POLL RESULTS: Responders split on Seahawks as contenders

Are the Seattle Seahawks still top contenders in the NFC? It seems that‘s a difficult question to answer.

This week’s Seattle Sidelines poll asked readers to assess the Seahawks at the bye week. Through its first five games Seattle, considered co-favorite with the Green Bay Packers to win the NFC before the season began, is 3-2 and tied for first place in the NFC West with the Los Angeles Rams, who they beat 16-10 on the road heading into the bye. The Seahawks have just one more loss than the leaders in the conference.

But Seattle’s record only tells a fraction of the story. Once again the Seahawks’ offense has exhibited the same issues that caused concerns last season — a lack of a running game, quarterback Russell Wilson getting hit too often — and until the Rams victory Seattle’s only wins came at home against teams expected to battle it out for the first-overall pick in next year’s draft. The Seahawks’ defense, however, is starting to look like its dominant self from the previous five years.

So does it all add up to Seattle still being a top conference contender? Here’s what people think:

POLL: As the Seahawks head into their bye, should they still be considered a favorite in the NFC? Full context here: https://t.co/i6gahtQI73

— Nick Patterson (@NickHPatterson) October 9, 2017

All three choices received a good chunk of the vote this week. Add the two together and 40 percent of responders believe the Seahawks should still be considered among the favorites in the NFC, 29 percent think they shouldn’t, and 31 percent say the jury’s still out. Fans are all over the map in their evaluation of the team.

The good news for the Seahawks is that their remaining schedule does not contain a high degree of difficulty. Coming out of the bye Seattle faces a a winless New York Giants team that’s now without its top two receivers because of injury. After that is a Houston Texans team that just lost star defensive end J.J. Watt to a season-ending injury. The combined record of the opponents in the Seahawks’ remaining 11 games is 24-30, and ESPN’s statistical analysis has Seattle the overwhelming favorite to win the division.

But we may have to wait until Nov. 20, when Seattle hosts the defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons, to have a real idea of whether the Seahawks remain among the conference favorites.