The Seattle Seahawks claimed the NFC West title for the first time since 2016, finishing the regular season 12-4 and entering the NFC playoffs as the 3-seed. Below, I make the case for the Seahawks as my prediction to win the 2021 Super Bowl, along with other NFL playoff picks and best bets.
Seattle Seahawks year in review
Likely future Hall of Fame QB Russell Wilson added another spectacular season to his resume: 4,212 passing yards (ninth in NFL), 40 passing touchdowns (T-2), 68.8% completion (sixth) and 105.1 QB Rating (seventh).
Wilson guided an offense Football Outsiders ranked sixth in the league and he quietly received assistance from a quarterback’s best friend—the ground game—which ranked sixth in yards per rush and rushing DVOA (Football Outsiders). The Seahawks’ offensive balance is a real thing.
Seattle took the toughest division in the NFL despite all of the teams flirting with the postseason until the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers were too banged-up for a playoff run and the Los Angeles Rams eliminated the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17.
The Seahawks enter the postseason as BetMGM‘s seventh favorite to win Super Bowl LV at +1400.
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Why the Seattle Seahawks will win the 2021 Super Bowl
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 7:40 a.m. ET.
I’m more or less sticking to my guns and rolling with the team I predicted to win the Super Bowl prior to the start of the season. On SportsbookWire’s Bet Slippin’ Podcast episode from Sept. 8 previewing the NFL season (34:00-35:00), I gave out the Seahawks to win the NFC West (they did), the first seed in the NFC (they did not) and to win the Super Bowl (TBD).
Over Seattle’s first five weeks this season, I felt like a genius with my Seahawks handicap and liking Wilson to win the 2020 AP MVP after they were a perfect 5-0. Wilson had 19 touchdowns to 3 interceptions at the time.
Then I felt kind of silly predicting the Seahawks could be an elite defense when Seattle was getting torched through mid-season and reached its low-point after a 44-34 whooping they took at the Buffalo Bills in Week 9.
My instincts were correct about the defense and the acquisition of Pro Bowl SS Jamal Adams gave head coach Pete Carroll the piece he needed to compose a championship defense come playoff time.
After that Week 9 beatdown by the Bills, the most points the Seahawks gave up in through the remainder of the regular season was 23 and the defense allowed 17 or fewer points in five straight games from Week 12-16.
Sure, the offense and Mr. Unlimited himself regressed as the season progressed but they are fully healthy on the offensive line, in the running back room, and in the WR corp. The Seahawks have a championship DNA led by Carroll and Russell and get at least one home game this postseason to build even more momentum on their current four-game win streak entering the playoffs.
This is a gambling column and, unfortunately, the moment to take either the Kansas City Chiefs (+240) or Green Bay Packers (+550) has passed. Seattle’s Super Bowl odds are just too juicy and I’m going to ride out with my preseason pick.
TAKE SEAHAWKS (+1400) to win Super Bowl LV.
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Seahawks Wire:
- Seahawks offensive line should be ‘full strength’ for wild-card round
- Seahawks vs. Rams: Wild-card round Tuesday practice participation report
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