Look out, NFL: Seahawks look like most dangerous wild-card team

That gulp you just heard? That was the rest of the NFL after seeing the Seattle Seahawks’ lambasting of what was supposed to be a good team in the Minnesota Vikings.

It appears it’s on again: The Seahawks are making their move.

In 2012, they won their final five games. In 2013, the season they won the Super Bowl, the Seahawks had a few late trip-ups but played their best ball entering the postseason. In 2014, they won their final six and nine of their last 10 regular-season games.

And this season, they’ve turned a corner since the home loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Three straight wins by two scores or more — including Sunday’s 38-7 demolition of the Vikings (8-3 entering the game) in Minneapolis. The expected best game on the NFL’s early slate turned so quickly that Fox switched off the game in the early fourth quarter.

The Seahawks remain three games behind the Cardinals for the division title with four games remaining, and though they play (in Glendale) in Week 17, that would feel like a lot of ground to make up.

Let’s assume the Seahawks are a wild card. Why can’t they win it all?

If your team is one-dimensional offensively, as the Vikings are — their first seven possessions resulted in six punts and an interception — the Seahawks can shut you down. If you’re not prepared to deal with a white-hot Russell Wilson (11 TD passes in the past three games) and his crazy legs (51 rushing yards, TD on Sunday) operating at the highest level of his career, you’re in big trouble. Oh, and you had better be able to deal with their dangerous rookie returner, Tyler Lockett, it might be curtains.

These Seahawks again can beat you in different ways.

The Carolina Panthers are tough, as are the Cardinals. But the Green Bay Packers, Vikings or whichever crummy team wins the NFC East can’t be hoping for the Seahawks playing on their field in the wild-card round.

After losing three straight on the road to open the season, Seattle now has won their past three away from home — by 17, 1 and 31 points. The Seahawks don’t need the 12th Man to win a game or two in the postseason, it would appear.

Marshawn Lynch out? No worries — Thomas Rawls, even with a fumble, gutted the Vikings with 123 yards from scrimmage and a score.

No Jimmy Graham? There’s a guy named Luke Willson, who caught a few big passes early and doesn’t look like much of a dropoff.

And Lockett isn’t just a returner; he caught seven passes for 90 yards on Sunday and looks to be more than up to speed on the NFL game.

And if they get Lynch back? Even better.

Watch out, NFL: The Seahawks are heating up. Again.