthers and possibly the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, or maybe the Green Bay Packers. This conference is getting intense right now and next week will decide two division champions.

The Seahawks beat the Panthers and Saints earlier this year and split their series with the 49ers and Cardinals. They haven’t played any of the other teams mentioned but it’s safe to assume that if the Seahawks play at home, they are still the favorite.

Many are making a big deal that that the Seahawks lost at home for the first time since 2011, but dating back to that season, the Seahawks are one of the toughest to beat in their own stadium.

Since Dec. 1, 2011, the Seahawks have won 16 of their 18 home games. Has any other team even come close to that winning percentage at home as of late?

Furthermore, it’s not like the Seahawks are in some cupcake division. The NFC West has become one of the most competitive divisions in football and few have taken notice to this fact:

Pretty impressive that a Seahawks team, who won the division with a 7-9 record just three seasons ago, is on top of one of the best divisions in football.

So don’t worry Seahawks fans. As sloppy as yesterday’s loss was, it was not signature play by the Seahawks. People hate our team because we have been winning and winning a lot this season. Yesterday was a chance for all Seahawks-haters to form an alliance of Twitter-hatred against the team from Seattle.

The Seahawks are one of just two teams that have officially clinched a spot in the postseason this year and they have every opportunity to clinch the No. 1 seed on Sunday.

Uce_12thMan may have said it best:

There is a 12, through and through. The Seahawks just need to go 1-0 next week and they will be the official top-team in the NFC.