SalishHawkFan
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Looking over the Hawks schedule and doing some research, this is what I came up with:
First off, let me say that I'm not analyzing our opponents offensively. They'll be up against the LOB and if the most prolific offense in NFL history can only run up 8 pts., then who can score on us and who can't becomes moot. Either the LOB has a bad day or they hold the opponent to around 14-15. All I'm really concerned about is what kind of defense we're up against. That will determine if we win easily or if we have a tough defensive struggle in a low scoring game.
Game one vs GB: They had the second worst defense in the NFL last year, per DVOA. They sucked vs the rush AND the pass. No amount of offseason moves are going to suddenly vault them much higher than bottom 20. All they have going for them is a decent pass rush. Our pass rush is much improved over the Wail Mary game and it's in our house. This should be a win for the green and blue.
Game two vs SD: The only team with a worse ranked defense was SD. their offense is good, but that's the LOB they'll be facing. Our offense should get off to a pretty good start the first two games this season. Hawks win their second match.
Game three vs Denver: In our house? Are you kidding me? That game will be HUGE and the 12's will be screaming their heads off. Expect an electric atmosphere like no other. Hawks go 3-0 and people start talking about their offense almost as much as their defense.
Week five vs Washington: Seattle will have two weeks to prepare for this game. Washington will bring yet another bottom 20 defense from the previous year. I expect RG3 to have bounced back from injury, but we are a much better team than the one that beat them two years ago. And Seattle has the best record in MNF history. We get pumped for the national stage. Seattle starts the season 4-0 and our offense looks sharp. I still see us 12's worrying about pass pro, but it will SEEM a bit improved just for the fact that these first four contests face top 16 pass rushes, not top 5.
Week six vs Cowboys. Haha, hahahahaha! Dallas last year had the worst defense outside GB and SD. AND they had no pass rush. That will be our third game in our first five our offense goes up against the very bottom of the barrel defense. Seahawks start 5-0 baby!
Then come two tough road games.
Week seven vs Rams: On the road. 10AM start. Last years most vicious pass rush team. Expect another low scoring, knock down, drag out blood bath to the bitter end. I'm done guessing our record at this point.
Week eight vs Carolina: Another brutal defense, on the road, 10 AM. Another low scoring, knock down, drag out blood bath to the bitter end.
Week nine vs Da Raidahs: At home. Another weak defensive unit. Hawks can use this breather.
Week ten vs NYG: The Giants sucked last year, but they had a really good defense. Still, it's in our house for the second week in a row and if Little Peyton sucks bad in NY, he'll suck worse in Seattle. Hawk win.
At this point we can easily be 7-2 or better going into the brutal part of our schedule.
Week eleven vs KC. It's in KC. It's 10 AM. Those guys have a pass rush and a very good D. They were an over rated team last year that benefited from an easy schedule. I think we can handle these guys, but it will be closer than some might expect.
Week twelve vs Arizona: What can I say 12's? The only team to beat us in our house in a long time. This team finished really hot last season and it's probable that this game will be our most important game of the season when we go into it. Division title and wildcard implications. They've got a brutal pass rush, an elite D and this will be another bloody dog fight.
Week thirteen vs SF: Thanksgiving Day, on the road, on short rest, after a brutal game vs Arizona? THANKS NFL!!! I would love to beat them, but I have to say they must be considered the favorites under these conditions. It makes the previous weeks game all the more important.
Week fourteen vs Philly: So of course, our next game is a back to back road trip. Philly's defense was not their strong point. But that offense is the ONLY offense I am considering in this analysis and it's something we have yet to see the LOB face. So this could be something we won't see often this season: a high scoring game. Or we could blow them out. We'll see, but at this point of the schedule, it will be a critical game.
Week fifteen vs SF: two weeks later? Really? Pray to God we aren't missing a key player over this stretch. This will be THE biggest game of the season because we're likely having to make up for losing on TDay. But I have faith our Hawks are up to the task. SF's defense is waning, Gore is one year older.
Week sixteen vs Arizona: In their house. Which is sorta like in our house, but not quite. Another bloody dogfight with playoff implications.
Week seventeen vs Rams: Because what would life be like without our last home game against the Rams? Another tough matchup.
I know I skimped on the analysis towards the end, but really, we KNOW what we're facing in the NFC West and how every game will be tough.
So I see us starting out really strong. A very fast start. Then having to slugfest our way through the second half of the season. I think 7-2 to start is our worst case scenario vs all those weak to very weak defenses for the most part. 8-1 even 9-0 is possible, though Any Given Sunday makes that unlikely. Then 4-3 or 3-4 to finish it off in a brutal schedule to finish. Puts us anywhere from 10-6 worst case, to 13-3 once again.
First off, let me say that I'm not analyzing our opponents offensively. They'll be up against the LOB and if the most prolific offense in NFL history can only run up 8 pts., then who can score on us and who can't becomes moot. Either the LOB has a bad day or they hold the opponent to around 14-15. All I'm really concerned about is what kind of defense we're up against. That will determine if we win easily or if we have a tough defensive struggle in a low scoring game.
Game one vs GB: They had the second worst defense in the NFL last year, per DVOA. They sucked vs the rush AND the pass. No amount of offseason moves are going to suddenly vault them much higher than bottom 20. All they have going for them is a decent pass rush. Our pass rush is much improved over the Wail Mary game and it's in our house. This should be a win for the green and blue.
Game two vs SD: The only team with a worse ranked defense was SD. their offense is good, but that's the LOB they'll be facing. Our offense should get off to a pretty good start the first two games this season. Hawks win their second match.
Game three vs Denver: In our house? Are you kidding me? That game will be HUGE and the 12's will be screaming their heads off. Expect an electric atmosphere like no other. Hawks go 3-0 and people start talking about their offense almost as much as their defense.
Week five vs Washington: Seattle will have two weeks to prepare for this game. Washington will bring yet another bottom 20 defense from the previous year. I expect RG3 to have bounced back from injury, but we are a much better team than the one that beat them two years ago. And Seattle has the best record in MNF history. We get pumped for the national stage. Seattle starts the season 4-0 and our offense looks sharp. I still see us 12's worrying about pass pro, but it will SEEM a bit improved just for the fact that these first four contests face top 16 pass rushes, not top 5.
Week six vs Cowboys. Haha, hahahahaha! Dallas last year had the worst defense outside GB and SD. AND they had no pass rush. That will be our third game in our first five our offense goes up against the very bottom of the barrel defense. Seahawks start 5-0 baby!
Then come two tough road games.
Week seven vs Rams: On the road. 10AM start. Last years most vicious pass rush team. Expect another low scoring, knock down, drag out blood bath to the bitter end. I'm done guessing our record at this point.
Week eight vs Carolina: Another brutal defense, on the road, 10 AM. Another low scoring, knock down, drag out blood bath to the bitter end.
Week nine vs Da Raidahs: At home. Another weak defensive unit. Hawks can use this breather.
Week ten vs NYG: The Giants sucked last year, but they had a really good defense. Still, it's in our house for the second week in a row and if Little Peyton sucks bad in NY, he'll suck worse in Seattle. Hawk win.
At this point we can easily be 7-2 or better going into the brutal part of our schedule.
Week eleven vs KC. It's in KC. It's 10 AM. Those guys have a pass rush and a very good D. They were an over rated team last year that benefited from an easy schedule. I think we can handle these guys, but it will be closer than some might expect.
Week twelve vs Arizona: What can I say 12's? The only team to beat us in our house in a long time. This team finished really hot last season and it's probable that this game will be our most important game of the season when we go into it. Division title and wildcard implications. They've got a brutal pass rush, an elite D and this will be another bloody dog fight.
Week thirteen vs SF: Thanksgiving Day, on the road, on short rest, after a brutal game vs Arizona? THANKS NFL!!! I would love to beat them, but I have to say they must be considered the favorites under these conditions. It makes the previous weeks game all the more important.
Week fourteen vs Philly: So of course, our next game is a back to back road trip. Philly's defense was not their strong point. But that offense is the ONLY offense I am considering in this analysis and it's something we have yet to see the LOB face. So this could be something we won't see often this season: a high scoring game. Or we could blow them out. We'll see, but at this point of the schedule, it will be a critical game.
Week fifteen vs SF: two weeks later? Really? Pray to God we aren't missing a key player over this stretch. This will be THE biggest game of the season because we're likely having to make up for losing on TDay. But I have faith our Hawks are up to the task. SF's defense is waning, Gore is one year older.
Week sixteen vs Arizona: In their house. Which is sorta like in our house, but not quite. Another bloody dogfight with playoff implications.
Week seventeen vs Rams: Because what would life be like without our last home game against the Rams? Another tough matchup.
I know I skimped on the analysis towards the end, but really, we KNOW what we're facing in the NFC West and how every game will be tough.
So I see us starting out really strong. A very fast start. Then having to slugfest our way through the second half of the season. I think 7-2 to start is our worst case scenario vs all those weak to very weak defenses for the most part. 8-1 even 9-0 is possible, though Any Given Sunday makes that unlikely. Then 4-3 or 3-4 to finish it off in a brutal schedule to finish. Puts us anywhere from 10-6 worst case, to 13-3 once again.