Top 10 favorites for Super Bowl LI

4. Seattle Seahawks

Like the Chiefs, the Seahawks started slowly coming out of the gate this season, dropping four of their first six games as they struggled to keep Russell Wilson upright, get new tight end Jimmy Graham involved, and rediscover the defensive swagger that had earned the team back-to-back Super Bowl appearances the last two years. Legion of Boom spokesman Richard Sherman assured the world that nothing was wrong with his team, and that by season’s end the Seahawks would be right where they’re used to being: competing in the playoffs. And lo and behold, he was right.

And while Seattle’s two playoff games weren’t exactly inspiring performances, they still do little to suggest Pete Carroll’s team won’t be primed for another postseason run next season. Even if Marshawn Lynch departs as expected, Thomas Rawls looked like the better option at tailback anyway when he was healthy and averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Doug Baldwin caught fire midway through the season, and even Graham seemed to be working his way into the offense more before a knee injury ended his year early.

There are a lot of pieces to try and retain on defense, but the core of this team remains young, hungry, and talented.

Next: 3. Arizona Cardinals