The San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks aren’t just the best teams in the NFC West.
We can make the case that they’re the two best teams in the NFL.
Squads like the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens will claim otherwise. The same applies to the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers and just about any club with playoff aspirations.
But back to San Francisco and Seattle.
Both teams have their franchise quarterback, formidable rushing attack and shutdown defense. Both have the coaching, culture and postseason pedigree from the year prior.
And if you subscribe to the pundits at ESPN, these NFC West rivals occupy the top-two spots in the post-draft power rankings. We would certainly agree.
Let’s now make the argument for the Seahawks and 49ers as the two best NFL teams.
Note: We’ll make our case based on comparisons with Super Bowl contenders in 2013.
Most Dynamic Offense
No one can deny the championship prowess of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, let alone Joe Flacco’s Super Bowl run last season. Atlanta’s Matt Ryan boosted his stock as well last year after nearly leading the Falcons into Super Sunday.
Each of these quarterbacks also has an elite receiving corps (whether wideouts or tight ends) and capable running backs for creating balance on offense. Rodgers finally received his with draft additions Eddie Lacy and Jonathan Franklin.
Also, Washington’s Robert Griffin III might be the most talented dual-threat QB in the league. But the Redskins are still a couple years away.
Yet from top to bottom—offensive line included—the Seahawks’ and 49ers’ offenses are the most dynamic out of every SB contender.
No quarterback can beat opposing defenses with both his arm and legs at a greater rate than Colin Kaepernick. His deep-ball accuracy is second to none—with the strength to throw it 70-plus yards—while his proficiency as a runner is beyond elite. (See: 181 yards, two touchdowns and an 11.3 average against Green Bay in the Divisional Round.)
Before doubting his status as an overall passer, remember that he ranked No. 3 in total QBR at 76.8. His 86.5 was second among playoff QBs, to boot.
Kaepernick will post monster numbers over the course of an entire season. With the requisite football IQ, work ethic and unprecedented physical traits, his ceiling is unlimited.
The Seahawks’ Russell Wilson is a special player all to his own.
Wilson was tied for the ninth-most passing touchdowns with 26. He led all rookies, not to mention such accomplished veterans as Flacco and Matthew Stafford. He showcased his rushing skills by ranking second on his team with 489 rushing yards and four TDs as well.
And he really just has the instincts for making game-changing plays.
Some observers might doubt the legitimacy of San Francisco and Seattle’s group of pass-catchers.
However, the addition of Anquan Boldin legitimizes a 49ers’ unit that already features Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham, Vernon Davis, Kyle Williams and 2013 draftee Quinton Patton. It may lack an elite downfield target, but Boldin really strengthens this deep positional corps.
The Seahawks, for their part, acquired their offensive dynamo in wideout Percy Harvin. He bolsters an amply capable group consisting of Sidney Rice, Golden Tate, Zach Miller and Doug Baldwin.
What brings it all together offensively for both these teams are their powerful multi-faceted rushing attacks.
The 49ers run through defenses with a four-headed monster of Frank Gore, Kaepernick, Kendall Hunter and LaMichael James. Seattle punishes the opposition behind Marshawn Lynch, Wilson and Robert Turbin. Second-round pick Christine Michael is extremely talented and will add an explosive dimension.
Lest we forget, the Seahawks’ front line allowed the ninth-fewest sacks and powered the NFL’s No. 3 rushing offense in 2012. And the 49ers merely boast the best offensive line in football.
Most Complete Defense
All other Super Bowl contenders face serious questions regarding their defenses.
The Broncos lost their second-leading sack artist Elvis Dumervil (11 sacks). Who will replace that production and prevent double teams on Von Miller?
The Ravens executed an incredible draft, but still lost a bevy of starters on defense. Can they make up for Ed Reed and Ray Lewis’ leadership? What about Reed and Cary Williams’ eight total interceptions?
For Atlanta, will an aging Osi Umenyiora account for John Abraham’s team-leading 10 sacks? What about the Falcons’ less-than-stellar linebacker corps?
And for the Patriots, will 33-year-old free-agent pickup Adrian Wilson and draft selections Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon possibly improve their dreadful pass defense? This coverage unit surrendered the fourth-most passing yards (4,342) and sixth-most touchdowns (27) last season.
The 49ers and Seahawks, on the other hand, do not have such serious issues looming over them.
It is widely known that San Francisco suffered greatly when defensive tackle Justin Smith went down in Week 15 and then returned for the playoffs at less than 100 percent. Leading pass-rusher Aldon Smith didn’t register a sack (despite a labrum injury of his own), while the secondary gave up more yardage and numerous big plays during this period.
The 49ers won’t be dealing with this in 2013. Both Smith’s are back at full health and the draft itself brought riches. Tank Carradine is a premier pass-rusher and will offer tremendous depth behind J. Smith. Corey Lemonier will provide the same at outside linebacker.
San Francisco also shored up its only starting need with Eric Reid at free safety. The usually reliable Chris Culliver will also rebound from his Super Bowl mishaps and the coverage personnel as a whole will operate at a very high level with the additions to the front seven. Expect a return to the unit that allowed just 17.1 points per game (No. 2).
And we surely are aware of the league’s preeminent starting linebackers led by Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman.
The Seahawks, meanwhile, are also complete from the defensemen up front through the secondary.
Their defensive line is as deep as any team’s in the NFL. They added interior tackles Jordan Hill and Jesse Williams as quality backups to Red Bryant and Brandon Mebane. Seattle made its biggest splash when it picked up free agents Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett. Their combined 18.5 sacks from last year will easily replace Chris Clemons’ 11.5 if he cannot return from his ACL suffered in the team’s Wild Card matchup.
Combine that production with rising star Bruce Irvin’s eight quarterback takedowns, and this pass-rush contingent is thoroughly dangerous.
Second-year linebacker Bobby Wagner is a tackling machine (140 in 2012) and will only get better. He also added three interceptions in coverage last season.
Seattle’s ultimate strength, however, lies in its secondary. Richard Sherman, Brandon Browner, Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas and Co. surrendered the second-fewest passing touchdowns in 2012 (15). They are a total shutdown group that helped hold offenses to the fewest points per game (15.3).
Free-agent addition Antoine Winfield will only help further this defensive power in 2013.
Strength in Special Teams
Lastly, the special teams side of the ball does not exist as a liability for either of these teams.
The 49ers’ Phil Dawson led the NFL in field goal percentage for kickers with at least 27 attempts while playing for the Cleveland Browns in 2012. He made 29 of 31 kicks for a mark of 93.5 percent. He was a remarkable 7-for-7 from 50 or more yards.
Andy Lee is widely considered the league’s foremost punter. He routinely pins opponents deep and earned the No. 1 ranking with a net average of 43.2 yards.
Seattle re-signed its own impressive place kicker. Steven Hauschka converted 24 of 27 field goals for the No. 7 percentage of 88.9. Punter Jon Ryan produced the seventh-highest net average of 40.3 yards.
Furthermore, LaMichael James and a healthy Kyle Williams will give San Francisco plenty of speed on returns. Williams registered a 94-yarder early in the season and James brought back a pivotal 62-yard kickoff return against the Patriots.
Percy Harvin, though, puts the Seahawks’ unit over the top. While returning just 16 kickoffs, Harvin’s 35.9-yard-average would have led the league by a wide margin. His five career touchdowns will bring a swagger to the Pacific Northwest.
For a final tidbit, with head coaches Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll, both the 49ers and Seahawks feature beloved field generals who lead the hardest hitting squads in the NFL.
No team leaves the gridiron at full capacity after scrapping with these NFC West bullies.
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