Top 3 reasons why Seattle Seahawks can make it to the NFL playoffs

Reason for Seahawks making the playoffs No. 2: Geno Smith has more weapons

It seems many pundits are expecting Geno Smith to regress in 2023. There are reasons for this. One is that Smith in the second half of 2022 wasn't as good as he was in the first half. But this could be that there were a few games where Smith simply had no top-end running backs to help take the pressure off of him. One other thing that people point out is that Smith simply hasn't shown he can be consistently good, but let's let him prove or disprove that theory on the field in 2023 before we judge.

The fact is, though, that Smith will have more weapons at his disposal this season. The Seahawks still have DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Kenneth Walker III, of course, but adding to that mix are two rookies, receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and running back Zach Charbonnet. The great thing about Smith-Njigba and Charbonnet is they should just supply high-quality depth instead of having to be The Man to start their careers.

But besides the rookies, Smith and the offense do still have Metcalf and Lockett and Walker. Plus, the tight end group was good last year and Noah Fant might be due for a breakout season in what is a contract season for him. Covering three good receivers is tough enough on a defense, but adding Fant as a threat might make is nearly impossible to consistently shut down the Seattle offense.

But to wrap all the pieces up together, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron is entering his third season on the job. He was better in year two than in 2021 and should be better in year three. With all the weapons Waldron has at his disposal, the Seahawks offense might be good enough to outscore teams even if the defense struggles at times.