The Super Bowl was terrible last year — phrased another way, the Seahawks are really good. The last time any NFL team won back-to-back Super Bowls was 2003-2004 (the Patriots). Begs the question, obviously: can the Seahawks do that, and can they become a legitimate dynasty in the mold of the 1990s Cowboys and all that? Here’s a few arguments on either side.
Yes, They Can Become A Dynasty
1. They were the second-youngest Super Bowl winning team ever, with an average age of just over 24 years.
2. They basically don’t lose at home — aside from one regular-season loss to the Cardinals last year, the last time they had dropped one in Seattle was Christmas Eve 2011. The last time the team lost a playoff game at home was 2004 — and Russell Wilson was probably about 13 then.
3. If Jim Harbaugh punts on the 49ers after this year, that takes away the biggest challenge to Seattle. (Yes, Arizona was good last year and might be for the next few years, but the biggest challenge to Seattle in the division and probably the conference right now is SF.)
4. They seem to have the right attitude:
“When we came back in, there was no talk about repeating,” receiver Doug Baldwin said. “It was (about) going back to the basics.”
No, They Won’t Become A Dynasty
1. Injuries can always be a thing.
2. Once you get a Super Bowl, there’s this notion of “target on your back” and “distractions.” Many teams fall prey to it. The Seahawks have a stable leadership pipeline, but they too could fall into it.
3. Long-term contracts and prioritization of the stars — if Wilson gets paid, and Harvin gets paid, can the O/D-Line get paid? And if they start to walk, what happens then?
4. Flip-side of the Harbaugh argument: let’s say he stays in the Bay Area for a long time. He’s just been to three consecutive NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl. He’s clearly knocking on the door. At some point, one of his teams will knock it in. They’re always right there with Seattle in big games, for the most part. Who’s to say they won’t be again?
5. The rise of the Cardinals (although their QB is older), the Rams (very young team), or a team like the Eagles or Saints (or Panthers?) could be a threat to them in the broader NFC.
6. Remember how, a few years ago, we all thought the Packers were going to become a dynasty? That hasn’t happened yet. So we should all pump the brakes here a bit.
What’s your take?
