The Seahawks Are Fourth In FPI After Super Bowl LX and Nobody in the League Is Ready For It

Alright, 12s, settle down, grab a pint, because we gotta talk. You still buzzing from Super Bowl LX, right? That epic battle just four months ago, seeing our Seattle Seahawks claw their way to the biggest stage in football. You'd think after that, the whole league would be handing us the keys to the kingdom for 2026. But get this, ESPN's Football Power Index just dropped their initial preseason ratings, and while it's good, it feels a little... undercooked. Ready for the shocker? Our Hawks are ranked fourth.

Fourth In The League? We Just Played For The Ring!

Yeah, you heard that right. Fourth! This Wednesday, ESPN launched their 2026 preseason FPI rankings. For a team that just battled in Super Bowl LX four months ago, that number hits different. We weren't just in the conversation; we were the conversation for the last title! Now, I'm not saying fourth in the entire NFL is some tragedy. It's phenomenal for initial projections. But after seeing our boys fight for the Lombardi, it makes you squint and wonder, 'Fourth? Really?'

The contrast is wild, too. Our Super Bowl LX opponent, the New England Patriots, are way down at 14th in FPI. That's a massive gulf, showing the metric has serious confidence in the Emerald City's squad. We're clearly seen as a top-tier threat. But still, after tasting that Super Bowl action, don't you want to be number one on every list? This FPI projection feels like a challenge. It's saying, 'You're great, but you're not the greatest... yet.'

Darnold, JSN, Kupp: The Future Is Bright, FPI Knows It

So, if we're sitting at fourth in the league *before* the 2026 season even kicks off, what's that tell us about the future? It means FPI is seeing serious juice in this roster. It recognizes the coaching prowess of Mike Macdonald, setting the defensive tone, and the offensive vision of OC Brian Fleury. When you've got Sam Darnold under center, slinging it to game-changers like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and the veteran smarts of Cooper Kupp, that's an offensive core analysts can't ignore.

This isn't just a casual guess. FPI is an analytics-driven projection that dives deep. For them to put our Hawks at number four means the data confirms what we already know: we've got a squad built for a deep, impactful season. It means the expectation isn't just to make noise, it's to be a contender. Fourth means we're dangerous, we're elite, and every other team better have us circled. They know what's coming.

These FPI projections dropped on a Wednesday, giving us plenty to dissect as we gear up for the 2026 NFL season. Being ranked fourth, just months removed from Super Bowl LX, shouts one thing loud and clear: the eyes of the entire NFL are still fixed on Seattle. This isn't a rebuilding year. This is a reload. The expectation isn't just to compete; it's to dominate. Our Hawks aren't sneaking up on anyone. We're a certified force, and FPI just solidified that. Get ready, 12s, because if we're already projected fourth, imagine the chaos Sam Darnold and the crew are gonna unleash. This season is going to be absolutely epic, and I'm here for every single snap!

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