1 reason every NFL team can win the Super Bowl

Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; A member of the New England Patriots hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; A member of the New England Patriots hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
32 of 33
Next
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reacts on the field during the first quarter against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reacts on the field during the first quarter against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks could be going for their third Super Bowl in a row had they handed the ball to Marshawn Lynch at the end of the last championship game. As it stands, that’s not how it worked out, and they lost.

It’s no mean thing to make it to back-to-back Super Bowls, especially after you’ve already won one. Seattle managed it through a fantastic plan which included both taking advantage of the low contract total of quarterback Russell Wilson’s rookie deal to sign guys like Richard Sherman to big money deals, while also using a smart rotation on the defensive line to keep the players they had there fresh, as well as make up for a lack of big-time playmakers.

This is the last year of Wilson’s rookie deal, and while the team is trying to get an extension done with Wilson, it’s going to cost them and make it hard to keep the players they’ve had.

So this is a critical year for the Seahawks and it all comes down to how they manage the front seven and how effective it is.

The Seahawks face some of the best passing offenses in the NFL over in their conference and if they are to slow those offenses down, they need to generate pressure. When you are dealing with solid but unspectacular players, that means shifting fronts, constant substitutions and giving the quarterback many, many different looks.

You want to make sure an Aaron Rodgers, an Eli Manning or a Tony Romo never knows where the pressure is coming from or when it’s coming. The Seahawks have been outstanding in the past few years at bringing pressure and confusing quarterbacks.

This is the last year they can ride Wilson on the cheap and next season and beyond, they will have to continue to find different ways to make the most out of a small amount of cap room.

This season, if they want to make it three straight Super Bowl appearances (with wins in two out of the three games) the defense will have to continue to befuddle the opposition each Sunday.

Next: New England Patriots