This Time, Really 10-6

Judging by past performance, I can accurately predict one thing about my annual Seattle Seahawks prediction column: It’ll be wrong.

As some of you may recall, I wrote that the ‘97 Seahawks would go 10-6 and make the playoffs.

How was I to know their special teams would play worse than the two special teams on which I had personal experience: My talking football game (the one where you insert discs into a cassette-style player) and, of course, the uncontrolled vibrations of electronic football.

Anyway, the Seahawks finished a disappointing 8-8.

In ‘96, I boldly projected a 9-7 season. Seattle ended 7-9, which I suggested as a worst-case fallback should Rick Mirer go belly-up.

Nonetheless, I was, again, two games off. So, I sense the pressure mounting to correctly peg the Seahawks this season.

I feel like I should be in those Holiday Inn Express commercials, the one with the guy telling the petrified lady how to survive her encounter with a bear. Walk up and box the bear’s ears, he instructs.

At the end, a bystander asks if he’s a park ranger. The guy confesses he really knows nothing about bears, but he’s been enlightened by his stay at the Holiday Inn Express.

If folks had bet their life savings on my past predictions, well, let’s just say a lot of bears would be running around with indigestion right now.

It seems evident readers and/or independent counsel are going to start questioning whether I’m a sportswriter or impersonating one should another prediction fall short.

So Seahawks fans are just going to have to live with a 10-6 season and a berth in the playoffs.

We’ve arrived at that number before, haven’t we? Danged if it isn’t every September we’re duped into thinking, ‘This is the year,’ only to deal with another December disappointment.

You want to believe, but you can’t get past the near decade (1989-97) of futility.

Can’t blame you. I’ve bought the hype before, too, but this year 10-6 isn’t a stretch. It won’t take out-of-skull performances, merely players doing their jobs.

Seattle is eons better because of three newcomers: The addition of Brian Habib at right guard, Darrin Smith at linebacker and Pete Rodriguez as special teams coach.

I’m not sold on Ricky Watters, but I suspect he’ll be an improvement over Chris Warren, who would have run to daylight more if the sideline hadn’t interfered so often.

I’m not convinced that Howard “House” Ballard and Warren Moon can stay healthy for 16 games. But Seattle can still win, even if those proud warriors were injured for short periods.

Seattle is solid on defense, particularly the front seven. The offense, if the line meshes, is potentially lethal.

The Seahawks gained ground on the Chiefs and Broncos last year, record notwithstanding. Seattle had every opportunity to win 3 of 4 against those clubs. The year before, Seattle lost by an average of 18.2 points to the Chiefs and Broncos.

This year, Seattle splits four games with the AFC West bullies. This year, Seattle starts 2-0, ending a three-year routine of 0-2.

Denver, though, will win the West at 11-5. K.C. and Seattle will tie at 10-6. Jacksonville claims the Central; Miami the East.

Green Bay, Washington and San Francisco win NFC divisions. Jacksonville edges Denver in the AFC title game, but gets spanked by Green Bay, 34-20, in the Super Bowl.

Just one cautionary note: I can’t recall staying at a Holiday Inn Express.