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The Seattle Seahawks are going to be unstoppable this season, right?
The Super Bowl is in the bag. Russell Wilson is going to throw for 6,000 yards and 60 touchdowns. Marshawn Lynch is going to rush for 2,500 yards and 35 TDs. Richard Sherman is going to have 20 interceptions. Seattle will go 19-0 and hoist the Lombardi Trophy with ease.
Right …
Alright, so this is just a little bit tongue-in-cheek. There is certainly reason for the fans to be excited about this season. Seattle has all the weapons and talent to make a serious run at their first championship. If the Seahawks can stay healthy, there is no reason why Seattle can’t be a serious contender.
All this aside, can this team possibly live up to the hype? Are some of the fans going to lose their minds if the ‘Hawks actually lose games, particularly early in the year? What happens if Seattle were to lose their opener? Will there be a collective gasp back in the Pacific Northwest followed by days of despair?
What must be remembered is that the NFL is a brutal league. On any given week, a lesser team can rise up and beat a superior squad. Injuries, turnovers and momentum can quickly shift the direction of a good team. Even in a short 16-game season, teams can go through slumps where specific units do not play well.
The Seahawks are certainly off to a good start. It is only preseason, but so far Seattle has outscored its opponents 71-20 — not a bad beginning. Still, conventional wisdom says that there will be losses and doubts along the way.
The season may not match the hype, but it does not necessarily have to for 2013 to be a memorable year.
Fans should be optimistic because there are a lot of reasons to be excited about the 2013 season. Still, that optimism should be tempered with some caution. It will be a long, hard road the playoffs.
For some fans, this season will be Super Bowl or bust.
Todd Pheifer covers the Seattle Seahawks for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @tpheifer, “Like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google+.
