{"id":18675,"date":"2025-05-02T19:26:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T19:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/18675\/"},"modified":"2025-05-02T19:26:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T19:26:10","slug":"wait-why-are-seattle-seahawks-longshots-to-win-nfc-west","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/18675\/","title":{"rendered":"Wait \u2013 why are Seattle Seahawks longshots to win NFC West?"},"content":{"rendered":"

After they finished the 2024 regular season with a 10-7 record and lost out on first place in the NFC West<\/a> thanks to a measly fifth tiebreaker<\/a>, the Seattle Seahawks are\u2026 longshots to win the division.<\/p>\n

Wait, what?<\/p>\n

Bump: A position the Seahawks still need to address<\/a><\/p>\n

That\u2019s right: Some sportsbooks have them with the longest odds, and while others give them the nod over Arizona, they\u2019ve not been higher than third place. Their over\/under on win total is 7.5, one Vegas also favors the Seahawks to surpass (so, that\u2019s good news at least).<\/p>\n

A last- or second-to-last place finish after a 10-win season? This has to be some anti-Seahawks hate, right? East coast bias? Fundamental lack of football IQ?<\/p>\n

Well, hang on. Oddsmakers do get it wrong, most recently and famously with Seattle\u2019s 5.5-win prediction in 2022 turning into a trip to the playoffs. But while the Seahawks have typically outperformed lower win-total projections, they\u2019ve also played themselves out of the Super Bowl favorites conversation.<\/p>\n

The Seahawks have had a winning season in nine of the past 10 years. That\u2019s rare in the NFL. Compare that to Arizona, which has had a winning season in just two of the past 10 years, and you\u2019ll find why Seattle has typically been favored no lower than third.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, for all their fairly consistent winning, the Seahawks haven\u2019t been to an NFC Championship game since the 2014 season. All three other teams in the NFC West have made it that far over that time. Since the Seahawks\u2019 loss in Super Bowl XLIX, two teams in Seattle\u2019s division have been to the Super Bowl a combined four times (Rams and 49ers), with one win (Rams over the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI). The Seahawks during that same timeframe have six playoff appearances and three playoff wins, the latter all in the wild card round.<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s not the only reason the Seahawks aren\u2019t favored. You, the person reading this now \u2013 presumably a Seahawks fan \u2013 understand that Geno Smith and DK Metcalf initiated their trade requests, and that the defense took massive steps forward as the season progressed. The average, more casual sports fan outside of Seattle might not.<\/p>\n

They don\u2019t see a top five defense sprinkled with stars like Philly. They don\u2019t see a franchise quarterback, or All-Pro receivers, or any other marker that would give a team like Cincinnati, one that missed the playoffs, more credit. They just see a massive question mark on offense: why replace DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett with Cooper Kupp? Why put Sam Darnold behind a bad offensive line? How can your identity be a tough-nosed team when you\u2019re near the bottom of the league in rushing yards per game?<\/p>\n

Those odds won\u2019t reflect potential improvements with the existing pieces on the offensive line, nor a potential boost from a rookie guard<\/a>. They won\u2019t reflect potential changes in playcalling from a new OC<\/a>, nor the opportunity for a full season from linebacker Ernest Jones.<\/p>\n

For their part, the Seahawks are trying to prove those oddsmakers wrong \u2014 something they\u2019ve at least done more often than not. Will Vegas miss again this year?<\/p>\n

\u2022 2024 Seahawks<\/p>\n

Second-longest odds to win the NFC West, over\/under 7.5 wins<\/p>\n

Result: 10-7, tied in record with Rams but a second-place finish that came down to a fifth tiebreaker<\/p>\n

\u2022 2023 Seahawks<\/p>\n

Second-shortest odds to win NFC West behind only the 49ers, over\/under 8.5 wins<\/p>\n

Result: 9-8, third-place NFC West<\/p>\n

\u2022 2022 Seahawks<\/p>\n

Longest odds to win NFC West (LAR, ARZ, SF, SEA), over\/under 5.5 wins<\/p>\n

Result: 9-8, second-place NFC West<\/p>\n

Seattle Seahawks news and analysis<\/p>\n

\u2022 Why insider thinks Jalen Milroe could start games at QB this year<\/a>
\u2022 Seahawks rookie to wear Russell Wilson\u2019s former No. 3<\/a>
\u2022 Daniel Jeremiah: The Seahawks got two late-round steals<\/a>
\u2022 Two analysts detail what they liked about Seahawks\u2019 draft<\/a>
\u2022 Stacy Rost: The two sides of the coin with Seattle Seahawks\u2019 Milroe<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow @stacyrost<\/a><\/p>\n

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