Power Ranking

[douche]

ESPN Power Rankings have SEA at #4:

4. Seattle Seahawks (9-3)
Week 13 result: Beat the Vikings 26-0
Week 13 ranking: 5

X factor for final stretch: Wide receiver/returner Rashid Shaheed

Not long after acquiring Shaheed from the Saints last month, the Seahawks had to put rookie receiver/punt returner Tory Horton on injured reserve. While the trade has proved to be timely, it has yet to be as impactful as Seattle envisioned. Shaheed has only 73 scrimmage yards on nine touches in four games with the Seahawks. But among the reasons they gave up fourth- and fifth-round picks for one of the NFL's premier deep threats was to give opposing defenses someone else to worry about other than Jaxon Smith-Njigba. If teams follow Minnesota's lead and bottle up the league's leading receiver, Seattle will need Shaheed to step up. -- Brady Henderson

[Sibelius Hindemith]

I take it the 3 ahead of us are Rams, Patriots and Broncos?

[Michael K.]

I take it the 3 ahead of us are Rams, Patriots and Broncos?

I think that is what they said this morning on the radio.

[Nwadventure]

Hot off the press

[Sibelius Hindemith]

In their Power Index ESPN has the Chiefs #1 followed by the Rams. The Seahawks are #6 and the Broncos and Patriots are #12 and #14 respectively.

[D-train]

In their Power Index ESPN has the Chiefs #1 followed by the Rams. The Seahawks are #6 and the Broncos and Patriots are #12 and #14 respectively.

Anything that has the Chiefs #1 is whacked and worthless.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

It's their "advanced" scientific rating system, whereas their Power Rankings is just some guys' opinions.

[trharder]

I take it the 3 ahead of us are Rams, Patriots and Broncos?

Are the Broncos really that great? I'd rather play them than the Rams.

[auroraave]

Donkey's have a pretty elite defense. Until Seattle can solve the Lambs and 9ers, they don't really warrant a top five status, IMO. Tom Brady's top ten has Lambs, Sea and SF in his top 7 - that is an insane level of talent in the West. People keep sleeping on the 9ers, but sitting at 9-4 with all those injuries is nothing short of miraculous. Sea needs to know they can beat those two teams, they still fucking own us - until they don't. Did someone rank KC at #1? DId I read that correctly? Probably guys at PFF who are out-of-the-closet Swifties.

[douche]

Until Seattle can solve the Lambs and 9ers, they don't really warrant a top five status, IMO. Sea needs to know they can beat those two teams, they still fucking own us - until they don't.

Agreed. It goes without saying that this team's biggest challenge is finding their way out of the NFC West.