When I wrote about the Seahawks back in Week 1, I ranked them 19th and admitted I didn’t have a great feel for where they should be placed, arguing they could move up or down “five slots” in short order. It turned to be far more than five spots.
By the end of September, they were in my top five. By Week 10, I had Seattle residing in the No. 1 spot. The Seahawks would fall back before reclaiming the throne, but don’t forget who tried to tell you early on that this team had the potential for greatness.
How do I know it was early? A Seattle radio station had me on the week I elevated the ‘Hawks to the top spot to tell me they were surprised I was that bullish on their chances. So, I might have stumbled out of the gates on the team, but by the back half of the season, it wasn’t too hard to see how special it could be.
As for the Patriots, I had them coming in at No. 22 to start the season. Having seen their easy schedule, I picked them for a wild-card spot in my preseason playoff predictions and figured they’d be more of a stronger-finishing team than a hot-starting one.
I was right about that — right up until the Super Bowl. It was an ignominious crash for the feel-good Patriots and Drake Maye, who couldn’t do much right until it was far too late. Where they go from here will be interesting, and I wonder if I am not alone in thinking that Maye’s struggles in that game could be something we refer to multiple times over the coming few years.
But if this season didn’t prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that parity still reigns in the NFL, then I don’t know what will. Nothing went according to script, and everything felt uncertain — part of the incredible allure of the league.
And it’s a reminder that no matter where your team is slotted here and now, it has a chance to surprise next season.
