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The expectations are sky high in Seattle for a Seahawks team that took the NFL by storm last year.

They aren’t sneaking up on anyone this season. In 2013, everyone expects the team to do incredibly well.

But how well?

Let’s just say they could realistically win the Super Bowl.

Of course, this is just a pre-season statement and nothing is set in stone. However, there are only a handful teams in the National Football League that could believably take home the Lombardi Trophy in February.

The Seahawks are a surprise, but should definitely be included in that list. In 2012, with a rookie quarterback leading the way, Seattle finished 11-5 in the regular season and made it to the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The Seahawks lost then to an incredibly determined Atlanta Falcons team on the road.

That rookie quarterback is back and is a year stronger, wiser and smarter. Russell Wilson threw for 3,118 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2012 with an outstanding 100.0 quarterback rating. He also added to the dynamic Seattle offense as the Wisconsin product plowed for 489 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. He is ready to be a leader in his sophomore season and is unlikely to hit the dreaded sophomore slump because of the talent he is surrounded by.

That talent includes dynamic running back Marshawn Lynch. Besides loving Skittles and causing earthquakes, Lynch is a pretty decent football player. In fact, he ran for 1,590 yards in 2012, good for third in the NFL, and added in 11 touchdowns. Lynch is a do-it-all back and can help ease some of the pressure off of the young signal caller.

He will also put fans in the seats, as if Seattle needed any help with that. The famed “12th man” will be alive and louder than ever in 2013. Amazing things have happened in the Emerald City, and that is because of the best fans in the league. The home crowd even caused the aforementioned earthquake once because they were so loud. Unsurprisingly, the Seahawks were undefeated at home in 2012. Look for that to continue this year when San Francisco, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, Minnesota, New Orleans, Arizona and Saint Louis all come to town.

However, in order to win some tough road games, the Seahawks will have to boast an awesome defense.

Luckily, Seattle is blessed on that side of the ball with rookie Bobby Wagner playing way beyond his years. Wagner should also follow up a tremendous 2012 campaign with an even greater sophomore season.

The Seahawks defense only allowed a league-leading 15.3 points per game in 2012. But don’t think that stat is influenced by one or two good games, as Richard Sherman and company gave up just 245 total points the whole of last season, again topping the NFL.

The secondary that Sherman leads will once again be the upper echelon in the league. The outspoken cornerback will be joined by cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Antoine Winfield as well as safety Earl Thomas. Together they will create a brilliant secondary in Seattle

Last season, the secondary, and the entire defense, was on display as the Seahawks ranked 10th in the NFL when it came to stopping the run and sixth at defending the pass.

We know the Seahawks were good in 2012 and will continue to have success in 2013.

But, what has the front office done in the offseason to get better?

The biggest move was signing explosive wide receiver Percy Harvin, acquired in a trade from the Minnesota Vikings. Harvin is now apparently sidelined with a partially torn labrum. If surgery is required then the superstar may miss all of 2013. However, the Seahawks are hopeful that surgery won’t be necessary, pending another MRI. When more details emerge a clearer picture will be formed. Nonetheless, if the team has to go on without Harvin then Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin, Golden Tate and Zach Miller will be charged with picking up the slack.

Harvin wasn’t the only big offseason acquisition for the Seahawks, though. The team was able to get Detroit Lions defensive end Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, two great additions, and then signed free agent cornerback Antoine Winfield. These three players will successfully make the Seahawks better at weaker positions. After drafting well in April, the rich have gotten richer.

Will it be easy?

Probably not.

Is it likely?

That’s why there are 16 games to be played.

But, are the Seattle Seahawks realistic contenders for a Super Bowl win in 2013?

Of course.