Seahawks may be contenders in 2019 based on NFC Championship game
By Lee Vowell
The Rams and Saints NFC Championship game proved one thing. That is, the Seahawks could be contenders in 2019.
Hello, 12s. I will keep this as short as possible. But like many other fans, I spent nearly the entire season thinking the Seahawks were still two years away from contending. I watched them play – and lose – to the Rams twice this season. It felt like a win to lose so close both times.
But then I watched the Saints versus Rams NFC Championship on Sunday and realized that Seattle might be able to contend next season. Of course, they would need a lot of things to go right but doesn’t every team? New Orleans certainly had something go very wrong in their loss to the Rams.
New Orleans looked fantastic most of the year and their defense was great in the second half of the season. The Saints, though, certainly did not look like a team that could not be beaten by the Seahawks near the end of the year and especially when they played the Rams. And Drew Brees began to look a bit old. In his last six games he threw for seven touchdowns but five interceptions.
Of course, we all know that New Orleans really defeated the Rams. If not for a blown pass interference non-call, the Saints would have won. New Orleans also could have won in overtime but didn’t score. The Saints are a good team, but not great.
Los Angeles, for all their talent, is weak on defense. In fact, this is probably the reason they will lose to the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Seattle almost beat the Rams twice. With a more experienced and slightly more talented team, the Seahawks will beat the Rams in 2019.
The other NFC teams that could contend next season are all beatable as well. The Eagles seem to have some issues at quarterback, surprisingly, and team morale. Minnesota has a quarterback locked up but Kirk Cousins isn’t that good. The Bears have a good defense but their offense may be limited at times by the play of their quarterback, Mitchell Trubisky. Seattle has had recent success against the Cowboys, even they lost to them in the playoffs.
Next. Seahawks should take one of these defensive ends. dark
All this is to say that the Seahawks, with a few tweaks, could be Super Bowl contenders next year. Seattle needs a pass rusher to go with Frank Clark and defensive tackle help, but overall Seattle is in solid shape. The idea of Seattle going deep in the playoffs next season is a very real possibility.