NFL preview: Seattle Seahawks

Many are picking the Seahawks, who were ravaged by injuries in 2008, to reassert their dominance over the NFC West, but I think their window as a perennial contender has closed.

Projected finish: 5-11 (3rd in NFC West)

Sure, having QB Matt Hasselback back and apparently healthy helps, but people are acting like Seattle is regaining Joe Montana in his prime. The No. 1 free-agent receiver, T.J. Houshmanzadeh, was added, but how will be produce being the unquestioned No. 1 on his team for the first time? Are either Julius Jones or Edgerrin James really capable of carrying a productive running game at this stage of their careers? The defense should be decent, at least beyond its front four, but one key injury or two could prove fatal. And, finally, can new coach Jim Mora, who I thought did a poor job in San Francisco, really get as much out of this team as Mike Holmgren used to?

Hasselback will soon turn 34 years old, and even in his prime, you could argue that he was barely, if at all, a top-10 NFL quarterback. He's not that anymore, and he's played all 16 games just twice in the past five years. Houshmanzadeh, who is a prolific pass catcher, certainly helps Hasselback and the passing game. Nate Burleson, Deion Branch and Deon Butler aren't going to draw the double teams that Chad Ochocinco did when Houshmanzadeh was in Cincinnati. Still, it's probably an above-average group of receivers if it stays healthy, and TE John Carlson had an excellent rookie season catching the ball.

Jones had a very solid 4.4 yards per carry average during his first season in Seattle, but that was over just 158 carries. Expecting him and James, who looked washed up until finally showing signs of life late last year while with Arizona, to keep Seattle's running game from a bottom-third finish might be too much to ask. Walter Jones is no longer the All-Pro and all-world anchor to the offensive line that he once was, as Sean Locklear, Rob Sims, Steve Vallos, Mansfield Wrotto and Ray Willis are the listed first-teamers.