Seattle Seahawks: Doomed?

In a few weeks, we will find out if American Pharoah has what it takes to become horse racing’s first Triple Crown winner since 1978.

This upcoming season in the National Football League, there’s a team looking to make it three straight Super Bowl appearances. However, the real question is whether the Seattle Seahawks have the horses to pull off a feat that hasn’t occurred in more than 40 years.

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In 2014, Pete Carroll’s club became the first franchise to make consecutive Super Bowl appearances since the New England Patriots won back-to-back titles in 2003 (XXXVIII) and 2004 (XXXIX). Of course, the Seahawks fell a bit short of defending their own Super Bowl XLVIII title when they fell to the Patriots and cornerback Malcolm Butler, 28-24, at Glendale, Arizona, in Super Bowl XLIX.

Now that Super Bowl setbacks puts the two-time NFC champions in position to accomplish something that has occurred only twice in the Super Bowl era and not since the 1972 Miami Dolphins managed the accomplishment over four decades ago: Win the Super Bowl the season after losing the Super Bowl.

In 1970, the Dallas Cowboys fell to the Baltimore Colts, 16-13, at the Orange Bowl in Super Bowl V but would rebound one year later and defeat the Dolphins, 24-3, in Super Bowl VI at Tulane Stadium. One year later Don Shula’s squad ran the table, capping off a perfect 17-0 campaign with a 14-7 triumph over the Washington Redskins at the Los Angeles Coliseum in Super Bowl VII.

That’s it. Those are the only two occasions in which a franchise has rebounded from a Super loss one year later to post a victory on Super Sunday.

Of course, getting to the Big Game for a third straight year would be a pretty significant feat in itself. Only two franchises have made three or more consecutive Super Bowl appearances (Dolphins from 1971-73 and Buffalo Bills from 1990-93) and it hasn’t been done since Hall of Fame head coach Marv Levy and his team circled the wagons more than 20 years ago.

November 27, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) hands the football off to running back Marshawn Lynch (24) against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi

So what are the odds that quarterback Russell Wilson, running back Marshawn Lynch, cornerback Richard Sherman and safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas (as well as the rest of the club) can pull this off? There’s a reason it hasn’t been done in more than 40 years: It’s difficult.

Still, compared to some teams in a position to try, Seattle has a defensive unit that has been on a major roll for a number of years and it’s something the team can always fall back on should Wilson and the offense struggle.

Carroll’s club has allowed the fewest total yards in the league two straight years and has allowed the fewest points in the NFL three straight seasons – the latter not accomplished since the fabled Minnesota Vikings pulled that off from 1969-71. This unit returns intact for the most part (Kris Richard replaces defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, now the head coach in Atlanta) and hopefully healthier than they were by the end of Super Bowl XLIX.

The offense should benefit from the addition of three-time Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham, acquired from the New Orleans Saints via trade this offseason. His five-year resume includes 386 catches and 51 touchdown receptions.

Now the potential bad news in the form of changes along the offensive line, which will no longer have left guard James Carpenter and former Pro Bowl center Max Unger – the latter part of the Graham trade with the Saints. The rest of the NFC West figures to once again be formidable and just getting out of the conference will be a major task once again.

Are we forecasting a rough season for the Seahawks? Hardly. But you may want to hold your horses when it comes to a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance.

Next: Seattle Seahawks: Can They Stay on Top Past 2015?

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