When the Seahawks walk onto the field these days, there’s a whisper rather than a roar, and maybe that’s exactly how they want it. In a league built on hype, they’re threading the quiet path to respectability, and so far, it’s working.

Through the early part of the season, Seattle’s 3-1 record has flown beneath many radars. Pundits have plenty of loud storylines to chase, like quarterback battles, flashy rookies, and powerhouse offenses, but Seattle, with its steadier rise, has mostly stayed in the background.

That underestimation may end up being the Seahawks’ secret weapon.

A stronger start than 2024

At first blush, this season’s beginning looks sturdier than Seattle’s 2024. Actually, an article from The Seattle Times argues exactly that. You can read it here. The difference lies less in flash and more in foundation, a more consistent defense, fewer breakdowns, and more depth across both sides of the ball.

Seattle’s defense, in particular, has stood out. In their recent win over Arizona, for instance, the Cardinals ended with a modest 253 total yards. Seattle remains the only team in 2025 not to allow a rushing touchdown thus far, according to Field Gulls. That kind of defensive resilience, game after game, is the kind of bedrock that wins seasons, if not always headlines.

Yes, the Seahawks have had moments of sloppiness. Against Arizona they nearly gave the game away, giving up a rally that tied the game 20-20 late. But they responded. Quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba engineered a clutch drive, and kicker Jason Myers delivered a walk-off field goal. That’s the kind of finish that silences critics, for a night, according to Field Gulls.

The offensive line, though, remains a work in progress. Sacks and protection issues surfaced in that same game, Field Gulls adds. But when your quarterback is making smart throws and your defense is bending without breaking, the ceiling is higher than most realize.

Sam Darnold: changing hearts, changing minds

One of the biggest reasons Seattle has been under the radar: skeptics had already counted them out once they signed Sam Darnold. There were questions. Could he succeed outside his earlier comfort zone? Could he overcome pressure and subpar protection? Could he be anything more than ‘good enough’?

So far, the answer has been quietly emphatic: yes. As Sports Illustrated put it, Darnold is starting to change the tone among NFL critics, according to SI.com. His accuracy is rarely off, his decision-making mixes aggression and caution, and crucially, he delivers in pressure moments, SI.com adds.

Because Darnold isn’t doing anything flashy just for show. He’s not throwing deep bombs every play. He’s doing what matters: preserving drives, making big plays when needed, staying poised. And that kind of steady competence doesn’t usually get the media frenzy of a blazing start, but it may prove more durable.

One of the Seahawks’ quiet strengths this year is their roster depth. In the Cardinals game, Seattle leaned on players beyond the usual suspects. Tight ends AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo stepped up in a night when JSN was quiet early, Field Gulls notes. Veteran defenders got into the action: Uchenna Nwosu tallied sacks, Leonard Williams dominated inside. And running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet combined for 100-plus yards, even though it felt like they were making their own yards sometimes.

These aren’t just bench-fillers or role players. They’re difference-makers. And for a team flying under the radar, having game-breakers emerge from unexpected places is vital. It makes the Seahawks harder to scout, harder to game plan against.

Why ‘under-the-radar’ may be Seattle’s featured role

Think of the Seahawks this year as the stealth flyer. They’ve got respect, but not fanfare. Every week, they quietly pick off games. Nobody predicts blowouts, but nobody predicts collapse either. And that makes them tough.

When big-name teams make mistakes, pundits pounce. When Seattle edges through, they often get muted praise. But that pattern could be dangerous for opponents. You dismiss them until it’s too late.

Because here’s the thing: hype fades. Underestimation lasts until results speak. And if Seattle keeps winning in tight spots, the narrative will shift not when they start loudly demanding attention, but when every loss by another contender is quietly measured against them.

What’s especially fun is imagining how the rest of the league reacts when they fully realize what’s building in Seattle. Will other teams be surprised? Will analysts scramble for explanations? Will Seattle welcome that noise? Maybe. Or maybe they’ll still prefer the quiet.

Whatever the case, for now, the Seahawks are the underdog nobody’s fully talking about, and maybe the underdog nobody sees coming.