Are the Seattle Seahawks Legitimate Super Bowl Contenders?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jay Canale | Last updated Dec 11, 2025 6:00 AM ET

The Seattle Seahawks have been proven right once again. The first time around, it was their decision to trade franchise quarterback Russell Wilson to the Broncos for a massive package of picks and players. The following season, Seattle finished 9-8 and made the playoffs with Wilson’s backup, Geno Smith, as their starter.

This time, Seattle traded Smith to the Raiders for a third-round pick and signed Sam Darnold in free agency, a move many questioned after the high level of play Smith displayed with a better offensive line in 2023. Heading into Week 15, however, Seattle sits at 10-3 with a 99% chance of reaching the playoffs, per The Athletic.

This stretch of high-quality decision-making by the Seahawks’ front office is obviously deserving of significant praise. However, some have raised important questions about the quality of the opponents Seattle has beaten to get here, questioning whether those wins truly reflect the quality of the team its record suggests.

Dec 7, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) and quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrate after a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images© Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Seattle is ranked as the third-best team in the league on both ESPN and The Athletic’s Power Rankings, which doesn’t seem unreasonable when looking at their 10 wins. However, when considering the quality of those wins, the validity of their ranking declines.

Since their Week 8 bye, Seattle has gone 5-1, with their lone loss coming by just two points against the Los Angeles Rams. Their wins, however, have come against the Commanders, Cardinals, Titans, Vikings, and Falcons — none of whom have a record above .500. In all fairness, Seattle won those games the way top teams should, beating nearly every opponent they faced during that stretch by double digits.

They're about to have the chance to quiet those criticizing their strength of schedule, however. Their remaining strength of schedule is ranked fifth-toughest in the league by ESPN, featuring the Colts, Rams, Panthers, and 49ers. The obvious challenges on that list are the Rams and 49ers, but Carolina isn't an easy out either, as evidenced by their win over the Rams in Week 13.

This upcoming stretch of games is when Seattle will truly get the chance to test their mettle. If they can beat the Daniel Jones-less Colts the way they should on Sunday, followed by strong performances against their remaining opponents, no one will be able to doubt their legitimacy — and it will be the perfect tune-up for a playoff field where anything can happen.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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