Seahawks regain top spot in AP Pro32 rankings

Seattle Seahawks' Ricardo Lockette (83) smiles as he hugs Doug Baldwin (89) in celebration on the team bench in the closing moments of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 35-6. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Seattle Seahawks' Ricardo Lockette (83) smiles as he hugs Doug Baldwin (89) in celebration on the team bench in the closing moments of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 35-6. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By Associated Press December 23, 2014 3 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Seattle Seahawks are once again playing like the top team in the NFL.

Defending Super Bowl champion Seattle (11-4) received seven of 12 first-place votes Tuesday in the AP Pro32 power rankings, which are decided by a media panel that regularly covers the league.

The Seahawks are coming off a 35-6 rout of the Arizona Cardinals.

“Bad news for NFC teams. Seahawks are back,” NBC Sports’ Tony Dungy said.

The Patriots (12-3), who were No. 1 last week, received the other five first-place votes and trail Seattle by only three points (379-376) in the poll.