Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: Post-preseason 32-team breakdown before Week 1

By Peter Panacy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 24: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 24: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 14: Seattle Seahawks Head Coach, Pete Carroll speaks to Russell Wilson of Seattle Seahawks during the NFL International series match between Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders at Wembley Stadium on October 14, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 14: Seattle Seahawks Head Coach, Pete Carroll speaks to Russell Wilson of Seattle Seahawks during the NFL International series match between Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders at Wembley Stadium on October 14, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) /

Previous: . Seattle Seahawks. 11. team. 36. .

Yes, the Seattle Seahawks rise a little bit in NFL power rankings despite the news rookie wide receiver D.K. Metcalf had minor knee surgery and will be out a short while into the regular season.

Why isn’t this a major concern? Well, the Seahawks are fully expected to return to what made them so successful last season: a run-first, defensively stout unit not unlike what propelled them to a not-long-ago Super Bowl win over the Broncos.

Sure, it’s an entirely different cast, sans quarterback Russell Wilson. But head coach Pete Carroll’s squad is already emulating that kind of success this preseason.

That could be scary for the rest of the NFC. So is the acquisition of Jadeveon Clowney.

Seattle’s rookie class, including Metcalf, has dealt with injuries for most of the preseason, which isn’t good.

But the Seahawks always manage to find a way to hang around, sometimes starting slowly in the regular season before finishing strong year after year.

Expect similar outcomes in 2019, especially if Metcalf comes back and winds up being a bona fide weapon for Wilson and Co.