Having once again led the team to a Super Bowl berth, the Seattle Seahawks' defense now looks ready to take its place among the great defenses in NFL history.
This group finished in the top five in the league in a wide variety of categories, including opposing Total QBR, yards per game, yards per play, rushing yards per game, yards per rush, passing yards per game, net yards per pass attempt, first downs per game, time of possession and points allowed per game.
The league-leading points allowed total may be the most important. Since the 1970 merger, Super Bowl teams that had the best scoring defense have a 13-3 record in the Super Bowl and have won seven of the past eight.
These numbers suggest that the Seahawks' defense is impermeable, but this group actually has some significant issues in stopping teams that attack them with a strong rushing attack and high-percentage short passes -- issues that could have them on the losing side in Super Bowl XLIX.