It might be time to take the Seahawks seriously.
It might be time to look at Pete Carroll as more than an over-enthused rah-rah former college coach giving the pros another go, considering the job he has done as the architect of this franchise on the rise.
It might be time to view rookie quarterback Russell Wilson through a similar lens from which you view Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck and overlook the knocks on Wilson’s lack of classic quarterback size.
All Wilson has done is throw 21 touchdown passes to just nine interceptions and complete 62.9 percent of his passes. Luck, who everyone is in love with, has 20 touchdowns and a league-high 18 interceptions and has a 54.6 completion percentage.
It might be time to recognize Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch for what he has become, which is one of the most difficult backs in the league to tackle. He has 1,379 rushing yards, second in the NFL to only Adrian Peterson, and he has 10 touchdowns.
It might be time to concede the Seahawks defense is one of the best in the NFL, ranked second in the league in fewest points per game allowed (15.6), third overall in yards allowed, 10th against the run and third against the pass.
The Seahawks (9-5) play the 49ers (10-3-1) tonight in Seattle, where they are 6-0 this season. A win over the division leader would draw the Seahawks to within a half-game of the 49ers, with a home game against the Rams remaining as the Seahawks’ regular-season finale.
If the Seahawks can steal the NFC West title, they figure to be a major factor in the playoffs because of how dominant they are at home.
They, too, don’t flinch against top competition. The Seahawks have played five playoff contenders (Minnesota, Dallas, Green Bay, New England, San Francisco and Chicago) and those teams have averaged just 15.3 points per game against them, with the Seahawks winning all but one of those games — they lost the first meeting to the 49ers, 13-6 in Week 7.
The Seahawks have been doing it not just with a marvelous blend of Wilson and the passing game, Lynch and the running game, but by giving the ball away just 17 times this season, which is fourth best in the NFC.
Their defense, meanwhile, has forced 28 turnovers, which also ranks them fourth in the NFC.
The Seahawks, who currently hold the top NFC wild-card spot, enter today’s watershed game having won five of their past six games, during which they have forced
17 turnovers while turning the ball over just four times. They, too, are coming off consecutive 50-point outputs — a 58-0 rout of the Cardinals and a 50-17 beating of the Bills.
If those figures do not grab your attention, you are not paying attention.
On Oct. 28, the Seahawks, in the midst of a two-game losing streak, were 4-4 and seemingly headed for a similar result to Carroll’s first two years as their head coach — both 7-9 seasons. Today they can make a move on a division title against one of the Super Bowl favorites
“I feel this is definitely a great matchup for us so we can show what we can do and show the whole world what we can do,’’ Seahawks safety Earl Thomas told Seattle reporters this week. “It just feels good knowing we have an opportunity to make the playoffs. Last year, I think, around this time we knew pretty much we were out of it. It definitely feels good, especially when you’re still alive for the playoffs.’’
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com