All set to see this new show

The last time I ventured west to watch the Seattle Seahawks in person, they went on to win the Super Bowl in February.

Not saying that it’s going to happen again, but maybe one of the teams involved in whatever you want to call Sunday’s showdown at CenturyLink Field will be making a deep run this year.

A LOT of things have changed for the Seahawks since that September afternoon in 2013, when they rolled past the Jacksonville Jaguars on the way to homefield advantage in the NFC and the team’s second Super Bowl in franchise history.

Russell Wilson was just in his second year, still a little bit of a game manager early in his career. Amazing what a few years, and a few subtractions along the offensive line can do for a team.

Nowadays, if Wilson doesn’t do something amazing, whether that be turning a loss into a big gain, or just flinging the ball into the air and hoping someone catches it, Seattle is often on the short end of the scoreboard.

Marshawn Lynch — the team’s starting tailback on that day — has since retired, un-retired and now is in his second year with Oakland.

A few other guys have also left on the offense, with Sidney Rice now retired and playing more in The Showcase at The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course, Golden Tate catching passes in Detroit and Jermaine Kearse, the hero of another big playoff game that year, now with the New York Jets.

Defensively, only a few names remain from that afternoon as Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright and Earl Thomas, now out of the season, are the lone starters still with the team.

FOR ALL the hype around the Seahawks five years ago, Sunday’s opponent — the Los Angeles Rams — have it now.

Los Angeles is the better team all over the field, from an all-star defense to an offense that can score from wherever.

Seattle, for whatever reason, is the team in transition, especially with Thomas going out for the season with a broken leg last Sunday.

Wright won’t play either as he still hasn’t recovered from offseason knee surgery.

It was a fun run for the Seahawks, but their time as the bullies of the NFC West is up.

Sure, Seattle can still win some games here and there, but its defense isn’t scaring anybody right now.

The idea of Aaron Donald and company chasing Wilson around the backfield — see Khalil Mack’s first half for Chicago on Sept. 17 — is enough to give fans nightmares.

OVER THE years, I’ve seen games at Husky Stadium, CenturyLink, and that one at Forld Field in Detroit that needs no explanation.

Each time, it has been my belief that the Seahawks were going to find a way to win on that day.

This time, it’s not quite those “Greatest Show on Turf” squads of the Rams previously.

But a show it will be indeed.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at (208) 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.