Hochman: NFL tends to require having team chemistry for passing grade

Most everyone in the NFL seems to be as high on Denver and Seattle as most everyone in Denver and Seattle is high.

The Broncos and Seahawks, bluntly, are once again the toasts of their conferences.

But this season, Denver is not only trying to get Seattle-tough, but Seattle-tight.

The Broncos' John Fox might have been outcoached in the Super Bowl, but was he also outcooked? Did Pete Carroll cook up chemistry that was as indomitable as his defense?

Asked by NFL.com about talent versus chemistry, Carroll explained that "chemistry is way more important. I think clearly if you can get guys to play like they're capable of playing collectively, you can outplay talent. There's nothing like having talent. I like working with that much more than just chemistry but you need attitude and a connective feeling to bring out the best in the group."

When the going got tough, Denver crumbled in the Super Bowl.

Carroll might come across at times like a kooky coach, but make no mistake, folks he strikes fear in his players. And they work hard for him, and they play hard for each other.

Now, some would say the concept of chemistry in sports is as flimsy as a Roger Goodell explanation for what happened to the Ray Rice video. But for everything we hear about the Seahawks' toughness, truth is, those guys clicked.

Can a football team without chemistry be a winning football team?

"I don't think I've ever seen a successful team in football without some sort of team camaraderie or chemistry or whatever the word is," Fox said Friday.

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Hochman: NFL tends to require having team chemistry for passing grade