The Seattle Seahawks were the last team standing in 2025, and they entered the 2026 offseason as the top dog. They were mostly quiet this offseason, doing some housekeeping instead of swinging for the fences.
On the other side of the division, the Los Angeles Rams were taking a drastically different approach. First, they traded for Trent McDuffie. Now, they've broken the league by getting their hands on Myles Garrett.
As such, it looks like the Seahawks might no longer be the team to beat in the division. In fact, they may not even be the second-best team in the league, at least according to ESPN's updated Football Power Index.
The Seattle Seahawks may have some catching up to do
Per ESPN, the new-look Rams (+5.6), Buffalo Bills (+4.0), and Baltimore Ravens (+3.7) are all ahead of the defending Super Bowl champions (+3..6). To add insult to injury, another divisional rival rounds up the top five, with the San Francisco 49ers right behind the Seahawks at +3.3.
Of course, algorithms and projections get things wrong all the time. Per ESPN, this metric is primarily based on win totals from the betting markets, each team's schedule, quarterback and special teams rankings before simulating the season a thousand times. That's nice, but it's not real; intangibles also matter.
Regardless, this is something to keep a close eye on. The Seahawks' schedule is somewhat forgiving, and they should win double-digit games again in 2026, though 14 wins might not be a given without Kenneth Walker III and former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. All teams in the division got better, and divisional games are always a bit of a toss-up.
Winning back-to-back titles is pretty close to impossible, and this team is well aware of that (thanks, Pete Carroll). That's why they can't get complacent, and these projections should only serve as bulletin-board material and motivation to re-ignite this team's fire after already reaching the mountaintop.
It's hard to believe the Bills and Ravens are a better football team or are better coached than the Seahawks, but the Rams can definitely be a thorn in their side. All three games from last season came down to a single possession, and they've added two difference-makers to keep Sam Darnold on his toes.
Still, as much as math and fancy models want to predict how things will go down, there's no actual way of knowing anything. Strong wind, an injury, someone slipping, a miracle reception, a trade, and countless factors can always derail a once-promising season or turn a team's fate around.
At the end of the day, projections are just that. This team must focus on what they can control, get to work, and prepare for each game with the same dedication and reletnless work ethic that got them to the top.
Add us as a preferred source on Google