Good afternoon, 12s.
Here's a look at what's "out there" for today - Monday, March 21 - about your Seattle Seahawks:
Clayton: Seahawks Still Division Favorites
In a feature at ESPN.com, senior writer John Clayton examines the budding rivalry between the Seahawks and Cardinals. He recaps a few of the big moves Arizona has made this offseason, moves Clayton thinks make a case for the club to challenge Seattle as NFC West favorites in 2016, comparing the talent acquisition competition between the two teams to the NFC West tug-of-war that existed not long ago between the Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.
But despite the Cardinals' recent additions and the fact that the club advanced to the NFC Championship this past year after winning the division with a 13-3 regular-season record, Clayton says the Seahawks still have the upper hand, pointing to Seattle's history of finishing seasons strong under head coach Pete Carroll. Clayton writes:
Where the Seahawks still have the edge over the Cardinals is their consistency. In each of the past four years, the Seahawks have allowed the fewest points. The defense has allowed Wilson and the offense to grow. Only giving up 17 to 19 points a game has allowed Wilson to keep the score close and make plays in the fourth quarter to win.
Both teams learned something last season.
The Seahawks learned that a slow start could leave them in the wild-card round of the playoffs instead of having home-field advantage. Because the NFC is loaded with teams with great quarterbacks and excellent defenses, it's hard to think a wild-card team can win three games on the road, particularly in places such as Green Bay, Minnesota, Carolina and Arizona.
The Cardinals learned that winning the division with a 13-win season is great, but it takes more concentration and focus to win in the playoffs. The Seahawks got over that hump with their win in Super Bowl XLVIII. The Cardinals are still trying.
...
In the big picture, both teams seem to be set to return to the playoffs. The team that wins the division and earns home-field advantage has the better chance of going to the Super Bowl. Still, the Seahawks are a team with a history of being dangerous.
Tweet Of The Day
Today's "Tweet of the Day" comes from @NFLprguy Brian McCarthy, who shares a photo of NFL head coaches gathered Monday morning at the NFL Annual Meeting in Boca Raton, Fla.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll is seated in the second row, second from the left, next to Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn, who worked as the Seahawks' defensive coordinator from 2013-14. Gus Bradley, Seattle's defensive coordinator from 2009-12 and the current head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, is pictured in the third row, third from the right.
More From Around The Web
Here at Seahawks.com, digital media reporter John Boyle updates his 2016 free-agency tracker after the team brought back running back Christine Michael and linebacker Mike Morgan and saw left tackle Russell Okung sign with the Denver Broncos last week. Boyle also has a look at the free-agent happenings around the rest of the NFC West.
At NFL.com, Dave Dameshek puts Seattle's Russell Wilson on his list of Top 10 Super Bowl quarterbacks for the next 10 years.
Chris Wesseling at NFL.com doles out free-agency grades for each team in the NFC West.
Adam Schein at NFL.com sees the NFC West differently than John Clayton does above, labeling the Seahawks as the top challenger to the division favorite Cardinals.
Bob Condotta at the Seattle Times outlines five things to watch this week at the NFL Annual Meeting.
Bill Barnwell at ESPN.com looks at which teams have been smart to sit out free agency's spending spree.
And Sheil Kapadia at ESPN.com wonders what moves are left for the Seahawks to make in free agency.
Check out which Seahawks players have a rooting interest in this year's March Madness NCAA men's basketball tournament.
In this photo taken on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, Colorado senior defensive tackle Will Pericak looks on before facing UCLA in the first quarter of an NCAA football game in Boulder, Colo. Pericak faces two opponents every Saturday: the opposing quarterback and diabetes. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado's Paul Richardson, right, runs past Iowa State's Leonard Johnson, left, in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Boulder, Colo. on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/ Matt McClain)
Connecticut wide receiver Deshon Foxx (4) during his team's 35-10 loss to BYU in an NCAA football game in East Hartford, Conn., on Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)
Maryland defensive lineman A.J. Francis (96) carries a American flag during player introductions before the Military Bowl NCAA college football game against East Carolina, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, in Washington. Also seen is Maryland running back Haroon Brown (32).(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Vanderbilt special teams snapper Andrew East warms up before an NCAA college football game against Kentucky at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014 in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/John Flavell)
Miami's Jimmy Graham dunks in overtime period past Florida State's Ryan Reid in a college basketball game on Saturday, March 8, 2008 in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon)
Miami's Jimmy Graham (80) is tackled by Duke safety Matt Daniels during the quarter of an NCAA college football game in Miami, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
Kent State's Trayion Durham (34) is brought down by Buffalo's Kristjan Sokoli (90) and Khalil Mack (46) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Amherst, N.Y., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Oregon Will Tukuafu, right, and Blake Ferrras (90) tackle Utah's Eddie Wide (36) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Eugene, Ore., Saturday Sept. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens)
Baylor wide receiver Antwan Goodley (5) scores against West Virginia cornerback Travis Bell (26), right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Rod Aydelotte)
Duke tight end Cooper Helfet (81) stumbles for extra yards against Georgia Tech defensive back Dominique Reese (26), left, and corner back Rod Sweeting (6) in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Atlanta, Ga., Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010. (AP Photo/Rich Addicks)
Texas safety Earl Thomas celebrates with the Golden Hat trophy at the end of their NCAA football game against Oklahoma in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 17 2009. Texas won 16-13. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
Missouri tight end Martin Rucker, center, is sandwiched between Texas A&M's Devin Gregg, left, and Michael Bennett, right, during the second quarter of a college football game Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won the game 40-26. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Texas A&M wide receiver Jeff Fuller (8) pulls in a 42-yard touchdown pass as Army defensive back Jordan Trimble (10) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin, right, congratulations offensive linesman Patrick Lewis (61) after a touchdown and extra point during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Methodist, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, in Dallas. Texas A&M won 48-3. (AP Photo/John F. Rhodes)
Texas A&M running back Christine Michael (33) breaks a tackle by Colorado cornerback Jalil Brown (23) and runs for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Boulder, Colo, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Kansas running back Daymond Patterson (15) and Texas A&M cornerback Steven Terrell (21) battle for the ball during the first half of their NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010, in Lawrence, Kan. The pass was ruled incomplete. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Southern California wide receiver George Farmer, right, makes a touchdown catch as California cornerback Darius White defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Southern California tight end Anthony McCoy (86) runs with the ball between Ohio State linebacker Jermale Hines (7) and defensive back Devon Torrence (10) )during their NCAA college football game Saturday Sept., 12, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas, right, runs the ball as Southern California linebacker Michael Morgan defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Kentucky tight end Ronnie Shields (80), runs away from Tennessee-Martin defender Taino Fears-Perez (12) after a reception in their NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014. Kentucky beat Tennessee-Martin 59-14. (AP Photo/Garry Jones)
Arizona State quarterback Taylor Kelly (10) passes as Notre Dame defensive lineman Kona Schwenke (96) watches during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Michigan defensive end Frank Clark (57) is seen before the first half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
West Virginia's Mark Glowinski (64) during pre-game warmups prior to an NCAA college football game against Towson in Morgantown, W.Va., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson)
Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson looks to pass against UNLV during the first half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin beat UNLV 51-17. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
Purdue defensive end Cliff Avril runs back an interception from Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber for a 43-yard touchdown during the first half of a football game Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Battaglia)
Purdue running back Brandon Cottom, left, breaks the tackle of Indiana safety Mark Murphy on his way to a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Iowa State defender Ahtyba Rubin (71) pursues Texas runningback Jamaal Charles (25) during the second quarter of their football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2006. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Colorado State quarterback Pete Thomas (4) is chased by Utah defensive tackle Sealver Siliga (98) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart)
