The Seattle Seahawks were the best team to fall short of the postseason in 2024 as they became the first ten-win team since the switch to 17 games to wind up on the outside looking in. While their passing game carried the offense -- ranking eighth in passing yards compared to 28th in rushing yards -- they made major changes to the unit.
While the decision to move on from quarterback Geno Smith and wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett garnered most of the headlines, six of their top nine leaders in snaps played are no longer on the roster. The defensive side of the ball, which ranked 11th in the league in scoring, will have far more continuity as its eight leaders in snaps played are all back in Seattle.
The Seahawks' success could largely depend on how quickly new quarterback Sam Darnold is able to build chemistry with incoming wide receiver Cooper Kupp and the incumbent Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Another key element will be the improvement of the offensive line, which has looked dominant in the preseason after struggling in 2024.
The hiring of Klint Kubiak as offensive coordinator has also seemingly been the right move, as he had the offense rolling in Week 2 of the preseason. Despite winning ten games last season and appearing to strengthen their biggest weakness, Seattle was ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in the latest power rankings.
Seattle Seahawks ranked in bottom half of NFL in latest power rankings
Although the preseason doesn't truly count for much, it is hard to ignore the improvements in the Seahawks' running game. They have averaged 219.0 rushing yards per game over their first two preseason games.
More impressively, that production has come without Kenneth Walker III, who has led the team in rushing in each of the past three seasons. That production is certainly not sustainable, as only the 1973 Buffalo Bills -- who were led by O.J. Simpson's NFL record 143.1 rushing yards per game -- have averaged as many rushing yards per game since the AFL-NFL merger.
If Seattle is able to improve on their 95.7 rushing yards per game, which was the fifth-fewest in the league, their offense should be much better in 2025. Despite the strong showing in the preseason, ESPN's NFL Nation reporters ranked the Seahawks as the 17th-best team in the league
While there was plenty of turnover on offense, the low ranking for a ten-win team was quite surprising. Even more shockingly, Seattle fell one spot from their post-draft ranking.
Their ranking had them as the third-best team in the NFC West and the ninth-best team in the conference. The Seahawks, who have just one losing season since 2011, will look to prove their doubters wrong with yet another strong season.