Sunday Debate: Seattle Seahawks Win NFC in 2016

It’s time for another Sunday Debate. This week super genius Mark Morales-Smith will be educating rookie writer Brendan Pignataro about NFC football. This side of the debate will show why the Seattle Seahawks are the favorites to represent the NFC in this year’s Super Bowl.

Here we go again with another Sunday Debate. Last week I mopped the floor with Brendan as I proved why the New England Patriots are the favorite to win the AFC. This week I got my broom out and I’m going for the sweep. We’ll be debating who will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this year. I’ll be masterfully articulating why the Seahawks are top team in the NFC, while Brendan tries to defend the team that has managed to beat the Seahawks just once since 2009, and it was when Kam Chancellor was out.

The only position where the Green Bay Packers have an advantage on the Seahawks is quarterback and Russell Wilson is quickly closing the gap. With a ring and two NFC titles under his belt already, Wilson outperformed Aaron Rodgers last year. You can say Rodgers didn’t have Jordy Nelson, but Randall Cobb was still considered the second best wide receiver on the two rosters after Nelson prior to the season.

The alleged best quarterback in the world last year through for 3,821 yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 60.7 percent of his passes. He added 344 yards and a TD on the ground. Wilson completely blew him out of the water in every aspect of the game. He threw for 4,024 yards, 34 TDs and eight interceptions while completing 68.1 percent of his passes. He tacked on 553 yards and a TD on the ground. Wilson posted these numbers while attempting 89 fewer passes. Yes, I still say Rodgers is better, however, it’s not quite as clear-cut as it was at this time last year.

The loss of Marshawn Lynch is tough, but Thomas Rawls proved he is more than capable as runner. When he got a chance to start he rushed for 712 yards and punched in five touchdowns in just six games. He suffered a broken ankle that ended his season, but he is expected to be ready to roll Week 1. The Seahawks also added talented rookie C.J. Prosise and Alex Collins as insurance. The Seahawks rushing attack will be just fine. They also improved their offensive line this offseason.

The Packers on the other hand have a perennially disappointing running back that can’t keep his weight under control. While the Seahawks are relying on talented draft picks to improve their rushing attack, the Packers are relying on P90X creator Tony Horton. That’s not a great sign.

Even the pass-catchers are close now. The Packers were once viewed as having one of the best WR corps in the NFL. Cobb was exposed last year, Davante Adams is a nightmare and Ty Montgomery can’t stay on the field. Nelson is undoubtedly talented, nonetheless, he’s still a 31-year-old wideout coming off a torn ACL. I’m not completely sold that I wouldn’t rather have Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett and Jimmy Graham at this point. Although Grahams injury is just as concerning as Nelson’s if not more so.

Baldwin caught 78 passes for 1,069 yards and 14 TDs last season. That passing game really took off after the first early-season injury to Beast Mode. Lockett caught 51 passes for 664 yards and six TDs and is just electrifying on film. If you haven’t watched him play yet, you should. Few players jump off the screen quite like him.

Defensively there is no comparison at all. The Seahawks have been the best defense of the past decade while the Packers are consistently middle of the pack to bottom of the league. For a more in depth analysis check out the article right below on why the Seattle Seahawks will boast the best defense in the NFL in 2016.

must read: Sunday Debate: Seattle Seahawks will be NFL's Top Defense in 2016

There is no case to be made for the Packers being better with the exception of Brendan’s undying man love for Aaron Rodgers. Aside from his full-blown crush on A-Rod, I’m already declaring a unanimous victory for myself this week.

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