Seahawks 'Position to Challenge 49ers’ in NFC West, Says Baldy
The Seattle Seahawks surprised everyone last season as they made the playoffs with Geno Smith. The winning of the NFC West was considered a formality for the San Francisco 49ers for a while going forward, but with Seattle's emergence, maybe it's time to pump the breaks on that.
After an offseason where Seattle hasn't taken a misstep with its free agency period and draft class, could they be in a position to go toe-to-toe with the 49ers for the division? NFL analyst Brian Baldinger thinks so.
"They played a playoff game in San Francisco in the Wild Card Round, and Seattle gave them all they could handle," Baldinger said on NFL Total Access, reflecting on Seattle’s loss. “They battled toe-to-toe.
"They're only going to get better, Geno's coming off his best year ever, I don't expect him to go backwards, and this Jaxon Smith-Njogba is off to a good start. I think Seattle is in a great position to challenge San Francisco."
Is Baldinger right? Offensively, Seattle has gotten better than last season, and on the defensive side of the ball, they have added Bobby Wagner, Dre'Mont Jones, Devin Bush and rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
Some still doubt the Seahawks' ability to stop the run, but Seattle just maybe has all the tools to push the 49ers for the division.
Of course, this is predicated on Smith continuing to play at a high level and for the 25th-ranked defense last season to show signs of improvement.
It might seem like a bridge too far for some, but Baldy’s view resonates; the Seahawks seem to have the necessary weaponry to give the 49ers a serious challenge.
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