Most critical part of the schedule?

[HawkFan72]

This next stretch is pretty brutal.

4 of our next 5 games are on the road. That is half of our road games for the entire season played in one 5 week stretch.

2 of those 5 are at 10am.

2 of those 5 are against division rivals.

One is a Thursday night road game (the road teams always do bad on those short weeks).

I have full confidence in this team, but if they don't come out at least 3-2 over this next stretch of 5 games, that could hurt.

We have some tougher games later on, but this stretch of 5 games is the most critical of our whole schedule, IMO. If we come out good through this stretch, we only have 3 away games the rest of the year and would have a good chance to have a great record the rest of the year with so many home games.

 

[JSeahawks]

The playoffs.

There's no doubt in my mind unless we're absolutely devastated with injuries that we're a lock for the playoffs. I don't see more then 2 regular season losses which should give us home field advantage.

 

[drdiags]

This will be a good early indicator on how this team is different than those in the past or if they still suffer the same types of uneven play. The AFC South has shown early that it isn't as bad as it was a few years ago. Well the Jags are having issues but the other 3 aren't looking to be easy outs. I expect the Texans best this Sunday and it will be very interesting to me how our defense matches up with Mr. Luck. I know some think he is over-hyped so something is coming to a head next week.

And Jake Locker and his Titans look to be turning things around. I wasn't that jazzed about these games before the season started but now they are shaping up to be pretty good indicators of how well the Seahawks are prepared to play any way the opponent chooses. Very good stretch. Looking forward to the next 5 games coming out more positive than negative. But the games aren't played in virtual space, have to see what we are saying in a month. Hope it is still full of the positive vibes flowing around the place. I think it will.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

Fortunately, those two 10am starts are against AFC teams which reduces their importance on the schedule. The Cardinals wouldn't scare me if they played with oxygen masks and brass knuckles on the peak of Mount Everest. No game is a gimme, but I won't be worried until the Rams (even they're a question mark), and that's hopefully when we get Harvin back.

 

[ClumsyLurk]

The Nieuheisel Mid-Season Championship anyone?

 

[JerHawk81]

True about the next 5, but I think that could really be narrowed to the next 2 - two of our more difficult games, on the road, at 10 AM. If we take both of the next 2, I'd put us at 90% to win the division, 75% for a bye, and 65% for home field throughout.

 

[The Radish]

I want to win every game and am always scared to death every week.

But if we could go even 3-2 over this 5 game stretch leaving us 6-2 at halftime I would be delighted.

Going 6-2 over the last half makes us 12-4 and depending on who we lost to would be plenty for HFA.

But for now, lets beat Houston at Houston.

:th2thumbs:

 

[LawlessHawk]

2011: 3-5 on the road
2012: 3-5 on the road (4-6 including playoffs)

For me those are the only two Seahawks teams we should really be "historically" comparing this team to in regards to "how we handle the road". As they're the only 2 teams that resemble this years team both player, coaching staff and attitude wise. Everything prior to that all the way back to 1976 is irrelevant (except to us fans )

Of course the road is still the road and the trips are just as long as they were then, but I think we all agree this team has taken huge steps in the right direction and is really like no team we've seen before. I just can't imagine this team, as it is, doing any worse than 5-3 on the road and nobody's beating them at home.

If you want something historical: Teams didn't fear the Seahawks coming to their house in the past. I think I can say with confidence that every team on the Hawk road schedule is scared shitless about the Hawks coming to visit in 2013.

 

[MizzouHawkGal]

That 2 game road trip including that TNF game in Glendale is the most critical given they're divisional games (I think we spank the Lambs on MNF though) history is with us on that.

 

[davidonmi]

houston is struggling on offense
the colts can't protect luck and their run game and defense is suspect
titans have a limited offense and not a great defense
Cardinals are getting hurt left and right, can't run the ball, and are just plain bad on defense
rams' offense is ridiculously 1 dimensional
4-1 would be good
3-2 I would take

 

[Bigpumpkin]

Hey....we come out 5-0....Miami will be shaken in their boots!

 

[CallMeADawg]

Totally agree that this is the pivotal point. Credibility is earned, along with the wins. Every outlet (media and NFL fans included) keep saying Seattle travels bad on O and cannot win against tough teams on the road. We can put an end to that argument lightly (1-1 in the next two) or emphatically (2-0 in the next two). The Seahawks can win if they play Seahawks football anywhere and anytime... I believe they will. They are fantastic at reversing trends, and the road woe trend is all they have left to prove. You think they know that? I think so. GO HAWKS!

 

[themunn]

Right now, with a 2 game lead there are no 'critical' periods in the schedule, it's all relative to our competition. If we go 0-2 in this stretch, worst case scenario we're still 3-2, tied for the division lead, with a much easier stretch of games to go. That said, winning the next 2 pretty much cements a 10 win season barring an injury crisis that makes 2007 shiver

 

[TwilightError]

Somehow the Rams away game seems the toughest to me.

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

I could see us going 4-1 but if we get past Houston and Indy with wins then I can see the Seahawks at 8-0 overall.

If 49ers lose the St. Louis, and we go on to beat the Rams and Cards when we play them... Seahawks will easily be NFC West Champions.

Also, keep in mind that if the 49ers do lose to the 49ers and if the Seahawks can send the Texans reeling with a 2nd embarrassing loss in a row I could see the Texans persevering over a down-trodden 49ers team.

Could you imagine the 49ers at 1-4? It would be hilarious and sad and all too familiar.

 

[warden]

In these next five games we will find out how good we are

 

[Anonymous]

Oh, the possibilities.

I've said in another thread that I believe that a solid game plan and proper execution will beat the Texans. As of this morning, that belief has not changed. There is nothing about the schemes they use that are mystical, and nothing about any of their individual players that we won't have an answer for. Same holds true for the Colts. The results of these two games will be enough to cement our future.

The really cool thing about this team, IMO, is how confident we can be about the way we can execute. Watching these first three games it's become apparent to me that we have had the power, on defense especially, to dictate where we want the ball to go. In the Jags game, it wasn't difficult to see where we were "allowing" certain pre-snap looks in order to bait the QB into throwing to the routes we wanted him to throw. This is not a new concept in the NFL, but teams normally have to resort to taking certain players out, with double teams and such, then play what's left as it comes. This Seahawks team can impose will on the entire offense, which has the individual skill players on these teams getting frustrated.

On offense, we have the ability to run anything that can be drawn-up on a white board. So far, there has always been an adjustment or two and viola, we score. Looking ahead at the schedule I just don't see a team or a situation that poses a solid problem that can't be overcome. I just don't.

 

[Largent80]

I think opening on the road at 10 am and winning let this team know they are capable to go anywhere, anytime and play good enough to win. It doesn't matter if it is ugly.....Just get it done.

Now is the time to insert a dagger into the other teams in our division.

 

[Evil_Shenanigans]

I think opening on the road at 10 am and winning let this team know they are capable to go anywhere, anytime and play good enough to win. It doesn't matter if it is ugly.....Just get it done.

Now is the time to insert a dagger into the other teams in our division.

Agreed! Time to stick it in and break it off. After demolishing SF and the teeing off on the Jags a message has been sent! Teams better be prepared or they will just become more statistical fodder! I would love to hang 50 on the Texans!

 

[Anonymous]

I think opening on the road at 10 am and winning let this team know they are capable to go anywhere, anytime and play good enough to win. It doesn't matter if it is ugly.....Just get it done.

Now is the time to insert a dagger into the other teams in our division.

Agreed! Time to stick it in and break it off. After demolishing SF and the teeing off on the Jags a message has been sent! Teams better be prepared or they will just become more statistical fodder! I would love to hang 50 on the Texans!

How about "Dial it in, and rip the knob off"?