Well to be fair, STL had its chances.
The defense won that game for us, but it was also just as much a case of STL losing it as us winning. There were a lot of drops on what should have been completions, including one that would have won the game for STL.
But ifs and buts, we still won.
I think everyone is comparing us to the Falcons last year. They were a team that squeaked out some should have been losses, and they also got the benefit of an easy schedule. We have dodged quite a few bullets this year in just facing teams that seem to have key performers out constantly.
Frankly, it won't matter though. We still have to play the Saints and the 49ers. If we beat them, we can crow to the rooftops because we will become the favorite again for the NFC.
Admittedly, though, some of that is earned. We looked like crap against a crappy team with a backup QB. I don't know how much credit you think that is worth but the answer is: not much. Then again the Rams ALWAYS give us fits. So it is what it is.
5-6 years from now, when the Hawks window is closed - we are still going to remember this season and last with fondness. We will probably enjoy some of these games more in hindsight than in the moment because we are so focused on the flaws with the team that we miss just what an incredible job they did.
This is the land of the 110+ win Mariners or the 1 seed Sonics choking in the 1st round against Denver. We don't trust when a team is good. We need it to be good enough to cast out those fears. And I think there is some weird belief that we are almost karmically "owed" a transcendent team to make up for all the years of crappy football we had to endure. So when a team does not match those ridiculous expectations we start freaking out a bit. But when people start predicting wins by 40 on the road, or being the best defense in history, or going undefeated - well it is no surprise they get disappointed because no team is going be able to match a pinnacle created in delusion.
What we have is a very good team, that has a very good chance to beat any team they play - which is more than you could say about most Seahawks' teams past. Whether we are the best or not depends on the matchup. I don't see us being heads and shoulders above the better teams but I certainly think we can beat them.
But it makes no sense to feel like you should disregard the games they struggle unless you disregard the games you romped too.
If you were just a unbiased fan watching those two teams with no personal stake in the outcome, there is no way you could watch that game and feel like the Seahawks are the best team in the country. The lack of an effective line was so glaring and in a passing oriented league is so important, I just don't see how you could rate them otherwise. They are very good with a few glaring weaknesses.
