Seattle Seahawks Will Win The Super Bowl

Jan 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) throws a pass in the fourth quarter of the NFC divisional playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 30-28. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

There, I said it. It’s about as bold a prediction as one could make, but it’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it – for now, at least.

In case you missed the news, the Seahawks just completed a traded with the Minnesota Vikings to acquire the services of wide receiver, Percy Harvin. The move looks set to cost the Seahawks their 2013 first round draft pick, but I’d be happy with that, no matter what people think of Harvin as a player. Yes, he’s had his problems in terms of injuries, but when he’s healthy, he has shown that he can be one of the better receivers in the league.

But it’s not just the signing of Harvin that has led me to believe that Seattle will be the next world champions. I felt good about them last year, especially when rookie quarterback, Russell Wilson began to let everyone know there was another freshman QB to take notice of, apart from Andrew Luck and RG3.

Russell Wilson is the real deal. He took care of business right from the start last season, beating out Matt Flynn (who the Seahawks paid a lot money) to win the starting job. And once he got over a shaky start, he showed poise beyond his years, and proved he had the ability to make plays with his feet as well as his arm; something that will continue to be the trend for a few more years at least. Teams are hungry for a versatile and athletic dual-threat quarterback, and Seattle have their man in Wilson.

In running back Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks have one of the best in the business. He runs hard and gains a lot of yards after initial contact, finishing last season third overall in rushing yards, behind Alfred Morris and Adrian Peterson. Expect more of the same from Lynch this time round.

We can’t pretend that Seattle have elite wide receivers, but Sidney Rice and Golden Tate have enough skills to keep opposing defense honest, at least. Now with the addition of Percy Harvin, they could have one of the most solid receiving corps in the NFL. Zach Miller at tight end is again not one of the best at his position, but there is room for improvement and he has enough speed to get down field.

It’s on the defensive side of the ball where Seattle truly excel. Last season, their defense finished fourth in total yards allowed, and were also fourth in yards allowed per game, giving up just over 300 yards each game. They are slightly stronger when defending the pass as opposed to the run, but gaining yards on Seattle is no mean feat. Neither is scoring points – the Seahawks ranked first amongst NFL teams, allowing just 15.3 points per game. Now, that’s impressive.

For me, it looks like the NFC West will again be a two horse race between the Seahawks and this year’s Super Bowl runners up, the San Francisco 49ers, but Seattle have every chance of clinching the division. Wilson will be entering his second year, and it would be fair to assume we will see some improvement, given that he now has one full year of pro football under his belt. I think he will throw the ball more this year, so we shall see if that leads to more mistakes, but there’s no real reason to think it will. Wilson is an intelligent player who threw only 10 interceptions last year.

It’s not going to be easy for Seattle. The NFC have several teams who you could make a case for when it comes to winning the Super Bowl. But barring any disasters, they should find themselves in the mix. Nothing less than a playoff berth will be expected once the season begins. Last year, they narrowly missed out on getting to the NFC conference championship game, but they have every opportunity to make it this time round.

So, am I wrong? Any reason why you think the Seahawks can’t win the Super Bowl? Let us know your thoughts.