The elephant in the room with the Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks sit atop — or near the top — of most power rankings heading into Week 11.

They’re the most explosive passing offense in football. They have the league’s top receiver, a former first-rounder who’s already surpassed 1,000 yards on the season. They’re in the top five in scoring on offense and on defense, one of just two teams to do so. Speaking of that defense, they’re leading the league in pressures and boast this week’s NFC Defensive Player of the Week, an honor that followed two scoop-and-scores from DeMarcus Lawrence.

Seattle Seahawks’ Lawrence named NFC Defensive Player of the Week

But are they a Super Bowl favorite? Apparently not. At least not for a number of NFL voices.

“It’s the fastest team in the league. I like everything about them,” FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd told Brock and Salk earlier this week. “I don’t know if they’re a Super Bowl team, I think the Rams are really good and Philadelphia has a great roster… (but) I think I’m going to take them this week against the Rams.”

Wait, what?

No disrespect to Cowherd, who frequently advocates for Seattle. He’s far from the only analyst to wonder whether a team that, statistically, is one of the best in the league can win it all.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith featured the Seahawks at No. 1 on his top-five teams after Week 10 to a “First Take” crew that gasped.

.@stephenasmith shares his top five NFL teams after Week 10 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JUMWcSMcgc

— First Take (@FirstTake) November 11, 2025

The Seahawks are No. 1 in DVOA — a stat invented by FTN Fantasy’s Aaron Schatz — and when I tried dancing around the question in an interview with Schatz on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy, he didn’t hesitate to call out the elephant in the room.

“There’s one reason. The one reason is we all think Sam Darnold is going to turn back into a pumpkin when he gets back to the playoffs and feels pressure,” Schatz said.

“That’s what happened last year for Minnesota. That’s what everybody is worried about. That’s the one reason why, if anyone can’t take Seattle seriously, that’s the biggest reason why. That fear that when it comes to a pressure game and Seahawks fall behind and he has to pass, is Darnold going to be throwing picks like he did in the playoffs last year? And I honestly don’t know the answer.”

Darnold was brilliant for Minnesota in a breakout 2024 season (though he’s been even better in 2025 for Seattle) but that came crashing down in his first playoff start and final game of the year. In a loss to the Rams, Darnold was 25-of-40 for 245 yards, one touchdown and had two turnovers (an interception and fumble). He was sacked nine times.

Was a struggling Vikings interior offensive line also responsible? Sure. Nine sacks aren’t entirely on a quarterback. But the game ended up costing Darnold money in free agency — and potentially a future with the Vikings. Hall of Famer Troy Aikman said exactly that back in January. Darnold himself lamented leaving throws out there and making mistakes.

It might not be fair, but Schatz is right. Hidden within any critique of this otherwise stellar Seahawks team is doubt — not of an elite defense or a brilliant coach — but of the quarterback leading them. And against the same team that added fuel to that fire ten months ago, Darnold has a chance to punch back.

Listen to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app. 

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