Seattle Seahawks: 5 Reasons they can win Super Bowl 53

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 23: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks scrambles during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at CenturyLink Field on September 23, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 23: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks scrambles during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at CenturyLink Field on September 23, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – NOVEMBER 04: Melvin Gordon III #28 of the Los Angeles Chargers runs with the ball while being chased by K.J. Wright #50 and Bobby Wagner #54 of the Seattle Seahawks in the third quarter at CenturyLink Field on November 04, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – NOVEMBER 04: Melvin Gordon III #28 of the Los Angeles Chargers runs with the ball while being chased by K.J. Wright #50 and Bobby Wagner #54 of the Seattle Seahawks in the third quarter at CenturyLink Field on November 04, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Experienced leaders

Wilson has more experience than most 30-year old quarterbacks. He’s been to two Super Bowls and come out of them with different results. Knowing what it feels like to win is a big motivational factor for wanting to win another championship, but knowing what it feels like to lose is even more driving.

Wilson wants another ring, and he’s playing at the level where he can lead the offense to glory. I don’t mean that he has to throw the ball a ton though. I’m thinking more along the line of him steadying the younger players on the offense.

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Wilson has always been poised, and that will mean a lot for young players like Carson and Tyler Lockett. Carson has never been to the playoffs before and Lockett has never started a playoff game. Carson and, depending on the health of Doug Baldwin, Lockett are the two best skill players on the offense, and they’re going to need to play like it if the Seahawks are going to make a playoff run.

Speaking of Baldwin, the savvy veteran will also have a role to play. He is once again battling nagging injuries but is expected to play against the Cowboys. That’s not surprising considering how tough he is. And that will be his contribution: toughness.

Don’t get me wrong, of the Seahawks go on a run two dozen catches and a couple scores would be nice, but Baldwin’s health has held him back for most of the season. At the very least, he can bring his feisty, resilient personality to the field and light a fire in some of the younger guys. Remember, he’s got a Super Bowl ring after all.

True Seahawks fans will get that last part. Moving on, I’m shifting my focus to the defensive side of the ball and Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright. Both linebackers were a part of the team’s two Super Bowl trips and have made the Pro Bowl. Wagner makes perennial trips to the Pro Bowl while Wright has only gone once.

That doesn’t diminish how much he means to the defense though. The Seahawks struggled to fill Wright’s spot while he was injured this season. He only played in five games this year but seems healthy now, as his seven combined tackles in Week 17 show.

Wagner and Wright serve as more than just stabilizing personalities on the defense though. Their production and contributions are irreplaceable, that’s why Seattle struggled to fill the void left by Wright for most of this season. The two linebackers can rush the passer, break up passes, force fumbles, and shut down the run. That last bit is important when facing runners like Ezekiel Elliott.

I’ve sometimes heard the middle linebacker referred to as “the quarterback of the defense”, and I can’t think of a better way to describe Wagner. This man is a future Hall of Fame player and he’s shown the ability to take over games like back in Week 13. In that one week he recorded 12 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, two passes defenses, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception that he returned 98 yards for a touchdown.

It’s safe to say that the defense is in good hands.