Seattle has the best shot to win the division this year.

[Northwest Seahawk]

I just can't see a scenario where we don't take the NFC West this season we have the best QB and the defense will be better this year . I can't wait until we get to preseason game 1 and we can start talking about the Seattle Seahawks instead of what some troll reporter said 1000 miles away. This is the worst time of year for made up stories there's no games being played and training camp hasn't started yet. I do think there will be certain amount of negative reporting done about Sherman but when we get to training camp that will be addressed from the players head on and there won't be anywhere for them to go with it anymore. Unless of course someone says something stupid but I find that unlikely I think the players will circle the wagons.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

Holy run-on sentences, Batman.

But I agree.

 

[mistaowen]

Yes I agree Seahawks should be the best team in the NFC West this year no reason not to think that defense should be back to dominating as long as Pete makes sure the team runs a lot TOP will be better and defense will be more fresh Kam can be hitter tackler Blair Walsh will kick many field goals Sherman will be out of news and back into news resign TJack as backup

 

[Hyak]

On paper, right now, they absolutely should be the favorite. That said, I think the other 3 teams are all improved and certainly can give the Seahawks trouble.

 

[Cyrus12]

Well our div sucks so should be a lock

 

[pittpnthrs]

Yeah, the division isn't very good, but it is improving. Regardless, we always struggle with the Rams and the damn Cardnials seem to beat us on a fairly normal basis too. That being said, Seattle should win it.

 

[Josea16]

Yes I agree Seahawks should be the best team in the NFC West this year no reason not to think that defense should be back to dominating as long as Pete makes sure the team runs a lot TOP will be better and defense will be more fresh Kam can be hitter tackler Blair Walsh will kick many field goals Sherman will be out of news and back into news resign TJack as backup

A disaster of epic proportions would have to occur to be any worse at running the ball. When your rushing leader had 300 and change yards you have to assume bad things had occurred in multiple areas. Which was in fact the case.

 

[Cartire]

I'm cautious anymore.

Every offseason, we look at the "on paper" teams. Which are really just a aggregated score of previous season results and pro-coverage from sports media.

We know which teams we're good last year and we can usually make an educated guess off of that quality. But honestly, its always waiting to be rewritten. 2012 Seahawks rewrote a lot. It's what happens.

Rams could come out of nowhere with an even stronger, more experienced defense and a (its doubtful, i agree, but lets just include the possibilities) a crazy rejuvenated Goff who proves he was the #1 pick. These tales have been written before. It's kinda what makes the NFL (and its stupid short season to keep drama always afloat with constant upsets) so appealing.

 

[HawkGA]

On paper, right now, they absolutely should be the favorite. That said, I think the other 3 teams are all improved and certainly can give the Seahawks trouble.

I don't know that they are all improved. 9ers, probably marginally. Rams? I actually expect them to regress. I think they Cards are a toss up for whether they are better or not, but I suspect they are on the downhill slide.

I think this will be the first year since whenever that the Hawks sweep the division. I think without Fisher the Rams game stops being the Rams Super Bowl. I think the Hawks take care of the Cards this year. The one wildcard is how the 9ers do with their new coach.

 

[RiverDog]

Except as it relates to getting back to the Super Bowl, I couldn't give a rip about winning a 4 team division in a 32 team league. It doesn't define greatness and is only a means of achieving the ultimate goal of winning another Lombardi.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Well, winning the division is still cool, and is one step towards the ultimate goal. This this is capable of winning it all, period.

 

[Attyla the Hawk]

Winning the division is important. Even if your expectations are loftier (NFCC, SB champion). You can't get a bye without the division. Can't even get a home game.

But more importantly, it's a confirmation of the quality of play. Division games are always so mercurial. Because of the familiarity to the opponents and the extra motivation these rivalries produce. Here's how Seattle's final and divisional records have correlated (division and non division):

2016: 3-2-1 : 7-3
2015: 3-3 : 7-3
2014: 5-1 : 7-3
2013: 4-2 : 9-1
2012: 3-3 : 8-2

I've only gone back as far as Russell has been QB. The non division record is fairly constant. And it's worth noting that as a consistent division winner, we're constantly getting division winner scheduling. So the non divisional games are going to result in stronger opponents.

If we consider the last two seasons as being more or less disappointing in terms of competing for super bowls, then it correlates that these are our worst two intra divisional seasons (outside of Wilson's rookie year where he was swept in the early games and then finished 3-0 at the end).

I'd say that the results of getting to the Super Bowl are very directly linked to how a team manages in the division games. As we all know, these games are often the other teams' "Super Bowl". They are tough and getting through those contests are definitely a harbinger of post season success.

The variable, in terms of getting postseason home field advantage, is basically how a team fares in it's division games. They are very directly linked.

 

[classicaaron]

Hawks should definitely win the division but that's not saying much. I do think the niners got better but being better than a dumpster fire just makes you regular trash so they will still be bad. rams I think will be about the same. the cards I think are regressing a bit and will drop a couple more games than they did last year. they wont be inept but wont be world beaters either. week division or not need to at least win the division to even have a chance at a legit superbowl run.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

On paper, right now, they absolutely should be the favorite. That said, I think the other 3 teams are all improved and certainly can give the Seahawks trouble.

The Rams and Cardinals give us trouble even when they stink.

I don't want to speak for everyone, and I know winning the division always comes first...........but we have higher expectations than just that, and it's been that way since 2012.

With this staff and roster, I expect us to be playing for not just divisions, but conference titles every year until Russell and Pete are gone. Anything else is a disappointing season.

 

[RiverDog]

Winning the division is important. Even if your expectations are loftier (NFCC, SB champion). You can't get a bye without the division. Can't even get a home game.

But more importantly, it's a confirmation of the quality of play. Division games are always so mercurial. Because of the familiarity to the opponents and the extra motivation these rivalries produce. Here's how Seattle's final and divisional records have correlated (division and non division):

2016: 3-2-1 : 7-3
2015: 3-3 : 7-3
2014: 5-1 : 7-3
2013: 4-2 : 9-1
2012: 3-3 : 8-2

I've only gone back as far as Russell has been QB. The non division record is fairly constant. And it's worth noting that as a consistent division winner, we're constantly getting division winner scheduling. So the non divisional games are going to result in stronger opponents.

If we consider the last two seasons as being more or less disappointing in terms of competing for super bowls, then it correlates that these are our worst two intra divisional seasons (outside of Wilson's rookie year where he was swept in the early games and then finished 3-0 at the end).

I'd say that the results of getting to the Super Bowl are very directly linked to how a team manages in the division games. As we all know, these games are often the other teams' "Super Bowl". They are tough and getting through those contests are definitely a harbinger of post season success.

The variable, in terms of getting postseason home field advantage, is basically how a team fares in it's division games. They are very directly linked.

I didn't say that winning the division wasn't important. I'm just saying that it gives me very little satisfaction and is a very, very small measure of success. The stupidest thing in the world is our hanging divisional banners from the roof while other teams are hanging multiple Lombardi banners.

 

[Attyla the Hawk]

I didn't say that winning the division wasn't important. I'm just saying that it gives me very little satisfaction and is a very, very small measure of success. The stupidest thing in the world is our hanging divisional banners from the roof while other teams are hanging multiple Lombardi banners.

I get ya Dog. I don't want to see us putting up garbage like these:






I wanted to highlight that the goal of division champions (in particular having a good/great division record) is frequently a direct determinant to having postseason success. Dominating the division has had a direct correlation to getting deep into the playoffs. Merely winning with a mediocre record has not.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

So, we're not supposed to be excited about winning the division? Got it.
As if that means we are somehow satisfied with just that? Not the case at all. But acting like it's corny or some stupid thing to enjoy every step of it? Meh. I'm gonna' enjoy every damn bit of it. And I expect them back in the Super Bowl this year.

 

[RiverDog]

So, we're not supposed to be excited about winning the division? Got it.
As if that means we are somehow satisfied with just that? Not the case at all. But acting like it's corny or some stupid thing to enjoy every step of it? Meh. I'm gonna' enjoy every damn bit of it. And I expect them back in the Super Bowl this year.

I didn't say that you or anyone else wasn't supposed to get excited over winning a divisional title. If that's all it takes to float your boat, then more power to you. I was speaking for myself only. Perhaps because of my age, my excitement threshold is a little bit higher.

The year we went 7-9 and won the division, Pete's first season when he cleared the roster of Mora's garbage, was torturous for me. Our average margin of defeat in those 9 losses was 23 points. It was almost an embarrassment to win that divisional title with such a sorry regular season performance, and much was made of our being the first team to win a divisional title with a losing record. The divisional title felt more like a gag gift than a championship. The only solace for me that season was the wild card playoff game where we beat the Saints via the first Beast Quake run.

That's the one thing I feel is wrong with the NFL's current alignment: Too many divisions. It's one of the reasons why New England has had so much success these past 20 years or so, ie that they are in a marshmellow division. Make them into 4-8 team divisions, give the two divisional winners in each conference playoff byes and the two 2nd place teams home games vs the two wild card teams.

 

[Popeyejones]

I just can't see a scenario where we don't take the NFC West this season

One of the best teams in the NFL, which is also the only team playing in a division without a single other team in their division over .500 last year. I can't even chart out a scenario in which the Hawks don't win the NFCW this year.

As for winning the division being "good enough", in the NFL with its one-and-done playoff style, you're basically just competing to make it to the playoffs (while hopefully avoiding the first round) and then it's basically up to random chance from there.

Long story short, making the playoffs every year and winning a Super Bowl from time-to-time is really as good as it gets in the NFL. Teams have flukey streaks where they win more Super Bowls than their share over a few years, but that has much more to do with luck than skill, IMO (once you winnow down to just good teams playing one-and-done games in the playoffs).

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Where did I say that I was only excited about the division title? I expect a Super Bowl win every year, but I'm not gonna' sit there and not enjoy winning the division, then the conference, then the title.
It's like clapping with one hand talking about this crap sometimes. People not liking someone else being excited about something, sounds like a lot of work :lol: