As the Seahawks take a week off to rest, self-evaluate and prepare for the final 10 games, they are in great position – both for this season and beyond.

At 5-2, they are one of seven NFC teams with a winning percentage over .700 – and right where we thought they would be, positioned for a second-half run into the playoffs.

By DVOA, they actually are rated the best team in the league – thanks to the top-ranked special teams and the No. 2 defense. Their net point differential (plus-57) is fifth.

The Hawks are blowing away Vegas projections, which had the Hawks finishing with seven or eight wins (a 7.5 over/under). We had predicted at least 11 wins. Well, this team is on a pace for 12. Looking at the rest of the schedule, the Hawks look capable of a 7-3 finish – thus a 12-5 record for the season.

This is clearly a playoff team. The bigger question: What happens once the playoffs arrive? Do the Hawks have what it takes to go all the way?

Let’s look at what they have and what they might need to make a Super Bowl run this year and beyond.

Offense

What they have: The offense has gotten off to the fast start Mike Macdonald and Klint Kubiak were hoping for when they signed Sam Darnold to replace the traded Geno Smith. The big surprise is that Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba have been the best passing duo in the NFL, an incredible achievement in just seven months together. Led by those two, the offense is fifth in scoring.

Darnold has been one of the best passers in the league, by any measure. He leads the NFL at 9.1 yards per attempt.

JSN’s numbers have been off the charts. He is averaging 117 yards per game – a pace for an NFL record 1,989 yards.

Macdonald said, “It’s a testament to Jax to be able to move around (the formation). … And our coaches too for making that seem simple and seamless. … You’ve got to keep the target moving and you’ve got to try to stay ahead of the curve. So far our guys have done that.”

What they need: Will the Hawks be able to create some balance in their offense over the final 10 games? Their running game ranks bottom six in yards per rush, and they need to be better than that if they want to advance far in the playoffs.

The only hope really is that Robbie Ouzts (and perhaps Christian Haynes) might help create some consistency. Anthony Bradford has been a mess at right guard, looking lost on several plays every game. If the blocking does not improve, it will be up to Kubiak and run game coordinator Rick Dennison to pull some scheme magic out of their hats.

“I thought we took strides (vs. Houston),” Macdonald said on his radio show after the Monday night win over the Texans. “There’s an opportunity there for more explosive yards, and I think it’s just going to come with more detail. I think we’re figuring out what we do well, which is a positive. And coaches are working well together. We’re not there yet, but it’s positive — I think we’re going in the right direction.”

The previous week, the coach said, “I told the team today that it’s just a function of details, reps and just getting better at what we’re doing. … We’re a block away here and a block away there, which sounds like an excuse. … We’ve got to get those things right, but in order to make it happen, you’ve got to attack the details and stay steadfast in it. The more reps we’re going to get, the better we’re going to get at it. And then it does force teams to put people on the line of scrimmage. When they do that, it opens up passing lanes. That’s how we’ve been operating, and we expect our run game to get better. Our pass game right now is operating at a high level, and we want to keep that rolling as best we can as well.”

Defense

What they have: This defense has been every bit as stellar as expected, despite playing most of the season without Devon Witherspoon and Julian Love and having to make a lot of adjustments in personnel on the back end.

Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II and Jarran Reed have anchored the defense up front, and DeMarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu and Ernest Jones IV have been stellar behind and alongside them. Nick Emmanwori and Drake Thomas have stepped up immensely over the last couple of games, each earning full-time starting positions in this defense.

These guys are the best defense against the run, sixth in scoring, second in DVOA, seventh in EPA. They should get even better as Witherspoon, Love and Derick Hall return after the bye.

What they need: How about staying healthy for a minute?

With the emergence of Emmanwori at nickel, Macdonald and Aden Durde need to figure out how they are going to fit Witherspoon back in. He clearly will replace either Josh Jobe or Riq Woolen in starter sets.

The Hawks also could use a fumble recovery or two – they are the only team in the league without one.

“We’re a good team,” Jones said. “We’re a really good team. There’s still little things that we can do better, but that will be always, no matter how good we play. I’m always going to be chasing that extra edge, chasing that extra play. But I think at the bye week, we’ve set ourselves up nice. We’ve got to come back — and now let’s get rolling for real.”

Special teams

What they have: The Seahawks have the No. 1 DVOA rating because they rank third in kick return average (28.4), fourth in punt return average (14.9) and ninth in gross punting (49.1). They also have scored two touchdowns, on Tory Horton’s team-record 95-yard punt return against New Orleans and George Holani’s recovery of a kickoff in the end zone against Pittsburgh.

What they need: Jason Myers has missed four field goals, which is a lot in an era of “juiced” kicking balls and tons of 60-yard field goals around the league. He needs to be a little more consistent

Trade talk

What other changes might be coming to the roster? With the trade deadline looming (Nov. 4), John Schneider is expected to make a move of some kind.

With the secondary coming back to full health and Woolen playing well the past couple of games, perhaps that long-expected trade happens. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, several teams have Woolen “earmarked as a strong trade candidate.”

“They’ve been wanting to move him for a while,” a team executive said. “He doesn’t fit what (Macdonald) wants to do.”

This is what we have said since last season. A deal could make sense now that the Hawks are getting their full secondary back healthy. Witherspoon, Jobe, Shaq Griffin and Derion Kendrick are a good quartet — especially with Emmanwori handling the inside coverage.

The other player the Hawks could move is Boye Mafe. The 2022 second-rounder has been perhaps the most disappointing player on a defense full of playmakers. Maybe he would stand out more for a lesser defense.

The Hawks should offer Woolen or Mafe to New England for Keion White, a great talent the Patriots are wasting. He would be an incredible depth addition to Seattle’s defensive line. Mafe probably would fit the Patriots better.

If White or a similarly talented player is not on the table, the worst the Hawks should consider taking for Woolen or Mafe is a fourth-rounder. That is basically the equivalent of the best comp pick the team might get in 2027 after either signs elsewhere in 2026 (a 2026 fourth equals a 2027 third).

It is not likely, but it would not be a shock either if the Hawks traded Kenneth Walker III. Like Woolen and Mafe, he will be a free agent after this season – and the Hawks do not seem likely to re-sign him (unless he has a cheap market). There are some real RB-needy teams out there – the Chargers, Chiefs, Texans, Commanders, Cardinals – who might be interested.

If Schneider could get a third-round pick for Walker, that would be worth considering.

The Hawks could then make Zach Charbonnet the every-down back, with George Holani as relief, and they could promote Myles Gaskin from the practice squad as needed.

A snapshot of 2026

Even with Woolen, Walker and Mafe likely leaving in 2026 (if not via trade now), this roster is very much set up for a Super Bowl run for at least the next two years.

The two key guys Schneider likely will try to keep for Macdonald are Coby Bryant and Jobe – both on the team’s terms. Then Schneider should (and probably will) extend Charles Cross and JSN.

Witherspoon also is a likely extension, but his market value is not determined yet and might not be until after the 2026 season. JSN and Spoon both could play 2026 before getting new deals in 2027, when their fifth-year options otherwise would kick in (after being exercised next May).

In the 2026 draft, the Hawks should be looking to upgrade the offensive line and then probably prioritize corner and receiver. Edge rusher and running back would be secondary needs if Walker and Mafe leave.

Assuming Schneider makes the above moves, the Super Bowl window will extend beyond 2026.

Bottom line: The Seahawks are in a really good position now and for the future.