We’re all in agreement that it’s extremely unlikely that the Seahawks will make the Super Bowl, right?

Seahawks face tough task with Eagles’ run defense

“Shut up, PAWL.”

“ANY TEAM CAN WIN ON ANY SUNDAY IN OUR LEAGUE, PAWL.”

“Yeah Pawl, tHaT’s WhY tHeY PlAy ThE gAmEs.”

That’s cool, Hawksplainers. But when you add up:

• Needing to win three road games to make the Super Bowl

• Russell Wilson being the most sacked QB in the NFL (a three-way tie with Matt Ryan and Kyler Murray at 48)

• Season-ending injuries to running backs Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny

• A season-ending injury to Will Dissly, their best tight end

• Left tackle Duane Brown having knee surgery

• A defense that has been carved up by Andy Dalton and Matt Schaub

• … not to mention just about every single jet sweep

• … that also has second-fewest sacks in the NFL (a three-way tie with the Lions and Falcons at 28)

• … and linebackers who have struggled in coverage

• … while two of its best defensive players (Jadeveon Clowney and Quandre Diggs) are trying to play through injury

• … and another of them (Mychal Kendricks) is done for the year

… it’s hard to imagine them making it to Miami, let alone bringing home a second Lombardi trophy.

But seeing as it’s 2020, this skeptic decided to chug some sunshine and MacGyver (verb; solving problems with limited resources) a way for the Seahawks to get to the ‘ship.

(Play this music for dramatic effect as you read the rest of this piece)

Russell Wilson’s MVP-caliber efforts have dragged this banged-up, defensively-challenged squad into the playoffs. Based off his elite regular season, it stands to reason that he’d have to do the same to get Seattle to the Super Bowl. Right?

Maybe not. Maybe a standout player at a position you wouldn’t expect could be the difference. Because a very specific type of player – one that the Seahawks have – has done this before. Let me tell you the story of “The Hitman.”

The Hitman played for a team powered by one of the best QBs in the game and the NFL’s No. 1 ranked offense per DVOA (the 2019 Hawks were fifth). Unfortunately, that team had the league’s 27th-ranked defense (the ’19 Hawks were a bit better, ranking 17th) despite some recognizable talent. This team won its division but was unable to secure a bye week.

Sound familiar?

That wretched regular season defense wasn’t The Hitman’s fault. Due to a knee injury, he only played four games the whole regular season: Week 1, Week 2, Week 9 and Week 13. But in the playoffs, he changed it completely. Over the course of his team’s trek to a title, Ol’ Hitman racked up 22 tackles, a tackle for a loss, a forced fumble, two interceptions and passes defensed. His play transformed the defense around him, as it held three of the four teams they played to 17 points or fewer.

Even more impressive? The Hitman helped his team overcome four games of sub-standard play by an all-time great QB.

• Wild card round: Three interceptions at home

• Divisional round: 50% completion percentage, throwing for less than 200 yards, no touchdowns and two INTs

• Conference Championship: Sub-60% passing with a pick-six

• Super Bowl: A very average “MVP” game – 25 for 38 passing, 247 yards, a TD and an INT

I’m talking about Colts safety Bob Sanders and the 2006 Indianapolis Colts. Sanders, a 5-foot-8, 206-pound play-maker that could both cover and destroy receivers, was the reason that Peyton Manning was finally able to win a Super Bowl. He was the catalyst for a defense featuring Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis and Gary Brackett. And after leading Indy to its first and only championship, The Hitman would go on to win NFL Defensive Player of The Year the following season.

The Seahawks have a guy just like that – a defensive difference-maker that missed the last few games of the regular season. An undersized play-maker who can lay out tight ends and steal the ball from the opposition.

His name is Quandre Diggs.

Diggs missed the last two games of the season with a high-ankle sprain. His status isn’t certain for Sunday’s wild card matchup with the Eagles, though Seattle is optimistic that he’ll be able to play. If he is back, who knows how effective he’ll be, let alone if he’ll be able to replicate what Sanders did 13 years ago.

But if you’re looking for a way for the Seahawks to soar to the Super Bowl, Quandre Diggs will need to be that Sanders-esque defensive difference-maker. It’s a tall order, but it’s not impossible. After all, we’ve seen it happen before.

Follow 710 ESPN Seattle’s Paul Gallant on Twitter.

Who is more critical to Seahawks’ playoff success: Diggs or Lockett?