The Seahawks entered Sunday night’s game against the New England Patriots in an unaccustomed position — as heavy underdogs as they’d been in more than four calendar years —- and ended it in a familiar one as winners of a knock-down, drag-out battle that again established themselves as Super Bowl favorites.
They didn’t necessarily think anything changed during the three hours and 12 minutes (a fitting number, no?) the game lasted.
But if there had been some doubt creeping in about their place in the NFL hierarchy they were glad to prove every wrong.
“We played about the best team you can put out there,’’ said Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.