Seahawks 2022 vs 2023: Ain't That Better?
Comparing changes at key positions from last season, 5/5/2023
If the Seattle Seahawks were put back into the AFC West, I would have a much harder time projecting them as viable contenders for a conference championship game appearance and may lump them in the same tier as the Las Vegas Raiders. Last season, the Raiders shared many similarities with the Seahawks, and even got to enjoy a victory over Seattle, but finished 6-11 and I don’t know that enough has happened this offseason for them to make up that four or five-win difference needed to make the AFC playoffs.
We are expecting the Kansas City Chiefs to own the AFC West division again, so the Raiders need to go the wild card route. There you’ve got whoever loses the battle in the AFC North, so perhaps the Bengals or Ravens, if not a push by the Browns and/or Steelers. The Jets just added Aaron Rodgers, which is indeed a potential move for +4 wins like Las Vegas needed. The Dolphins made the playoffs and now have Vic Fangio calling plays with Bradley Chubb and Jalen Ramsey added to the defense. And in their own division, the Chargers made the playoffs at 10-7 and drafted receiver Quentin Johnston as another weapon for Justin Herbert, who is more than a hair better than Jimmy Garoppolo.
Off the bat in the AFC’s three-team wild card race, I think you’ve got a minimum of six teams in front of the Raiders, plus the Patriots, Titans, Browns, and the unpredictable variability of outcomes for Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos. While I’m hesitant to lump Las Vegas in with the Texans and Colts just yet, I can say that there must be at least 10 AFC teams who look stronger at the moment.
And now you might be screaming at the TV (I assume people watch the Seaside Joe newsletter on television), “How dare you compare the Raiders to the Seahawks!” Okay, maybe, but is it truly “How dare I”?