The champions did what the champions do. Even in a game they were supposed to lose after Sam Darnold's injury, the Seattle Seahawks' defense showed its teeth and found a way to get the job done.
It may not have been the prettiest or smoothest execution, but it was more than enough to take their record to 1-0. It was also a reminder to the rest of the league that they'd better not miss if they go at the king.
Now, with Week 1 in the rearview mirror and other NFC teams also looking strong and others... Well, not so much. Let's take a look at where the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks rank in the conference.
Power ranking the 5 strongest NFC teams after Week 1
5. Los Angeles Rams (0-1)
The Los Angeles Rams looked flat and unprepared in the season opener, but even with Myles Garrett set to miss the next month-plus, there's just no way to deny they're still a scary outfit. They won't be this unimpressive very often.
Sean McVay will have his guys ready to perform and make a statement when they host the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. There will be no room for excuses now, especially with all the additional time to rest.
Matthew Stafford's streak of throwing at least one touchdown pass ended down under, but he should find more success against John Harbaugh's defense. Hopefully, that won't be the case, but they still deserve the benefit of the doubt.
4. Minnesota Vikings (1-0)
The Minnesota Vikings lost Kyler Murray early in the season opener with a concussion, but veteran backup Carson Wentz came to the rescue. The former Super Bowl champion looked poised and in control of the offense, even when they were trailing.
Then, Brian Flores' hard-hitting defense took care of business. They kept blitzing Jordan Love over and over, wearing out the Green Bay Packers' shaky IOL to force multiple turnovers en route to a 22-point fourth quarter.
The questions at quarterback linger and might hold this team back, but they have too many weapons. Their defense is for real, and they should be a force to be reckoned with for as long as J.J. McCarthy doesn't play.
3. Chicago Bears (1-0)
The Chicago Bears were an absolute bulldozer in Week 1. They rolled past the Carolina Panthers' defense to put up a whopping 59 points, with Caleb Williams scoring four of his team's eight touchdowns (two rushing).
Ben Johnson's team might set a new record for points scored this season; they have that type of arsenal. In fact, they did this in a game when Colston Loveland, who led them in receiving yards in 2025, didn't catch a single pass.
On the flip side, they did allow 37 points and made Bryce Young look Tom Brady-ish. They have some serious concerns in the secondary, though Kyler Gordon's eventual return should ease some of those problems.
2. San Francisco 49ers (1-0)
The San Francisco 49ers lost a couple of pieces in the season opener, but Kyle Shanahan is more than used to getting by with some injured guys. They were much more prepared in Week 1, and that defense looks scary.
While that game might be misleading and the score wouldn't have been as lopsided under normal circumstances, the 49ers are for real. Health has always been the only thing truly holding them back, and that might be the case again this season.
That said, Shanahan's teams couldn't score a single touchdown in their last two games vs. the Seahawks. Things always change between seasons, but Mike Macdonald should hold bragging rights until proven otherwise.
1. Seattle Seahawks (1-0)
The Seahawks didn't blow out the New England Patriots. In fact, they had to resort to a late-game comeback to avoid a disaster in the home opener. Nevertheless, that's precisely the type of gutsy win that proves why they're still the top dog.
No one would've blamed the Seahawks for dropping this one. The starters didn't play in the preseason, were facing another Super Bowl contender, and they lost their starting quarterback five plays into the game, all while having a first-time offensive play-caller.
Instead of crying over the spilled milk, the defense got to work and made sure to give Drew Lock a fighting chance. The Seahawks' backup quarterback was unafraid to take shots down the field, and it's clear that it will take much more than a setback to break this team's spirits.
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