What history says about 3-3 Seahawks’ Super Bowl chances

Less than a month ago, the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks were off to a 2-0 start and riding a franchise-best 12-game win streak.

Much has changed since then.

Suddenly, the Seahawks have stumbled to three turnover-filled losses in their past four games, with those three defeats coming by a combined eight points. They now sit at 3-3, which already matches their loss total from last season.

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“Three losses is definitely not going to take us out of a run for the championship, but it’s definitely time to really hone in and focus on what’s stopping us from winning these games,” three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Leonard Williams said. “It’s definitely like crunch time right now.”

History supports Williams’ view.

Over the Super Bowl’s 60-year history, seven teams have reached the NFL’s championship game after opening a season 3-3, according to Stathead. (No team has ever reached a Super Bowl after starting 2-4 or worse.) Those seven teams are listed below, along with their final regular-season record and their Super Bowl result.

• 2014 Seahawks (12-4, lost Super Bowl)
• 2010 Packers (10-6, won Super Bowl)
• 2001 Patriots (11-5, won Super Bowl)
• 1996 Patriots (11-5, lost Super Bowl)
• 1995 Steelers (11-5, lost Super Bowl)
• 1985 Patriots (11-5, lost Super Bowl)
• 1980 Raiders (11-5, won Super Bowl)

Of the seven teams listed above, two actually started the season 3-4 before going on a run – the 2001 New England Patriots and the 1995 Pittsburgh Steelers. No team has ever reached a Super Bowl after starting 3-5.

The 2014 Seahawks sputtered to a 3-3 start after suffering a 30-21 loss to the Philip Rivers-led San Diego Chargers in Week 2, a 30-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4 and a 28-26 loss to the St. Louis Rams in Week 5.

The ’14 Hawks were in danger of falling to 3-4 before Russell Wilson’s last-minute touchdown pass to Luke Willson gave Seattle a 13-9 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 7. That kickstarted a stretch of 11 wins in 12 games that propelled the Seahawks all the way to the Super Bowl.

So, yes, history shows it’s possible to reach the Super Bowl after a 3-3 start.

But it also shows the Seahawks need to figure things out quickly – especially with the NFL’s third-toughest remaining strength of schedule, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.

With the the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs, another game against the unbeaten San Francisco 49ers and two games against the talent-laden Los Angeles Rams still on the docket, Seattle simply doesn’t have much room for error.

As Williams said, it’s already “crunch time” in mid-October.

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