2013 Seattle Seahawks Preview

2013 Seattle Seahawks

As discussed in my previous preview, I have taken my side in the arms race that is the NFC West, and my loyalties lie with the Seattle Seahawks. I love everything about this team, except for their repeated insisting of their players to get four-game substance abuse suspensions. I’m all in on Russell Wilson as a future Super Bowl-winning quarterback (and by future, I mean possibly as soon as this year...), even at his less-than-preferred size. I think that when all of these young quarterbacks have come and gone, Wilson will have had the second-best career out of any of them, behind Andrew Luck. He is incredibly smart, has great instincts, and is a worthy leader. He is quick, but does not rely on rushing, and he is very accurate and efficient throwing the ball. Marshawn Lynch is the definition of Beast Mode, and I am also a bit of a fan of the long term prospects of rookie running back Christine Michael. They should be a top five rushing offense in the league this year without trouble. The obvious flaw on their offensive lies with their receivers, as there is no real star among them unless Percy Harvin makes a miraculous return at the end of the season. Sidney Rice and Golden Tate are decent complimentary receivers, but I doubt any of them can become a true stud on the outside. I’ve heard a good amount of experts speak about Tate as a golden find at the end of fantasy drafts (see what I did there?); the Seahawks are going to put points on the board, and someone has to emerge as a star, don’t they? So maybe we see Golden Tate become the top target in this offense, but I would bank on Wilson simply spreading the ball around, giving everyone respectable numbers. The Seattle offense took off at the end of last year, posting scores of 58, 50, and 42 (against the 49ers!) in December. The Seahawks’ defense is arguably the most daunting in the whole league, with studs at every level. Bobby Wagner, their young middle linebacker, will have a huge season, and the secondary as a whole is impenetrable. Richard Sherman, Brandon Browner, Kam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas (my personal favorite) are the stars of the best secondary in the league, and it’s really not that close. There’s no reason why this unit should not be among the top three defenses in the NFL, which would ensure the Seahawks be a true Super Bowl contender, after falling short last season in Atlanta. Seattle has, perhaps, the best home crowd environment in the league (I think they do, over New Orleans), which should help guarantee them at least seven wins out of eight home games. The Hawks will only be able to achieve their ultimate goal, however, if they can take care of business on the road.

Schedule

The Seahawks went 11-5 last season, which was good enough for a Wild Card spot. They were 6-5 before running off five wins in a row to end the season, in dominating fashion (I already talked about their point totals earlier). After defeating the Washington Redskins in the Wild Card round (forever to be known as the RG-knee Game), they fell to the Falcons, after getting crushed by them, and then coming all the way back, only to out-choke Atlanta, snatching defeat from the jaws of miraculous victory. As with all the other teams with sophomore quarterbacks, the world will be watching to see whether Wilson will progress upon his fabulous rookie season, or whether he will fall into the trap of the sophomore slump. Their schedule is fierce, but Seattle is the most physical team in the league, and if they are defeated, it won’t be because of any lack in effort.

Week 1: L at CAR (classic hype letdown game)

Week 2: W vs SF

Week 3: W vs JAC

Week 4: L at HOU

Week 5: W at IND

Week 6: W vs TEN

Week 7: L at ARI

Week 8: L at STL

Week 9: W vs TB

Week 10: W at ATL (again...REVENGE!!!!!!!!!!)

Week 11: W vs MIN

Week 12: Bye

Week 13: W vs NO

Week 14: L at SF

Week 15: W at NYG (changed prediction)

Week 16: W vs ARI

Week 17: W vs STL

After a surprisingly slow start and a 4-4 record, I think Seattle will find their groove, and go 7-1 the rest of the way, finishing 11-5 and winning the NFC West by one game over their rival Niners. I believe that the NFC is Seattle’s conference to lose, for what that’s worth, even though there are many other suitable teams who can rise up and make the Super Bowl. They are ferocious, talented everywhere, and ready to win.

Bold Prediction: Russell Wilson will total 4,000 yards and 33 touchdowns.