Forget all the noise from Denver, because when it comes to early Super Bowl LXI buzz, our Seattle Seahawks are already making moves! Bleacher Report's Brett Sobleski just dropped his latest power rankings. The Broncos, hyped as the AFC's top squad right now, are sitting at No. 3 overall. And who's ahead of them, besides the Rams? Yup, you guessed it, our Seattle Seahawks are ranked even higher, coming in at No. 2 in the entire league! The Emerald City's own are already ahead of the supposed AFC juggernaut before training camp even really gets cooking!
Broncos Hype: Too Much, Too Soon?
Sean Payton has been putting in work down there, turning things around in just three short years. Sobleski even thinks they're one of the serious challengers to reach Super Bowl LXI following the 2026 season. He floated the idea that if it wasn't for awful weather during the AFC Championship Game last season, the Broncos could have faced *our* Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. Can you even imagine that clash? Talk about a missed opportunity for the 12s to truly show out against a rival, especially considering where Sobleski sees us now! Sobleski's feeling good about them because they snagged Jaylen Waddle via trade. The 27-year-old veteran receiver has multiple 1,000-yard campaigns already under his belt. He's apparently so good, he could've had five straight such campaigns if the Miami Dolphins hadn't gone through all that upheaval. Now he's supposed to be an "explosive receiving threat" for their quarterback, Bo Nix. Plus, they reportedly had little roster turnover this offseason. So if that defense can still perform as one of the best units in the league, the thought is they're suddenly "one of the most complete teams in the league." Yeah, okay.Why Denver's Target Just Got Bigger
But let's be real, predicting NFL games in July rarely makes sense! Sobleski himself points out some cold, hard truths Denver fans might want to ignore. They're stuck playing a first-place schedule this season. That's no walk in the park. Then there's the AFC West, which "nearly everyone feels is a much tougher division" now. Talk about navigating a gauntlet just to get out of your own backyard! And honestly, a big target just got painted right on their backs with these kinds of predictions. Remember last year, when they felt more dangerous as an "under-the-radar" team? That's usually when squads thrive, flying under the radar. Now, every opponent's gonna be hyped to knock them down a peg. How's Sean Payton's squad really gonna handle being put in that spotlight? Critics outside "Broncos Country" are already saying they were much luckier than good last season. Luck runs out! So while some are already pushing the Broncos as the AFC's top team, let's not forget where our Seattle Seahawks are sitting: No. 2 overall in the entire league, according to these very same power rankings! It's early, absolutely, but it's a massive shout-out to Coach Mike Macdonald and the squad. This season is gonna be a wild ride. We can't wait to see if Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp can prove these early predictions right and truly show the league what the Emerald City is all about. Get ready, 12s, because football is almost back!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.