Seahawks: Updated NFC West Standings and Key Stats
By Paul Novak
After the Seahawks lost to the Cowboys at home for just the second time in the past twenty games, the internet exploded with criticism and commentary about how the Seahawks are no longer the NFL’s best team.
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That could very well be the case. We can all agree that right now, the Seahawks are not playing the game at the level and quality that we’ve come to expect. So, can we still brag that we’re the best? Sure, I mean, we are still the defending Super Bowl champs. But in reality any argument using that as it’s foundation isn’t going to fly. Last year was great… the best ever. But it’s a new season. Move on.
That being said – the Seahawks are only one game back of the NFC West division lead. The 49ers and Rams play tonight on Sunday Night Football and regardless how that turns out, the worst case scenario is that the Seahawks will still only be one game behind both the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers.
NFC West Standings
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Statistically not much has changed. The Cowboys performance on the ground lowered the Seahawks’ overall running defense from the best in the NFL to sixth best. Offensively the Hawks slipped from having the best ground game to second best.
Neither was a monumental shift, and the Seahawks still compare with the 49ers and Cardinals in terms of run defense. With the Seahawks being ranked 6th, they now trail the 49ers (5th) and Cardinals (3rd). How amazing is it that three teams in the same division hold the top six spots in the entire NFL for run defense? The fourth team, the Rams, are actually ranked first in passing defense. As we all expected, the NFC West is still the toughest division to play against.
The offensive line and the passing game are two areas that must be addressed if the Seahawks want to catch up in the NFC West and make a run for a second consecutive Super Bowl victory.
Looking at those numbers, it’s clear that the Seahawks passing game is struggling. In the win against the Redskins, the Seahawks dominated the game with Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch running the ball. Against Dallas, Wilson didn’t have any time to pass and was constantly surrounded by defenders, preventing him from eluding out of the pocket and breaking run that normally present themselves.
I tweeted out during the game that the offseason’s top priority will have to be solidifying the offensive line. Tom Cable is one of the best O-Line coaches in the league but he just doesn’t have the talent to work with and the position remains the biggest weakness of the Seahawks.
NFC West Team Statistics
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The offensive line and the passing game are two areas that must be addressed if the Seahawks want to catch up in the NFC West and make a run for a second consecutive Super Bowl victory.