If winning your first title is difficult, maintaining that level of performance can be even more so, particularly in an era of salary caps and free agency. Dynasties, long the currency of historical sports debate, become unlikely in such a scenario.
And Seattle, more than most, had the added challenge of being in the toughest Division in the NFL, that of the NFC West where the San Francisco 49ers had been to the Super Bowl two years ago.
Add in the Arizona Cardinals, who were considered by many to be the potential Cinderella of the campaign, and the St Louis Rams who had been amassing significant talent, and the argument could be made that the Seahawks weren’t even the favourites in their own Division entering the season.
Seattle opened the campaign with a comfortable win over the Green Bay Packers, but stumbled quickly with a loss in San Diego to the Chargers.
Victories over the Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins were followed by defeats to the Dallas Cowboys and the Rams as the Pete Carroll’s side slumped to a 3-3 record by the end of Week 7.
Two days before the loss in St Louis, the Seahawks traded wide receiver Percy Harvin to the New York Jets. A disruption in the locker room, the offloading of the talented receiver seemed ultimately to be the catalyst in returning Seattle to a team focused mode as the defending champions would lose only once more after the set back to the Rams.
The irony, of course, is that the game against the New England Patriots is one where the Seahawks probably could use the field stretching talents of Harvin as they look to defend their title.
The Seahawks are 10/11 on the money line to retain their championship, while the Patriots are 10/11.
