It’s No Stretch To Say 10-6 Is Within Reach
In this space a year ago, I predicted the Seattle Seahawks would finish 9-7 and the Green Bay Packers would win the Super Bowl.
The temptation here is to just rerun that column, inserting “1997” wherever necessary.
But that’s too easy. Almost as easy as the Seahawks’ creampuff schedule this year.
I know I miscalculated on Seattle last season because I was reminded of it on an hourly basis by co-workers, readers, neighbors, so-called friends.
Seattle slinked to a 1-4 start and the needling began. “Try 2-14,” a co-worker told me. “More like 4-12, if they’re lucky,” friends accosted.
Seattle, naturally, finished between my calculations and my critics’ at 7-9, so I was off by a couple of games. I maintain the Seahawks would have gone 9-7 had John Friesz not been injured.
Regardless, I’ve learned to choose my words - and my predictions - with more caution.
Here goes. Seattle will win 13 games. Unfortunately, that’s counting three preseason wins. Ha!
Still, 10-6 would be a highwater mark for the franchise since 1986. And 10 wins will push the Seahawks into the playoffs for the first time since 1988.
Seattle will finish a game behind 11-5 Denver. Kansas City and Oakland will be 8-8 and San Diego 6-10.
Various media outlets have predicted Seattle will win between 5 and 11 games. The Seahawks have been labeled everything from AFC title contenders to 7-9 stinkers.
A glance at Seattle’s improved defense and soft schedule suggests impending good fortune. For the first time in years, the Seahawks should enjoy a fast start. They should be 4-2 before an Oct. 12 bye week. And that’s before games against St. Louis, New Orleans and Atlanta.
Consider records from a year ago: Today’s opening opponent, the Jets (1-15), Baltimore (4-12), Atlanta (3-13), New Orleans (3-13) and St. Louis (6-10, with four wins over Atlanta and New Orleans).
Atlanta and New Orleans shared last in the NFC West, Baltimore was last in the AFC Central and the Jets had the worst record in the NFL - by two games.
Seattle wins at least four of those five.
Swing games include Houston, er, Tennessee (8-8 a year ago) and Indianapolis (9-7, but 45-3 preseason losers to Seattle). Seattle wins at least one of two.
Seattle hasn’t had much success with AFC West foes in recent years, but I see a 5-3 mark. Why? Because Seattle can stand up to the run and won’t surrender the yardage it did a year ago against Denver (180 first game, 205 second game), Kansas City (157, 146), Oakland (200, 118) and San Diego (186, 69).
Seattle’s tackles should be fresher with Dan Saleaumua added to the rotation. Newcomers Chad Brown, a linebacker, and safety Bennie Blades bolster the run defense.
The 49ers probably take the season finale, dropping Seattle to 10-6.
Leadership, a problem in the past, is solid. Seattle wisely brought in players from winning teams - Brown and cornerback Willie Williams from Pittsburgh and Saleaumua from Kansas City.
Offensively, Friesz can do the job. Can the linemen do theirs so Friesz can do his? Friesz is a pocket passer with little mobility. That’s a concern, but it’s eased by the addition of backup Warren Moon.
Other division winners will be Miami (egads!), Pittsburgh, Dallas, Green Bay and Carolina. Other surprises: Cincinnati makes the playoffs; Jacksonville doesn’t; St. Louis wins at least eight games; and Tampa Bay makes the postseason.
Last year, I pegged division champs New England, Pittsburgh, Green Bay, Dallas and San Francisco, though Dallas and San Francisco tied in their respective divisions.
My Super Bowl guess a year ago was Green Bay 35, Pittsburgh 17, darn close to the Packers’ 35-21 drubbing of New England. Gotta blame Pittsburgh there - they would have lost 35-17 to Green Bay if given the opportunity.
This year Denver takes a shot at the Packers, who believe they can go undefeated. Green Bay will lose twice, but it won’t be to Denver.
Super Bowl XXXII: Green Bay 31, Denver 23.
Let the needling begin.
, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Jim Meehan The Spokesman-Review