Seahawks
Week 4
Pt. 2
I will be continuing from where I left off yesterday. This
is my preview of the upcoming NFL season for the Seattle Seahawks.
*For weeks 1-9 please see previous post….And away we go!
Week 10, and it’s the much talked about New England
Patriots. We have a little score to settle from SB 49, but I’m not sure it will
come out that way. The Seahawks beat themselves just as much as the Patriots
beat them. Our defense went soft in the fourth quarter, and then there is that
turnover from the two yard-line. I’ll be discussing that play in another blog,
but just touching on it, I don’t agree that it was the worst call ever, just
one of the worst executed plays of the Seahawks entire season. We’ll continue
this later. There isn’t ever much surprise with the Patriots, as the “Hoodie”
and Tom terrific have been around for some time now. The game being on Sunday
Night Football should make it quite a spectacle. If both teams have the kind of
year that has become expected of them, it could be huge. Playing in Foxborough
is never fun, but I’m thinking the Seahawks will be ready for a war. Even
though, if we’ve played as well as I hope up until this game, a loss on the
record shouldn’t be thought of as a dagger. If we perhaps meet in the Super
Bowl, I’ve always believed it’s even harder to beat a team twice in one year.
That being said, a 38-3 whooping sure would be nice!
The next week we host the Philadelphia Eagles. With a new
coach, Doug Pederson and Sam Bradford at QB (if he’s still healthy) I’m not
expecting the Seahawks to have much problems with the Eagles. If Bradford does
get hurt, I’m guessing rookie Carson Wentz will step in. That’ll be fun, for
the Seahawks defense. After going 7-9 last season, and swapping out coaches
(again) this may be a year of adjustment for the Eagles. Their top running
back, Darren Sproles is getting up there in age, too. So yeah, its another mark
in the win column.
The following week the Hawks travel to Tampa Bay to face the
Buccaneers. An east coast game that starts at 1:00 Pacific time? Well, Thank
You NFL! Don’t see that much. After a 6-10 season with a rookie QB, I’m
assuming the Bucs will be much improved this season. Jameis Winston will have
another year to work with, what I see as one of the better receiving corps in
the NFL. I think Mike Evans will only get better, and that Austin
Sefarian-Jenkins is highly underrated as a tight end. With Doug Martin back at
running back, I’m expecting at least eight wins for Tampa Bay. This just isn’t
going to be one of them.
Then we have another huge battle. Against the NFC Champion
Carolina Panthers on Sunday Night Football. With the past history between these
two teams, I’m expecting another 12-7, or 10-6 game. We nearly always have
tight defensive battle with Cam and the boys. Coming off their one loss season,
two counting the Super Bowl, they seem to be reloaded again. I believe getting
Kelvin Benjamin back can only help the offense, but I also believe losing Josh
Norman at CB is going to be big. Norman could cover a lot of ground, so it will
be worth watching, to see who takes over. Jonathan Stewart returns at running
back, so the offense should be good, barring injuries. It’s the defense I’d be
wondering about. I think Norman gave the defensive backfield a lot of options, and
I don’t see anybody stepping in. At least not at his level. We’ll see, I’m
still calling for a win here, if for no other reason than home field advantage
and kickoff at 8:30pm Carolina time. Interestingly, the Panthers travel to
Oakland the week before, so flying cross country two weeks in a row? That’s
never fun.
The following week we
travel to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. In Green Bay in December? No
thank you, I’ll pass. After starting 6-0, and then going 4-6 to finish the
year, the Packers, I’m sure, are hoping to sustain it for a whole year. Biggest
threat I see to the Packers is age. Their key players are all getting up there,
especially Aaron Rodgers. He’s still a top 5 QB in my book, but he is getting
to that age when thing start breaking down. A lot of their top performers from
the last few years are getting up there. I’m sure getting Jordy Nelson back
from injury will help, but will it be enough. I say no, not this week anyway.
The final three weeks of the regular season are all divisional
match ups. First up, the (now) Los Angeles Rams. I think it’s great to have the
Rams back in LA. If for no other reason than the travel requirements for the
Seahawks. Also, I’m guessing with no NFL team there for quite a while, the
Seahawks may have a few local fans at the game. With their new home and top
draft pick, QB Jared Goff, coupled with another year of experience for Todd
Gurley, the offense should be adequate. I haven’t heard whether Goff will be
starting, or Nick Foles. Personally, I think I’d let Goff learn a little behind
Foles. Unless Foles really stinks it up, which he has done before, I think Goff
may need a year. Losing James Laurinaitis and Chris Long from the defense may
hurt them, but they still have Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn on the defensive
line, which isn’t too shabby. Finishing at 7-9 in 2015 the Rams always seem to
play the Seahawks exceptionally hard. Don’t know why, but we went 0-2 against
them last year. I’m still hoping Jeff Fischer’s “magic” against the Hawks
stayed in St. Louis. Win!!
We stay home the following week, as the Arizona Cardinals
come to Seattle. As I said about our week 7 game, I’m not wishing bad on
anybody, but I’ve just never been a Carson Palmer fan. I just think last year
was his best, final shot. I don’t know if he has another one of those years in
him. Let’s hope not. Home win.
The final regular season game is in San Francisco against
the Forty Niners. By this time I’m sure we’ll know if the Chip Kelly experiment
is going to work. Facing them week three and then not until week 17, gives the
Niners a lot of growth time. I still believe their just a few players short of
being a serious division contender. Especially on defense. If Chip’s style does
work, I expect it will be with Kaepernick at QB. But as I said, I think the
Niners problems may be on the other side of the ball.
OK, there it is. The 2016 season for the Seattle Seahawks.
If we play up to our capabilities and can keep injuries to a minimum, plus get
the offensive line to play ten times better than last season, I can easily see
us finishing at 12-4 (at the worst). 14 wins would be a lot better, as I
believe that will guarantee us a #1 seed and home field throughout the
playoffs.
But, really, why squabble. Lets just go 16-0 and give the
’72 Dolphins a scare.
Until next time………………GO HAWKS!!
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