The air at Lumen Field was buzzing in December. Sitting at an impressive 11-3, the Seattle Seahawks found themselves deadlocked with the Los Angeles Rams atop the NFC West. For the student body and the 12s across the city, Week 16 wasn’t just another game; it was a battle for the division title and a possible preview of the NFC championship with a roster that looks different than it did just a few years ago. With the offense regularly putting up 30+ points this season, many fans are wondering if this is the most explosive Seattle has been since their Super Bowl years. Much of that credit goes to quarterback Sam Darnold, whose career resurgence at Minnesota and now Seattle has been the talk of the league, and the emergence of Jaxon Smith-Njigba (JSN) as the clear WR1. When asked if JSN has successfully filled the shoes of former starts, Nash Bayne (‘27) didn’t hold back saying, “Yeah, DK on the Steelers is chopped.” referring to the former Seahawk now playing in Pittsburgh, while praising JSN’s impact.
However, the path to the Super Bowl isn’t just about offense. Head Coach Mike Macdonald’s defense has been electric, highlighted by a recent shutout against the Vikings.
Yet, fans are hesitant to compare this defense to past ones. When asked if the “Legion of Boom” era is back, Bayne offered a bit of a reality check saying, “It’ll never be back, and to suggest such a thing should be punishable by death.” The stakes for the remainder of the season were incredibly high. Had the playoffs started at that point, the Seahawks would have been the #1 seed, positioning them for home field advantage as well as a bye week. Securing home field advantage at Lumen was a priority. However, the Seahawks faced a difficult schedule to end the season, going up against the 49ers in the season’s finale to retain their position. The finale became a winner-take-all showdown, as both teams fought to secure the #1 seed and home-field advantage. Confidence is high in the hallways. Despite the pressure of a potential third game against the rams, which Bayne admitted was the opponent that “scares” them the most. Still, the belief that a championship could be inbound is common among fans. According to the faithful, you can book the parade now.
