The Emerald City just got a serious boost in the national power rankings! After taking a hit following that tough loss to the Washington Commanders, our Seahawks clawed their way back, winning against the Los Angeles Chargers and pushing their average power ranking from 4.6 to 3.6 across five major national media sites. That’s a whole point jump, people! We’re talking about a serious move up the board, even if that Chargers game was a bit… sloppy.
Rebounding and Rising in the Ranks
It’s been a ride, right? Our Hawks dropped after the Commanders game, but then they bounced back, taking down the Chargers. Three of the big national media sites, NFL.com, Bleacher Report (B/R), and ESPN, all saw enough to bump us up one spot, from fourth to third best in the league. NFL.com straight up called it: we took our foot off the gas a bit too early against the Chargers, but hey, a rebound is a rebound after that Commanders stumble. B/R, which also put us at number three, wasn’t shy about Sam Darnold’s bumpy start, referencing his three interceptions in just two games. Ouch, gotta clean that up, Sam! But here’s the kicker: B/R also pointed out that our defense is absolutely getting the job done, citing their four quarterback sacks and slamming Justin Herbert with 10 hits. That’s the D we know and love!
ESPN, while also putting us third, used four words to sum up our first four weeks: “Eventful , not always positive.” Yeah, you can say that again! Brady Henderson over at ESPN gave us the context, bringing up injuries, including Sam Darnold’s. He also highlighted that wild 150-penalty-yard game against the Chargers, a new franchise record, and even Mike Macdonald’s interview mishap concerning Sean Payton. It’s been a whirlwind, but through it all, we’re climbing.
The Defenders and the Big Test Ahead
Not everyone has us at number three, but the trend is clear. CBS moved us up one spot from fifth to fourth, and they also gave huge props to our defense, saying that impressive performance against the Chargers was the key reason for the win. PFT, though, is the toughest crowd, only moving us up to fifth overall among these sites. Their reasoning was short and sweet: “Let Rashid cook.” And you know what? We love to see Rashid Shaheed get his shine!
Overall, that average jump from 4.6 to 3.6 is no joke. It shows the league is starting to take notice. But here’s the real talk, 12s: next week against the San Francisco 49ers is the ultimate test. Every single one of those national media sites has the Niners pegged as the number one team in the league. If our Hawks can pull off a victory, it’s gonna be tough for *any* of those national guys to keep us out of that top spot. We’re talking about a massive statement game here, people. Get ready for a battle!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Field Gulls.
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