NFL Power Rankings: Can the Seattle Seahawks rebound again?

While it’s easy to bury the Seattle Seahawks now, it’s probably worth a look back at last season.

The Seahawks are 2-3 after a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Last year, they started 3-3. After that 3-3 start, the Seahawks lost two more times: A four-point loss at Kansas City on Nov. 16, and when Malcolm Butler picked off Russell Wilson a yard short of a Super Bowl title. That’s it. After 3-3, they had 11 wins and two losses. Worth noting.

Also, you can make a case that the Seahawks could easily be 4-1 this season. They led in the final minute of regulation in two of their three losses. If the Rams don’t get a long touchdown after a Seattle defensive back fell down and Tyler Eifert doesn’t make a circus catch for the Bengals in the final two minutes Sunday, the Seahawks are about where we thought they’d be, with just one loss at the Green Bay Packers.

But, of course, the Seahawks are just as close to being 1-4. The Detroit Lions, who were inches away from taking a late lead and got hosed on a non-call on the same play, think so anyway.

Maybe the Seahawks bounce back, but at this point you have to wonder if something is truly off with this team. The fearful Seahawks defense has had its moments, for sure, but was also that crazy Calvin Johnson play away from blowing second-half leads in four games this season. Andy Dalton might be having a fine season, but it’s still alarming that the Seahawks allowed him to put together four scoring drives in the fourth quarter and overtime to overcome a 24-7 lead.

The offense has had its issues. The fact that the Seahawks couldn’t put away a 17-point fourth-quarter lead is on the offense, too. Seattle had two first downs in its final five drives, from the last play of the third quarter through overtime. Just a few more first downs and the game is over, and Seattle couldn’t do it. Not having Marshawn Lynch played a role in that. But it also doesn’t seem that easy to explain away.

The offensive line isn’t good, and Russell Wilson will eventually tire of having to make defensive linemen miss every play. Still, Jimmy Graham isn’t a big part of the offense. And the defense doesn’t look so scary anymore.

The Seahawks can turn things around and make a Super Bowl. That’s what they did last season after three early losses. There’s still a lot of talent on the roster. But something seems off about this team. Until further notice, the Seahawks can’t be considered contenders anymore. However, they’ll always be lurking, just like last year at about this time.

Here are Shutdown Corner’s power rankings after Week 5:

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4, Last week: 32)

If you score 31 points against the Buccaneers, you have to win, period.

31. New Orleans Saints (1-4, LW: 29)

The Sean Payton-Rob Ryan relationship has always seemed uncomfortable, but the good news is it won’t last much longer. Ryan is clearly hanging on by a string, and there are a ton of rumors that teams will make a run at Payton this offseason, too.

30. San Francisco 49ers (1-4, LW: 30)

The University of Michigan is 5-1 and one of the most improved teams in college football this season.

29. Detroit Lions (0-5, LW: 25)

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) walks on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski) Well, after they rolled over against the Cardinals, it’s impossible to give them any more benefit of the doubt. And yeah, we’re probably closer to having a new Lions coach who is totally going to be The One Who Fixes Matthew Stafford.

28. Houston Texans (1-4, LW: 27)

It’s kind of shocking how few legitimate blue-chip players the Texans have on the roster. How did it get so thin?

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3, LW: 28)

Doug Martin looks reborn after a second straight big game. And that makes Charles Sims (136 total yards on Sunday) one of the best No. 2 backs in the NFL.

26. Chicago Bears (2-3, LW: 31)

Give the Bears credit. Arrowhead Stadium isn’t an easy place to play. They could have folded the tent long ago but haven’t. I don’t see a playoff berth in their future or anything, but it’s a positive to see them playing better now.

25. Miami Dolphins (1-3, LW: 24)

The team changed up the layout of the locker room. The lockers were rearranged so position groups are sitting with each other now. Call me cyinical but I don’t think this stuff works on grown men.

24. Tennessee Titans (1-3, LW: 22)

Marcus Mariota had 47 yards rushing. The Titans’ three running backs had 49 combined. Keep in mind all this season how little help Mariota has on offense.

23. Kansas City Chiefs (1-4, LW: 15)

Without Jamaal Charles and his ability to hit some home runs in the running game, the Chiefs will have to finally open up the passing game or it’ll get ugly. Prediction: It’ll get ugly.

22. Baltimore Ravens (1-4, LW: 19)

This can’t really be debated: The Ravens were a very good team last season. This can’t be debated either: They’re right there with the Lions and 49ers for biggest drop-off from last season to this one.

21. Cleveland Browns (2-3, LW: 26)

There are six NFL quarterbacks averaging 300 yards per game this season. Josh McCown is one of them.

20. Oakland Raiders (2-3, LW: 21)

They trailed 9-7 in the fourth quarter, and were in Broncos territory when Derek Carr threw a pick-six. That’s not the desired result, but they weren’t winning the AFC West this season or anything. But this much is obvious: The Raiders are a ton more competitive than they were even a season ago. That’s the positive.

19. Washington Redskins (2-3, LW: 23)

(AP) Tough to be too hard on them. An overtime loss against an undefeated team, going forward, mostly should be a positive.

18. Philadelphia Eagles (2-3, LW: 20)

Giants at Eagles next Monday night is one of the more interesting matchups of the first half of the season. We’ll have a much better read what direction the Eagles’ season is headed after that.

17. San Diego Chargers (2-3, LW: 17)

Hard to explain how the defense let Michael Vick beat them down the field twice in the final eight minutes to snatch away a win.

16. Dallas Cowboys (2-3, LW: 14)

Yep, teams have cheated safeties in the box. I hear you. But if the offensive line is as great as everyone said it was all offseason, that unit should still be able to lift the offense with Tony Romo out.

15. St. Louis Rams (2-3, LW: 18)

The Rams could have easily won that game at Green Bay. Three missed field goals and a miserable quarterbacking performance led to a somewhat head-scratching loss. This is where you shrug, because it’s the Rams and those losses are the norm.

14. Indianapolis Colts (3-2, LW: 16)

Matt Hasselbeck, at 40 years old and barely able to play at Houston because he was so sick, perhaps turning around the Colts season last Thursday night in relief of Andrew Luck will be one of the NFL’s best stories all season.

13. Seattle Seahawks (2-3, LW: 7)

Even in a loss, it needs to be pointed out that Russell Wilson is as good as anyone who has ever played at avoiding the rush and extending plays until he can find someone downfield. It’s incredible how often he can do it.

12. New York Giants (3-2, LW: 13)

What a throw by Eli Manning, what a catch by Larry Donnell, but is anyone else worried that Odell Beckham just can’t seem to shake these hamstring issues?

11. Minnesota Vikings (2-2, LW: 11)

Next five opponents: Chiefs, Lions, Bears, Rams, Raiders. So don’t be too surprised if they get on a bit of a roll.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2, LW: 12)

(AP) Great win, fun win, and maybe in the fourth quarter Michael Vick finally started to put it together. But I’m pretty sure nobody in Pittsburgh feels too comfortable with the offense, until Ben Roethlisberger returns at least.

9. Buffalo Bills (3-2, LW: 9)

The Bills didn’t get a first down and Tyrod Taylor didn’t complete a pass until the second quarter at Tennessee. Buffalo had 51 first-half yards. Taylor saved the day with a few plays in the second half, but either the Bills just really missed playmakers like LeSean McCoy, Karlos Williams and Sammy Watkins, or there are some real reasons for concern.

8. Carolina Panthers (4-0, LW: 10)

This Sunday, Carolina at Seattle. great opportunity for the Panthers to prove that 4-0 start was no fluke.

7. New York Jets (3-1, LW: 8)

The Jets have to play Washington before a big game at New England. If they get past that look-ahead spot, it should be a fun Week 7 game in Foxboro.

6. Arizona Cardinals (4-1, LW: 6)

Chris Johnson had 103 yards. David Johnson scored two touchdowns. Andre Ellington returned with a 63-yard touchdown. A really good passing offense also has a lot of running back options now.

5. Atlanta Falcons (5-0, LW: 5)

Devonta Freeman had a 30-carry day in Week 3 and a 27-carry day in Week 5. He also has 17 catches the last three weeks. It’s hard to imagine he continues to thrive with that heavy of a workload, but he looks tremendous. His decisiveness is a perfect fit for offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s scheme.

4. Denver Broncos (5-0, LW: 4)

The Broncos had 21 passes and five runs in the first half on Sunday. That doesn’t seem like it’ll work long term. Peyton Manning is on pace for 605 attempts, and that’s a lot to ask of a 39-year-old quarterback who already is struggling to throw it. Either the Broncos have to get their run game going or it’s hard to imagine them being a Super Bowl team, great defense or not.

3. Cincinnati Bengals (5-0, LW: 3)

It’s kind of strange how Jeremy Hill has been marginalized. It’s not necessarily the wrong call; Hill has followed up a good rookie season by averaging 3 yards per carry. But it’s still odd that he’s so quickly their second option behind Gio Bernard now.

2. Green Bay Packers (5-0, LW: 2)

The Packers are 5-0 without Eddie Lacy doing much yet, and also Randall Cobb has had a couple quiet weeks in a row. Which means, theoretically, there’s room for growth here.

1. New England Patriots (4-0, LW: 1)

The Patriots signed running back Dion Lewis to a futures contract late last December. He was a free agent for three months before that. Nobody else wanted him. He is a big weapon in the Patriots’ offense now. Other teams have to ask themselves, why do the Patriots always seem to make those kind of moves and outsmart them?

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