1. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are without question the team to beat until further notice, and they appear primed to repeat as Super Bowl champions. Their defense has not missed a beat since linebacker Bobby Wagner and safety Kam Chancellor returned from injuries, and they finished first in the NFL in total, scoring and pass defense. The defense only allowed three touchdowns in their six-game winning streak that closed out the season. Even Joe Montana and Jerry Rice in their primes would have extreme difficulty against this historic defense.
If it happens, losing to the Panthers would go down as arguably the biggest playoff upset in NFL history. Quarterback Russell Wilson and head coach Pete Carroll will not let this happen though, as the Seahawks are hungry to prove that there never was a Super Bowl hangover. Although the Seahawks are mostly known for their defense, running back Marshawn Lynch helped them finish first in run offense while tying for the league lead in rushing touchdowns with 13. Wilson was also incredibly efficient with the ball as he only threw six interceptions.
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