Jermaine Kearse really is the Jay Buhner of the Seahawks.
Jermaine Kearse really is the Jay Buhner of the Seahawks. Courtesy of Seattle Seahawks

Before this week, the Arizona Cardinals were probably the best team in football. Sure, they lost star defender Tyrann Mathieu a few weeks ago, but they beat the hell out of Green Bay without him last week. Aside from Mathieu's absence, the team had no question marks. They had a balanced attack with dominant offensive and defensive units. They had an MVP candidate in Carson Palmer. And they had stolen Seattle's NFC West crown.

So what happened this week? The Seahawks won their first regular-season football game of 2016, throttling the heretofore probable best football team in the league 36-6. It was a complete effort, with Russell Wilson playing lights-out football in front of a makeshift offensive line, the defense forcing three turnovers and limiting Arizona's explosive running game, and Tyler Lockett dominating Arizona's special teams. It was a rad way to end the regular season, and while the Seahawks are the lowest seed heading into the NFC playoffs, they are the best team in football right now.

Seriously. They're the best. They're not Super Bowl favorites, because they don't get a bye week, but by the numbers they're the best. 538 thinks so. So does Football Outsiders. So do I. The Seahawks are the best.

Let's hit some bullet points and get ready for the goddamn playoffs, okay?

• Richard Sherman got beat badly by Kenny Britt against St. Louis two Sundays ago, so it was nice to see him shut down his side of the field against Carson Palmer and the vaunted Cardinals passing attack. It was also nice to see him get in trouble for taunting the Cardinals. Am I staking out a pro-gloating stance? Sure, why not? A swaggering Richard Sherman is a winning Richard Sherman.

• This throw from Russ to Jermaine Kearse is one of the best things I've ever seen in any medium. It's incredible. I don't understand how it's possible. It's Rembrandt. Like, I understand that it's possible. But its perfection makes it seem so unlikely. Russell Wilson is incredible. Jermaine Kearse is the weirdest legend in Seattle sports since Jay Buhner.

Can't-Miss Play: Russell Wilson Lifts to Jermaine Kearse

• Let's do some "Russell Wilson was incredible" stats. Russ broke the Seahawks season record for both passing yards and touchdowns this year. He also led the league in passer rating, with the 14th highest mark in NFL history. We (and by "we" I mean Paul Allen) got a bargain when we (and by "we" I mean he under the advisement of John Schneider) re-signed Russ this offseason. An eight-figure bargain. Congrats, Paul! You did it!

• Tyler Lockett's punt returns were stupid on Sunday. I mean, yeah, the blocking was good, but his angles and lanes, his patience and timing—it was outrageous. And it was consistent. Over and over again he gashed the Cardinals. While the Seahawks beat the Cardinals in every way this week, that won't happen every time the two teams match up. The Cardinals are too good on offense and defense. That said, special teams represent a huge edge for the Seahawks in a potential NFC Championship matchup.

• Guys, the more I think about it, the more I think Jermaine Kearse really is the Jay Buhner of the Seahawks. I don't know exactly what this means, but I believe it to be true. Kearse is not the best member of this Seahawks offense. Hell, on a bad day he might be the worst member of the Seahawks offense. But he might also be the most Seahawks member of this Seahawks offense. And when he catches the ball (which he doesn't do all the time), it's a homer. Like Jay Buhner hitting baseballs. Right? Maybe? Is anyone with me on this?

• While we're full blown off the rails, local author Maria Semple joined Twitter on Sunday, so I'm going to take this (incredibly contrived) opportunity to say that season 2 of Arrested Development is the 2013 Seattle Seahawks of comedy. Just unstoppable depth and efficiency. Also, I watch them both in their entirety whenever I feel low. It's weird. Whatever. Sometimes it's nice to bask in genius created through great preparation and teamwork. My imagined versions of Pete Carroll and Arrested Development showrunner Mitch Hurwitz have much in common.

Oh, I guess I should have mentioned that Maria Semple wrote on Arrested Development before writing Where'd You Go, Bernadette. That's what made me think of this analogy. Also, her husband is George Meyer, whom I would argue is the greatest comedy writer of a generation. I mean, the guy ran the rewrite room on The Simpsons for like 15 years. They both live in Seattle now. Are they Seahawks fans? I have no idea.

Also, George may have written to The Stranger years ago to compare Dominic Holden's invocation of race with his own use of hot sauce. If that was George (and I believe it was), I don't think that was the best example of his writing. The best example would probably be the moment where Kirk Van Houten gets his hand cut off when he's complaining about a sandwich around after Snake tries to slice off Homer's head with piano wire. Or maybe "Bart vs. Thanksgiving." I don't know. We're somehow even further off track here. I'm just saying if I were to have a hero above Jermaine Kearse (AND THAT'S A BIG IF), it would be George Meyer.

Let's get back to football: Playoffs begin on Sunday. Seahawks get a Minnesota team they beat 706-4 (citation needed) mere weeks ago. While that result is a harbinger of good things, I wouldn't assume a second blowout. The Minnesota defense was in disarray when they faced the Seahawks, but a number of their key starters will be back. Also, the game is early, which didn't stop the Seahawks from dominating last time, but could be a factor this time because... I don't know, historically the Seahawks are less good early in the morning. Pete Carroll and John Schneider, being the geniuses that they are, have prepped the team for road games by adjusting the team's travel schedule this week. Hopefully that will mitigate any scheduling damage the Seahawks did to themselves by failing to secure a home game this postseason.

This matchup reminds me of the 2013 matchup against a Saints team the Seahawks had bludgeoned weeks earlier. Except, without Drew Brees at quarterback. And with sub-freezing temperatures. My projected score? 23 to -12. The only things the Vikings do well on offense is run the ball, and the Seahawks led the league this year in rushing defense. They led the league in defense, period. Guys, this is a Super Bowl-caliber Seahawks team.