Atlanta Falcons Wins in Seattle? Not so Fast! Matt Ryan: Meet Earl Thomas & Co.

Most of the pundits are picking the Atlanta over the Seattle Seahawks in their Week 4 matchup. I hope they are not betting on it. Most of the projections on this game are dependent on where these two teams were last year.

Last year, there was no comparison. In Pete Carroll's first year as head coach, the Seahawks were a mystery all year. They never found their identity, either on offense or defense. Every game was a hold-your-breath-and-let's-see-what-happens event.

After starting well, Seattle lost almost twice as many as they won to finish the season at 7 -9. Then they got chewed on for a week throughout the league and country—allegedly undeserving of a playoff spot with their losing record. The win against defending champion New Orleans silenced a few of the magpies, but the defeat in Chicago put Seattle back in its place: a mystery.

On the other hand, the Atlanta Falcons had the best record in the NFC. The darlings of the NFC South, they took the top spot from New Orleans and got the first-week bye in the playoffs. Until they ran into the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game, the Falcons were the favorites to get to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1999. They were expected to begin where they left off, especially with the addition of WR Julio Jones from Alabama in the NFL draft.

My point: Ignore the teams that played last year. As we have seen already in the 2011 season thus far, parity is the word in the current NFL. There has never been a time where all teams are capable of defeating any other team on any given Sunday. Here is what will happen when the Falcons visit Seattle.

The overlooked Seahawks defense will rise up and slap Atlanta around—hard. This defense is shaping up to be dominant. With all of the media attention on Seattle's struggling offense, the defense has been coming together week after week. If it hadn't been for major special teams breakdowns against the San Francisco 49ers, there is a good possibility this team would be 2-1. 

We are witnessing the rise of Earl Thomas and Co. This is the biggest difference between this Seahawks team and the teams they have fielded since the 2007 season. Pete Carroll and his staff have more defensive talent than they do on offense. Enough talent that they can afford to sit the No. 4 overall draft choice from the 2009 draft (though linebacker Aaron Curry has been a tremendous disappointment each season).

We are in the middle of witnessing how good Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider are at picking up talent—special talents as Pete puts it. This defense is a good example of how they are putting together a team that can be "competetive" even while it rebuilds its offense. The game against the Falcons will be the best example of that so far.

This season is unique for one reason: no offseason OTA's or mini-camps. I am convinced this team would have looked much different if they had time to get all of the new parts together before August.

The Seattle Seahawks are a much different team than they were last year. Almost every member of the starting lineup is a result of the work done by the front office in the last two years. There are few exceptions to that—Max Unger, Marcus Trufant, Leroy Hill, Brandon Mebane and Red Bryant. Those are the hold-over starters, and Bryant and Hill probably would not be in Seattle under the previous administration. Both are playing huge parts in the rebuilding and future resurgence of the Seahawks.

With 11 rookies making the 53-man roster, and six of them playing significant roles, it is understandable that there is a learning curve that needs time to get through.

Yes, I think Seattle has some major issues on offense, and getting by Atlanta will take persistence, skill, luck and at least two turnovers with good field position. The defense will have to keep this one close until the end.

Final score? Seattle, 17 Atlanta, 13