Seahawks unanimous choice in AP Pro32 power rankings
The Seattle Seahawks didn’t need a “Fail Mary” to beat the Green Bay Packers in Week 1.
They sure didn’t do anything to lose their spot atop the AP Pro32 rankings.
The Seahawks ran roughshod over the Packers in a 36-16 rout Thursday night to open the season, showcasing the same dominant defense that led them to the Super Bowl a year ago while also opening up an offense that could leave a lot of teams wondering what hit them.
The beat-down persuaded everybody in the 12-member media panel that regularly covers the league to put Seattle on top. Denver had received one first-place vote in the preseason poll.
“No complacency for the defending champs, who pick up right where they left off with a dominating performance on both sides of the ball,” said Bob Glauber of Newsday.
The Seahawks held Aaron Rodgers to just 189 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while Seattle QB Russell Wilson threw for two scores without a pick. The Hawks finished with nearly 400 yards of offense, putting the game away with 19 straight points spanning halftime.
“You’ve been warned,” said Ira Kauffman of The Tampa Tribune. “The Seahawks are prying open their offensive playbook.”
The Broncos were the clear-cut second choice, garnering all but one second-place vote. The San Francisco 49ers were third, followed by the Cincinnati Bengals — a big mover after their win at Baltimore — and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Denver raced out to a 24-7 halftime lead against Indianapolis on Sunday, and then had to hold on for a 31-24 win after a frantic Colts comeback.
The 49ers rolled to a 28-17 victory in Dallas.