Time to act like a championship team.

[chris98251]

I see the most dangerous part of the season coming at us, yes were 9 – 1, but looking forward we have a enlarged target on our back. It’s not just who were playing, it’s the motivation of teams playing us and how this team mentally approaches each game from here on out. We have been hot and cold and beat up until now, that excuse won’t hold water going forward.

Starting with the Vikings,
They have everything to play for against us, pride and a sort of payback, we signed Rice Jackson, and recently Harvin, Ponder is playing for his job. The Vikings have historically been a pain to deal with when we play them, weird stuff happens. We can’t look at them as a 2 – 7 team , they play physical on defense, it’s the offense that has been killing them as of late.
The Saints
Beastquake, is there any other bigger motivation? They want to come in and put that Highlight to bed, they are playing for a seed and a division, they have resurged on defense, Brees is always dangerous, again another very physical team.
The 49ers
Joke if you want, division game and Harbaugh would like nothing more than to paste a nasty defeat on us, the cards aligning correctly could still make them division champs if they can take us down, The 49ers have been embarrassed our last two meetings and will be playing for revenge, pride and the poste season. This game is one that I don’t think we will have a problem getting up for on the road, but again were going to be in a war.
Giants
Long road trip, it will be very telling depending on where they are in standings in three weeks, Coughlin has a way of getting late season resurgence, if they have a shot to get in or win the division this could be a really tough game. Even with Pick Eli playing the way he has been.
Cardinals
Again a very physical defense, they could be playing for the wild card and have division spoilers written all over them, our mental make up has to be sound, if we lock up before this game we could be treading dangerous waters by not being on top of our game. Palmer wants to get in the playoffs and I expect a war here at home.
Rams
They have done everything to us but win lately, they will come with everything as they did last year, there is no quit and as the last game of the Regular season we have to be prepared to battle and not just walk thru this game. They played us with attitude and if we don’t return the favor we could be bumped and bruised going into our playoff stretch.

The biggest part of all this is not that we can’t win, it’s how the players approach each game, we are now the favorites and that target gets bigger each week, we play as series of nasty defense teams that have a axe to grind against us. We can’t let down or walk in like it’s a given.

 

[Laloosh]

By no means are we out of the woods and PC has talked about it openly.

I don't think our players are under any illusions about what they're about to go through.

 

[Hawks46]

I don't know if we have a bigger target now than we did at the beginning of the season. We were almost unanimous SB favorites in the media at the beginning of the year. Players hear the media in the offseason leading up to the season, and there have been several comments from opposing players about knocking off the "media darlings" which are the Seahawks.

Most of these teams are going to be motivated; other than Minny I don't see any of them not playing for something...even the Giants are technically still in it. It will come down to how well Okung and Breno play after some time off and how our defensive run fits look. If we're off on our run defense, Peterson will make us pay. On the other side of the ball, Allen and Robison can cause issues off the edge, but I see our Tackles handling it. Even if just one guy holds up, we can get the other guy some help. It doesn't matter who they have at QB, they won't keep up with us scoring.

Saints: I don't really think they are playing to avenge Beastquake, that's the fan talking. They are in the thick of the #1 seed. The other thing they are playing for is confidence. They are currently playing from behind for the #1 seed and they still have to play Carolina twice. They know we have an easier road. They will be trying to hang a loss on us for seeding, and if they do end up playing here in the playoffs, it gives them confidence being able to say they've already beaten us here.

Niners: there is bad blood between these teams. They don't like eachother and the Niners need this game more than us for more than one reason. They need to be able to know they can beat us at their house. If we come in and own them, they're going to start having a complex about playing us. They're going to end up being Brandon Marshall's "little brothers" the Detroit Lions.

Giants. This one is really a head scratcher, as we'll have no idea what kind of team we're facing. Are they terrible or pulling off their patented late season playoff push ? We still have a much more talented team and should win this..

Arizona: If we win out to this point, we'll have the 1st seed locked up and they'll be playing for a Wildcard berth. I can see us playing the starters 2-3 quarters then giving them a rest.

STL: they match up with us will individually so they always give us trouble. Like AZ, this most likely ends up being a "play the starters 1 half and rest them" type of game. With how much they beat up Wilson the last game, we might see Jackson in with the starters in the 2nd quarter, which wouldn't be bad really.

 

[tom sawyer]

It just gets tougher every week now, not easier. Even the better we get, still, more at stake for everyone. Like you said, pride, revenge, frustrastions, all HUGE motivators against any might giants in the league!

 

[Attyla the Hawk]

Not worried at all.

This team is all about finishing. It's referenced all the time. And even in the microcosm of the season that has been our games against weaker opponents, this team has shown it knows how to play it's best when it's time to close teams out.

This team, more than any other in this league, is outstanding at finishing. It's our wont as Seattleites to expect the sky to fall -- but this team and organization has a different mindset. They want the opportunity. They've been thoroughly indoctrinated in the belief system that they will play their best as the championship season approaches.

It's not faith for me. I see how they deliberately approach it year in and year out. Even during the course of games. This team pours it on when it's time to separate from the pack. It's not by accident. It's core to the program. If anything, I kind of feel sorry for the teams out there thinking they have a chance to close the gap with us. We are poised to unleash our potential on this league and I expect it started last week.

 

[volsunghawk]

Like the target on our backs hasn't been massive since the season started. It's been there the whole time.

And you're not going to sell me on the nastiness of the upcoming defenses after the first half of the season. Especially since we faced teams like Carolina, St. Louis, and Arizona all on the road. We even caught Houston back when they weren't a completely broken team and still had Cushing.

I'll agree that the team still needs to focus on one week at a time, as it has. But I honestly think we've weathered the tougher part of the schedule, and that we should see the Seahawks start to find their rhythm a bit more against some of these teams down the stretch.

 

[Seeker]

[youtube]PD6AfcoG4o8[/youtube]

 

[SoulfishHawk]

They are 9-1, have won 5 of 6 games on the road, and won some "ugly" close games. They ARE acting like a Championship team already.

 

[JKent82]

[youtube]PD6AfcoG4o8[/youtube]

Michael Floyd?

 

[Evil_Shenanigans]

They are 9-1, have won 5 of 6 games on the road, and won some "ugly" close games. They ARE acting like a Championship team already.

Damn Straight! :th2thumbs:

 

[CortezKennedyfan]

You forgot to add:

Seahawks:

Marshawn Lynch proving he's still in his peak and Michael Robinson's return as seemed to only have helped him. With Sidney Rice's injury, players like Tate, Kearse and Baldwin have stepped up, and have three horrid games the O-line seems to be getting better with rotations and is now getting healthier. Walter Thurmond III is motivated as hell, as he is auditioning for a starting job for next season, and Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman are the best in the game at their positions. The special teams has really kicked into gear (no pun intended) the last few weeks, Brandon Mebane has found his game, and the Hawks are bringing plenty of pressure off the edge with Clemons, Bennett and Avril.

Oh yeah. And Russel Wilson.

 

[Laloosh]

I don't know if we have a bigger target now than we did at the beginning of the season. We were almost unanimous SB favorites in the media at the beginning of the year. Players hear the media in the offseason leading up to the season, and there have been several comments from opposing players about knocking off the "media darlings" which are the Seahawks.

Most of these teams are going to be motivated; other than Minny I don't see any of them not playing for something...even the Giants are technically still in it. It will come down to how well Okung and Breno play after some time off and how our defensive run fits look. If we're off on our run defense, Peterson will make us pay. On the other side of the ball, Allen and Robison can cause issues off the edge, but I see our Tackles handling it. Even if just one guy holds up, we can get the other guy some help. It doesn't matter who they have at QB, they won't keep up with us scoring.

Saints: I don't really think they are playing to avenge Beastquake, that's the fan talking. They are in the thick of the #1 seed. The other thing they are playing for is confidence. They are currently playing from behind for the #1 seed and they still have to play Carolina twice. They know we have an easier road. They will be trying to hang a loss on us for seeding, and if they do end up playing here in the playoffs, it gives them confidence being able to say they've already beaten us here.

Niners: there is bad blood between these teams. They don't like eachother and the Niners need this game more than us for more than one reason. They need to be able to know they can beat us at their house. If we come in and own them, they're going to start having a complex about playing us. They're going to end up being Brandon Marshall's "little brothers" the Detroit Lions.

Giants. This one is really a head scratcher, as we'll have no idea what kind of team we're facing. Are they terrible or pulling off their patented late season playoff push ? We still have a much more talented team and should win this..

Arizona: If we win out to this point, we'll have the 1st seed locked up and they'll be playing for a Wildcard berth. I can see us playing the starters 2-3 quarters then giving them a rest.

STL: they match up with us will individually so they always give us trouble. Like AZ, this most likely ends up being a "play the starters 1 half and rest them" type of game. With how much they beat up Wilson the last game, we might see Jackson in with the starters in the 2nd quarter, which wouldn't be bad really.

Was (and still is) a lot of "what have you actually done" sentiment out there imo.

This is only to address your first point, not to argue w/ anything else in your post.

If we can make it to or win the big one, I think we'll see the real target on our backs next year. We won ONE playoff game last year, folks.

 

[ceej22]

I don't think this team has done anything but that. After the loss in Atlanta last year I'm sure they are fully aware that it isn't over yet. Had a couple rough weeks, but they kept their hearts in the game and came out of it 9-1. That's what true contenders do. They don't go on tilt when it's not going their way. They have the confidence to keep doing what they practiced knowing that their talent will put them on top at the end of the game.

 

[SmokinHawk]

I don't think the target on our backs can get any bigger, Chris. Nearly every team we have faced this season has sent everything they could muster at us, and we did just enough to win in most of those cases. This team just needs to keep doing what they are doing.

 

[sc85sis]

"Every game is a championship game." - Pete Carroll

 

[kearly]

I don't think Seattle loses again this season. The only team that worries me is actually the Rams in week 17 as it might be a game with backups against a defense that has our number and a surprisingly competent Kellen Clemens.

Granted, the probability of an 18-1 season is in the single digits for Seattle. I think I saw FO had us down for a 9% chance of 15-1. But that low probability is only because of luck and variation- the puncher's chance. If Seattle gets in a rhythm and plays solid football every week- without getting brutally hosed by the officials or freakish bad breaks- they are unbeatable.

I get the sense that we are in store for another 2012 type end of season run. The running game has been night and day since Mike Rob came back, and the backups are growing as run blockers every week. Soon we won't even need to play the backups. Add in Harvin on special teams and offense and we have a quick strike offense that can weather pressure- not that we'll face any from most of our remaining opponents.

On defense, I think it's remarkable how elite QBs are afraid to challenge it and become check down machines. Even in the preseason, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers threw the vast majority of their passes less than 10 yards against our defense. We just saw it again this past week with Matt Ryan. That's a great way to scrape 10-20 points, but it's hard to beat Seattle with that kind of production. The only QB to challenge Seattle all season actually won the game, though he needed a few perfect throws and a few blown coverages (not to mention a ton of help from the officials). Not a lot of teams are going to replicate what the Luck-Hilton duo accomplished.

Barring a disaster game where everything goes wrong, I have a hard time seeing Seattle losing any of their remaining games. Heck, the Houston and Tampa games started off as disaster games, games that end up blowout losses 95% of the time, and Seattle still came back to win. It's just really hard to see them losing right now, especially given their returning players and performance trajectory.

 

[bestfightstory]

I don't think Seattle loses again this season. The only team that worries me is actually the Rams in week 17 as it might be a game with backups against a defense that has our number and a surprisingly competent Kellen Clemens.

Granted, the probability of an 18-1 season is in the single digits for Seattle. I think I saw FO had us down for a 9% chance of 15-1. But that low probability is only because of luck and variation- the puncher's chance. If Seattle gets in a rhythm and plays solid football every week- without getting brutally hosed by the officials or freakish bad breaks- they are unbeatable.

I get the sense that we are in store for another 2012 type end of season run. The running game has been night and day since Mike Rob came back, and the backups are growing as run blockers every week. Soon we won't even need to play the backups. Add in Harvin on special teams and offense and we have a quick strike offense that can weather pressure- not that we'll face any from most of our remaining opponents.

On defense, I think it's remarkable how elite QBs are afraid to challenge it and become check down machines. Even in the preseason, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers threw the vast majority of their passes less than 10 yards against our defense. We just saw it again this past week with Matt Ryan. That's a great way to scrape 10-20 points, but it's hard to beat Seattle with that kind of production. The only QB to challenge Seattle all season actually won the game, though he needed a few perfect throws and a few blown coverages (not to mention a ton of help from the officials). Not a lot of teams are going to replicate what the Luck-Hilton duo accomplished.

Barring a disaster game where everything goes wrong, I have a hard time seeing Seattle losing any of their remaining games. Heck, the Houston and Tampa games started off as disaster games, games that end up blowout losses 95% of the time, and Seattle still came back to win. It's just really hard to see them losing right now, especially given their returning players and performance trajectory.

I keep thinking the same. Which is why I have never felt foolish for envisioning a potential undefeated season. We are just a bunch of ass-kickers.

 

[nsport]

I also think acting like a championship team means to take care of stuff on the field and off - and do it in a more stringent, business-like way. For example - Tate's taunting penalty was unnecessary, Rice's ball spinning, Giacomini's pile clearing missile launches - and more importantly avoiding things like Dwayne Bowe's idiotic brush with the law yesterday. I really want this team to keep things on the highest level!