THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Can the Seahawks win the Super Bowl? Yes, but ...

Readers often send along very simple questions.

They’re asking for a “yes or no” response — when unfortunately, the answer is something more like…

Ah, possibly, but such-and-such would need to happen, and there are so many variables.

Plus, we’re in the middle of a pandemic that already has ravaged sports and isn’t slowing down.

I really want to provide straight and honest answers, I do, but just picking one out of the sky would be a simple guess — and you can get that from the guy serving up Big Gulps at your local convenience store.

The classic question right now (and I’m building up a pile of these) would be…

Can the Seahawks win the Super Bowl?

So…

I never want to be a wise guy and just say, “Sure!” to every question that pops up in my email file.

If nothing else, you owe it to the folks who read your opinions to be honest, and explain the options as best you can — from the knowledge and savvy you’ve acquired.

AT THIS point, to all of you who have written to ask about the Seahawks, I would say there are two answers.

And I don’t mean just yes or no.

Frankly, I think they have as good a shot as anyone to win the NFC.

I really do.

For now, we’ll have to leave COVID-19 issues out of this discussion, because we simply we don’t know which teams will be affected, and in what ways.

We CAN say that Seattle seems to be handling the virus correctly — as best you can — so more of the same will help the cause.

But, yeah, I can see the Seahawks winning the NFC.

There isn’t a truly scary team headed for the playoff field (although we need to see the Hawks’ rematch with the Rams).

The Seahawks can score with anybody, especially now that most of the offensive line is healthy — most importantly the return of Ethan Pocic at center (which allows outstanding rookie Damien Lewis to move back to right guard).

The more protection Russell Wilson can get, and the more Seattle can run the ball when it chooses, the closer this team gets to being nearly unstoppable on offense.

Now that Chris Carson is almost back to full health (complementing Carlos Hyde), the run game really makes it easier to “Let Russ Cook.”

The passing game will continue to be terrific, as DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are almost perfectly matched receivers.

Down to it, then…

I can’t picture an NFC team slowing down a healthy Seahawks offense — again, unless it’s the Rams.

Kansas City won everything a year ago with an unstoppable offense and a defense that created just enough crucial stops to make games all about Patrick Mahomes.

Enough said.

SO, WHAT about Seattle’s defense, then?

It was historically bad for weeks.

No pass rush, no coverage on the back end.

Buffalo QB Josh Allen completed throws as if he were playing in a skeleton 7-on-7 drill.

Hopefully, things have changed.

The trade for rush end Carlos Dunlap was an inspired piece of business, another of GM John Schneider’s midseason miracles.

If you don’t believe me, ask Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, who never released that critical fourth-down, game-deciding pass because Dunlap flung him to the ground.

The other thing to remember is that the Seahawks secondary has not played together, intact, since the opener at Atlanta.

Well, Jamal Adams is back, ditto Ugo Amadi at nickel.

Shaquill Griffin is close — maybe he’ll play tonight at Philadelphia — and his Pro Bowl form is really needed at left corner.

Tre Flowers has done a surprisingly good job in relief of Quinton Dunbar on the other side, so Seattle may be ready to play some serious D.

CAN THIS team win the NFC, seriously?

Absolutely.

Again, let’s wait on judging the Rams, who dominated Seattle just about everywhere — although that was a wounded Seahawks team that couldn’t run the ball.

It would be very, very useful to snag the conference’s lone playoff bye, which would pretty much require the Seahawks to win out — and have someone take down New Orleans and makeshift quarterback Taysom Hill.

Here’s the first job: Don’t blow a game against the hideous NFC East or the woeful Jets.

I have a little worry about the bout in Philly tonight, which is the start of the four-game stretch that includes the Giants, Jets, and the Washington Football Team.

They’re all just awful, so…

No slip-ups permitted.

After that, it’s the Rams and 49ers — and with a little luck, maybe a shot at finishing 13-3.

That would produce the No. 1 seed if the Saints lose anywhere along the way, and I suspect they will.

Now…

Back to that very first question: Can the Seahawks WIN the Super Bowl?

The answer is yes, but despite all the games in between, I honestly think it might be easier to GET there than to actually defeat the still-undefeated Steelers, the Chiefs, Titans, or whoever is still standing at the end.

The AFC is loaded, and whoever comes out of that cage match will be favored in the Super Bowl.

Even against the (hopefully) streaking Seahawks.

And that, folks, is the best I can do with a simple yes-or-no question.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. “Moments, Memories and Madness,” his reminiscences from several decades as a sports journalist, runs each Sunday.

Steve also writes Zags Tracker, a commentary on Gonzaga basketball which is published every Tuesday.