As the playoffs have so often proven, the best record in the regular season does not always lead to a Super Bowl victory. 

The Seattle Seahawks currently own the best record in the league. However, this does not mean they are playing better than their competition in the conference. 

Although an 11-1 record this year marks the best start in franchise history for the Seahawks, the team still does not look as hot as the Carolina Panthers at this point.

The Panthers quietly started winning games in the middle of October after a loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Since then, Carolina has rattled off eight straight wins, which has created more noise in the league about their potential to make the playoffs. 

Meanwhile, the Seahawks do have a better record than the 9-3 Panthers. That is indisputable. But the way the Seahawks have amassed their 11 wins and their own seven-game winning streak has brought more hype around the Northwest than is warranted. 

The Seahawks defense is formidable, but it is disguised by its reputation. The team actually has the second-best defense in the league, trailing the Panthers in points allowed. Seattle leads in yards allowed, but even 400 yards without many trips to the end zone means little in the grand scheme of defense. 

Also, the Panthers have beaten two teams during their winning streak that should seem surprising. The Seahawks, on the other hand, only had one statement game during their streak, and that came on Monday night in a blowout of the New Orleans Saints. 

The Panthers have posted wins against the Patriots and the 49ers. Looking at those games, the Patriots can score with the best of the league. The 49ers have the third-best defense in the league. 

With the Seahawks doing so well this season, they were almost expected to beat the Saints, but the domination of the game is what made the statement. The rest of the games during both teams’ winning streaks have been relatively the same in difficulty. 

Now, let’s look at the beginning of the season, where most people will point to defend their beloved Seahawks. The 12-7 win over the Panthers in Week 1 was highly overrated in that it took Russell Wilson and the Seattle offense until the fourth quarter to muster up one big play against this Carolina defense. Take that one play away, and the Seahawks lose that game. 

With the way the Panthers are playing right now, it is unlikely the Seahawks make that play again, at least not through the air. The passing game for Seattle has struggled and has seen Wilson scrambling more to find open receivers. Sidney Rice is lost for the season, which forces other receivers to step up. 

If the teams were to play again, running back Marshawn Lynch would have to make a bigger impact than the 43 rushing yards he had against Carolina. Yet, the Panthers have shown they can consistently stop the run, making this a scary matchup if the two should meet in the playoffs. 

Seattle has an easier road to the playoffs as they have not faced the stiff competition from the 49ers, which they have dealt with in previous seasons. The 49ers won the division in 2011 and 2012. In 2010, they finished only a game behind the mediocre Seahawks who managed to win the division that year with a 7-9 record. 

The Panthers have had to hold off the Saints, which they have done, now tied for the division lead after a poor start to the season. 

Look out, Seahawks fans. Seattle’s beloved team might look good in the regular season, but the Panthers are waiting and they are hungry for revenge.