RENTON, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks go into this postseason with flaws that are different from those in years past.
In 2015, they had won six of seven going into the playoffs, the defense was healthy, and quarterback Russell Wilson was playing the best football of his career.
This time around, the Seahawks went 3-3 in their last six regular-season games. Vegas has them at 12-1 to win the Super Bowl and 5-1 to come out of the NFC. Both are the worst odds Seattle has had all season.
But is it possible that the Seahawks could surprise and go on a run? Here are three things that have to happen for coach Pete Carroll's squad to make some noise in the playoffs:
1. Russell Wilson has to catch fire.
This probably seems obvious, but Wilson needs to go on a run like he had in the second half of last season, when he threw 24 touchdown passes and one interception in the final seven games.
Wilson was accurate and brilliant from the pocket during that stretch. And that's what the Seahawks need now to move the ball consistently on offense. The protection is going to be shaky, and the bootlegs and play-action passes have been difficult to execute because Wilson still is dealing with a left knee injury.
He is going to have to get rid of the ball quickly, target Doug Baldwin and Jimmy Graham often and capitalize on big-play opportunities when they present themselves.
During the regular season, the Seahawks called pass plays 64.5 percent of the time, seventh most in the NFL. In the past, Seattle had the talent to win even when the passing game wasn't clicking. This year, it has to be Wilson compensating for deficiencies elsewhere.
2. The pass rush has to be dominant.
When safety Earl Thomas was on the field this season, the Seahawks had the fifth-ranked passing defense in the NFL, per Football Outsiders' DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) metric. Without him, from Weeks 12 to 17, they were 30th.
The Seahawks' secondary is not the same, so putting pressure on the quarterback is more important than ever.
Cliff Avril and Frank Clark combined for 21.5 sacks during the regular season, and Michael Bennett has looked like his usual self in recent weeks.
During the regular season, the Seahawks ranked 20th in blitz frequency, sending five rushers or more 25.5 percent of the time. For the most part -- especially since Thomas is out -- they are going to rely on their front four to get pressure. Avril, Clark and Bennett will have to be consistently disruptive for the Seahawks to be effective against the NFC's top offenses.
3. Special teams can't let them down.
This is under the radar but definitely a concern.
The Seahawks missed six extra points during the regular season -- tied for second most in the NFL. They go into the postseason with a new long-snapper in Tyler Ott after Nolan Frese suffered an ankle injury last week. And they just brought in Devin Hester this week to be their returner.
The Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons had excellent special-teams units during the regular season. The Seahawks need to make sure they're buttoned up here and don't cost themselves a game with a special-teams miscue.
