“There are a lot of guys who aren’t up for money and are playing at a high level right now. So this team is definitely a team that can be a dynasty.”
That was the proclamation uttered by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, ten days after making confetti angels on the artificial turf of MetLife Stadium.
Bennett had just won his first Super Bowl — in blowout fashion, no less — yet still felt obligated to drop the D-word, hinting at accomplishing an almost unaccomplishable feat.
What’s more is Bennett, a key contributor to a dominant defense, sees something even greater than a potential dynasty.
“We have the right to view ourselves as one of the best to play of all time,” he said at the time. “… And I think that us having people talk about in that same light is expected and we’re not ashamed of it. We’re not going to shy away from it. It’s right there. Success is right there, so why not take it and want to be the best ever?”
You could call it cockiness. You could say it’s delusion. But Bennett is doing more than painting a rose-colored picture — he’s predicting a completely plausible scenario.
The Seahawks are in a position to again hoist the Lombardi Trophy next February, when the sport’s biggest game shifts to the confines of University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Az.
Yes, this means for the first time since the 2005 New England Patriots, we could see a team win back-to-back titles.
But don’t take my word for it. Just ask the Las Vegas esteemed oddsmakers who already have tabbed Seattle as the favorites to repeat as champions, beating — who else? — the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLIX.
Bennett doesn’t seem so crazy now, huh? Yes? Well, that means Russell Wilson is, too.
The Seahawks’ franchise quarterback — you know, the player at the apex of it all — believes the club is better now than a year ago.
“Right now I definitely believe we’re way further ahead,” Wilson said Thursday, via ESPN.com. “It’s exciting. You have an itch because you know how to do it at a very high level. And the best part about it is we can continue to do it better.”
Starting to buy in? Good. You should.
On paper, the Seahawks have improved since their thrashing of the Broncos, especially on Wilson’s side of the ball.
To go along with a now-healthy Percy Harvin, the team added rookie receivers Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood, both of whom should help replace the production of Golden Tate. Backing up (and stealing carries from) workhorse running back Marshawn Lynch is the supremely talented Christine Michael, whose role is finally being expanded in a major way.
Wilson, only 25-years-old, is entering his third season, typically the year when quarterbacks take a leap forward. How do you top a Super Bowl-winning season? By doing it again. He, as proven, is more than capable.
Defensively, Seattle suffered losses in the secondary, as starting-quality cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond departed via free agency. However, head coach Pete Carroll, a defensive guru in his own right, has shown he gets the most out of relative unknowns. This is good news for the likes of Byron Maxwell, Jeremy Lane, and Phillip Adams.
Plus they still have that Richard Sherman guy back there. He’s pretty good.
All things being equal, the Seahawks will face stiff competition in the ultra-competitive NFC West, whose teams — particularly one that wears scarlet and gold — would love nothing more than to dethrone the champs. If they are to become the NFL’s version of the Miami Heat, it won’t be a cakewalk.
But if you have a few bucks to plunk down before the season, it’d be wise to put it down on the Seahawks’ two-peat, because there’s a real chance it comes to fruition.
Bennett may be crazy, but he’s not stupid. His best-ever plan is in motion — and it just might be crazy enough to succeed.
