Seahawks 58, Cardinals 0

I've been a Seahawks fan since 1983, and since then I've never missed a game. Over 29 seasons, I've seen Seattle win games in all manner of shocking ways. I saw us run four interceptions back for TDs in a 45-0 erasure of Kansas City in '84, and I witnessed a stunning 42-0 Monday Night domination of the Eagles on the road in 2005. Those massive steamrollings of the enemy paved the way for the two best seasons in franchise history. Both victories announced to the league: "Watch out. You might be next."

Today's 58-0 victory over the Arizona Cardinals was less like a football game, and more like that scene in Drive where Ryan Gosling's character doesn't just disarm a mob gun thug or even merely kill him. He stomps   on that fucker's head so many times that it ended up resembling a watermelon from Gallagher's act, and he's left splattered in the blood and brains of his murdered foe. THAT is what the Seahawks did to Arizona today. They have never dominated another team this completely before- in fact, this was among the four or five most lopsided victories in the 90-year history of pro football. This could have been a weird random blip, but it's more likely an ominous warning to the rest of the NFL- These Seahawks are young, talented and FUCKING NASTY. None of their goals for the 2012 season are out of reach, including reaching (or even winning) the Super Bowl.

The defense swallowed the Cardinals, chewed them up for three hours, and barfed up their hair and bones. Bobby Wagner and Richard Sherman had two interceptions apiece, and have strong cases for Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively. Walter Thurmond III was impressive in extended duty, and Chris Clemons, Bruce Irvin and Jeron Johnson all notched sacks of Cardinals QBs. Nitpickers can point out that Arizona sports one of the NFL's weakest offensive attacks, but any day you shut out an NFL team, hold them to 154 total yards, and force eight turnovers is a day you can feel pretty effing great about your defense.

On offense, Russell Wilson had another solid outing (one cut short by Seattle running out to a 45-0 lead early in the 3rd quarter)- it was only slightly marred by his first interception at home all season. Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin BOTH ran for over 100 yards, stirring up echoes of similar dominance by tandems like Curt Warner/John L. Williams and Shaun Alexander/Maurice Morris. If it wasn't for the otherworldly efforts of Adrian Peterson in Minnesota, Marshawn Lynch would clearly be the best running back in football this season. Anthony McCoy had the best day of his career in terms of receiving yardage, and Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin and Zach Miller reminded observers that Seattle has deep reserves of offensive playmakers.

Seattle scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams. This was a total team victory for Seattle, and an embarrassing mass surrender by the Arizona Cardinals. Once the Seahawks jumped out to a lead, it was clear the Cardinals just wanted to get out of the cold, the wet, and the noise. The team plane and a ride back to the warm desert beckoned to the Cardinals, and they couldn't wait to get the fuck out of Seahawks Stadium. They should be ashamed of themselves.

The Seahawks are at 8-5 with three games left to play. Every previous 8-5 Seattle squad made the playoffs (1987, 1999, 2003, 2006), and the odds are very high that the Hawks will at least snare a Wild Card spot. 10-6 SHOULD be good enough to secure a spot in the tournament, unless a parlay of unlikely events takes place. After a gritty road win at Chicago and today's annihilation of Arizona, it's time to think bigger. If the Seahawks win their final three games (and the Patriots defeat the Niners next Sunday), they won't just win the NFC West and lock down a home playoff game- They'd also have a great shot at the 2nd NFC seed and a 1st-round playoff bye. With the NFC lacking any obviously dominant teams, the Seahawks could be that team, like the 2010 Packers or 2011 Giants, who peaks at the perfect time and steals a Lombardi Trophy.

Today we saw something we've never seen before- Why can't we see a 3rd-round rookie QB hoisting a Super Bowl MVP trophy in February too?

What do you think, sirs?