Seahawks overwhelming favorites to win second straight Super Bowl

It seems like just a few weeks ago many of the so-called “experts” were questioning whether the Seahawks would even make the playoffs. But after returning to their dominant form in a six-game win streak, they’re again the overwhelming favorite to win the Super Bowl.

FiveThirtyEight, the sports and news website headed by noted statistician Nate Silver, has the Seahawks easily atop its Elo playoff odds (a ranking based on a number of statistical categories.)

The site gives the Seahawks a 59 percent chance of reaching the Super Bowl and a 35 percent shot at taking home the Lombardi Trophy for a second straight year.

The next closest team is New England, which FiveThirtyEight gives a 22 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl, followed by the Denver Broncos at 14 percent.

The rankings give Green Bay the best chance of knocking off the Seahawks in the NFC with a 21 percent possibility of reaching the Super Bowl, and a 10 percent shot at winning it all.

It’s easy to discount such ratings, but Seahawks’ fans can take heart in knowing Seattle had the top Elo ranking last season as well en route to winning the Super Bowl.

The Seahawks are the favorites of voters in the AP’s Pro32 power rankings as well, getting 11 of 12 first-place votes from the media panelists that regularly cover the league.

“Who’s scared of the big, bad Seahawks? Everybody,” Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune said.

The Patriots (12-4) received the other first-place vote. New England is the top seed in the AFC and also opens the playoffs at home on Jan. 10.

According to Glantz-Culver, the Seahawks (at 2-1) and Patriots (at 5-2) are the favorites to reach the Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 1.

Going into the season, Seattle was No. 1, followed by Denver, New England, Green Bay and New Orleans. The Saints finished 7-9 and at No. 23 in the final poll.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.