The Reigning NFL MVP Signed Back With LA, and ESPN Thinks It Dethrones Our Seahawks!

Alright, 12s, pull up a chair, because I saw something that made my blood pressure spike higher than a Coach Macdonald sideline rant. ESPN just dropped their Football Power Index predictions for the *upcoming* 2026 NFL season, and honestly, I'm ready to throw my coffee at the screen. Remember our Hawks? Yeah, the *defending champions*? Well, some computer out there thinks a certain team down south is gonna rip that crown right off our heads!

The Rams Made Their Move, and ESPN Is Tripping

Can you believe this? The FPI, that fancy computer over at ESPN, is out here saying the *Los Angeles Rams* are gonna snag the most wins in 2026. The *Rams*! I mean, I get it, they had a busy offseason. They locked up reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford, which, okay, fine, he's a beast. But then they went and traded for Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett, apparently beefing up their D like crazy. ESPN is literally calling them the "clear-cut candidate to dethrone the Seahawks." Dethrone *our* Seahawks? The ones who lifted the Lombardi trophy last February 14? Seriously, did they even *watch* us last season? The disrespect is absolutely real.

Our Hawks Are Still On The List, But That's Not Enough!

Alright, deep breaths. While that Rams talk makes me want to scream, let's not completely ignore the *good* news, if you can call it that. Our Hawks *are* still on that list of the 10 winningest teams for the upcoming season. We're projected to pull in a solid 10 or 11 wins ourselves, right there with the Ravens, Bills, Lions, 49ers, Packers, Bengals, Chiefs, and Eagles. So, Coach Macdonald's squad is clearly getting *some* respect from the computers, even if they're tripping about who's taking the top spot. It means we're still considered contenders, still a force to be reckoned with. But let's be honest, 10 or 11 wins for the *defending champions*? That feels like a floor, not a ceiling, for our guys in the Emerald City. So yeah, ESPN can run their simulations and pick their favorites. But here in the Emerald City, we know what we've got. The 2026 season is gonna be a battle, and you know our 12s will be loud and proud at Lumen Field. We've got a target on our backs as defending champions, and I, for one, can't wait to see our Hawks prove those computers wrong. Let's go, Hawks!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.