The Seahawks just have to win. That’s it! End of post! It’s patently ridiculous that the Seahawks are at this point, it’s ridiculous that they lost to the Redskins last week, and frankly it’s ridiculous how they’ve lost all three of those games this season. We’re a game behind the Rams now – who look like a fucking murderer’s row the way they’re beating some of these teams (although, curiously, they too lost a home game to the Redskins, which just might be one of those teams unaffected by the 3-timezone change) – and if you haven’t seen their schedule, it’s so close to Seattle’s it’s eerie!
Their AFC road games are at the Jags and Titans, as are ours. Their road NFC East games are at the Cowboys and Giants, as are ours. They play last year’s 3rd place NFC South team – the Saints – at home; we play last year’s 1st place NFC South team – the Falcons – at home. They play last year’s 3rd place NFC North team – the Vikings – on the road; we play last year’s 1st place NFC North team – the Packers – on the road. Literally the only difference is the order in which we play these teams. Which thus far has hurt the Seahawks, because we had to grapple with Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson when they were still healthy; they avoid Watson, and get to face whatever backup Vikings QB is in the lineup in two weeks.
If I’m being honest, it’s hard to find two more losses on the Rams’ schedule, unless they start suffering significant injuries. Their toughest games are both at home, against the Saints and Eagles. Other than that, MAYBE the Vikings’ defense poses some threat, but I’m not really a believer in those guys. So, either the Seahawks need to win their remaining 8 games – including at home against the Rams to take the season head-to-head tie-breaker – or the Rams need to start dropping some games they should otherwise win.
Also, not for nothing, but going 8-0 is pretty much a prerequisite for getting a first round BYE in the playoffs, which sounds pretty impossible when you’ve got the Falcons and Eagles at home, and the Jags and Cowboys on the road. You scoff at the Jags, but have you SEEN their defense? Now imagine those guys going up against this Seattle offense (particularly this Seattle offensive line), and understand the game is in Florida, at 10am Pacific time, and you’ll see why I’m freaking out here.
That’s obviously getting ahead of things by quite a bit. Taking this second half of the season as one big chunk is insane; we’re going to have to take this one game at a time, just like Russell Wilson always says. Forget about everything else, the Seahawks just need to go 1-0 tonight.
Of course, they SHOULD go 1-0 tonight, because the Cards are pretty terrible. But, they also SHOULD have gone 1-0 last week at home against the Redskins, and you saw what happened. Remember last year, when the Seahawks SHOULD have won down in Arizona, but dicked around all night and ended up with a 6-6 tie? Remember why that happened? Remember a certain kicker missing a certain number of field goals to cost this team a win? Remember how that kicker frequently missed kicks down in Arizona because their field is garbage? And remember how that kicker is now kicking in Buffalo, and the Seahawks went and signed Blair Walsh for some God-foresaken reason?
That 6-6 football game last year was EASILY the worst game of the entire season, across the entire NFL. I’m just saying, don’t be shocked if we’re in for something similar tonight.
We all know Arizona is awful. Their record is 4-4, which sounds insane, until you’ve seen who they beat: Indy, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, San Francisco again. So, three of the very worst teams in the league. They lost to the Lions, Cowboys, Eagles, and Rams. So, three of the very best teams in the league (and the Lions). That 4-4 record feels like a lie, but given the discrepancy of their opponents, it’s hard to get a true read on just how bad the Cards really are. Tonight should be a good litmus test, and it would be, if it weren’t being played on Thursday Night.
[SECTION WHERE I TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH I DESPISE THURSDAY GAMES]
(it’s just easier that way)
No Carson Palmer, no David Johnson; so two of their three best offensive players are gone. Larry Fitzgerald is still the ageless wonder, and Drew Stanton is still a good fit in Bruce Arians’ offense as a backup quarterback. He takes care of the ball for the most part, and puts his team in position to win more often than not. And, he’s got Adrian Peterson to hand the ball off to, who is averaging 4.2 yards per carry since coming over from the Saints. The key tonight is, obviously, prevent AP from keeping them on schedule and force Stanton to beat you down field. Even without Earl Thomas, that shouldn’t be a concern for the Seahawks.
Defensively, the Cards aren’t very good. 27th in points per game, 23rd in yards per game. They’re 24th in passing yards per game at 249.3, and 11th in rushing yards per game at 100.5. Since the Seahawks can’t run the ball anyway, tonight would be a poor night to try to shoehorn that into our offense. Just throw it on them! Throw away from Patrick Peterson and take what’s given to you! I expect Jimmy Graham to have a big one here, so expect him to colossally disappoint.
I’ll say this: they don’t have Calais Campbell anymore, which is the best news I’ve heard all year (the downside is that he’s currently tearing shit up on the Jags, who we play in December). I’m not saying it’ll be smooth sailing against that front seven, but any time you can avoid CC destroying the interior of your O-Line, it’s a leg up for the good guys.
Take care of business, Seahawks. Or so help me God.