LET'S TALK FOOTBALL - Seattle Seahawks

It is very rare that a ten-win team misses the playoffs, but that is what happens when you play in a highly competitive conference. However, the Seattle Seahawks showed a lot of promise the year before. Their offense proved that they were capable of getting the job done in late-game situations, while the defense showed a ton of improvement with new head coach Mike MacDonald. The front office spent the offseason re-tooling their roster, which unfortunately meant saying goodbye to a few familiar faces, but the ultimate goal is to get off to a fresh start and take the next step towards success.

Geno Smith had a great tenure as the starting quarterback of the Seahawks. For him to revitalize his career and save it from forever ruin was absolutely incredible. He will certainly be missed and it will be nice to see him have continued success with Pete Carroll and the Las Vegas Raiders. As a result, Seattle went with the plan B option and signed Sam Darnold to a $100 million contract for three years. That left me confused because the Seahawks were not willing to give Geno a new deal, but gave a quarterback on the same tier $55 million guaranteed. Darnold is coming off the best season of his career with Minnesota, so the organization is really hoping that it was not just accidental and that he does not revert to what he was with the Jets and Panthers. When I look at the supporting cast around him, it is not as strong as the one he had with the Vikings, but it is still a talented group. For it to truly take off, though, their running game has to step up in a big way. The backfield has two talented studs in Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, but each of them totaled under 600 rushing yards. Granted, the former missed five games due to injury, but that does not excuse the fact that Seattle totaled the fifth fewest rushing yards in the league. Once that area improves, then the passing game can truly open up. Although Tyler Lockett was released and DK Metcalf was traded, new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has a rising star in Jaxon Smith-Njigba that should become the focal point of their offense. If he is doubled, then former Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp will be a beacon of light. That is if he is on the field for more than twelve games this year. The only question I have is who will step up as the third option? Their tight end room is decent with the likes of AJ Barner, Noah Fant, and rookie Elijah Arroyo. Yet the two veterans never totaled more than 500 yards last year. I thought Jake Bobo could emerge as an underrated scheme fit, yet he has not been able to maximize his potential. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is at least a reliable deep threat, but this is his third team in two seasons, so he is not exactly the player that teams dream to have in their offense. The reason why I bring this up is because if nobody is open and Darnold is holding onto the ball too long, then that offensive line is going to be just as much of a mess as it has been in years past. They allowed the third most sacks in football last season, so even though they drafted Grey Zabel in the first round, that was the only notable move they made in regards to that group. I just hope that the team does not scapegoat Darnold as the problem and throw rookie Jalen Milroe into the fire, or else their season is going to fall down the tubes quickly.

However, what gives me faith in the Seahawks is their defense. It might not have been a top ten unit, but considering how much of a downward spiral it was on in Pete Carroll’s latter years as the head coach, they were the biggest reason why Seattle actually had a chance of winning the division in November. They still have Leonard Williams anchoring the defensive line, with plenty of depth around him. It is a mix of reliable veterans and rising young players. The list includes Johnathan Hankins, Demarcus Lawrence, Jarran Reed, Byron Murphy II, Derrick Hall, and Boye Mafe. In the second level, Ernest Jones will have a chance to get a full season with the Seahawks under his belt, so the versatile linebacker will more than likely put up highly productive numbers. There is also sophomore Tyrice Knight that is developing into a blue-chip linebacker, especially since he got the chance to become a starter in the second half of the season last year. In the secondary, they still have a bunch of feisty playmakers that will bend but will not break. That group has plenty of guys returning like Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen, Coby Bryant, and Julian Love. They also drafted rookie safety Nick Emmanwori in the second round, who many said was one of the top two prospects in that position class. If that offense truly turns the corner, then there will not be a ton of pressure mounting on the shoulders of this improved defense.

Although I think this is a nicely constructed and well talented team, they have their work cut out for them when it comes to making the playoffs. The Seahawks play in a tough division and the rest of their conference has a few key giants that will not be easy to take down. The only way I can see Seattle become a legitimate threat is if Darnold continues to thrive the way he did in Minnesota and the defense turns into the most dominant unit they have had since the Legion of Boom. Expect more than a couple of rough patches, but also some promising stretches that signal some hope and fortitude.

WEEK 1 vs. SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

The Seahawks know that in order for this team to truly exceed expectations, one of the teams they have to beat early in the year is the San Francisco 49ers. Fortunately for Seattle, their first game of the season will be against this team at Lumen Field, so they have one factor in their advantage. However, the 49ers are going to do everything they can to prove to everyone that last year was just an injury-riddled and drama-laden fluke. There will be no more offseason drama now that Brock Purdy got his contract extension, so now that the offense is healthy, it is time to see what he can do. Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Trent Williams will be returning. Unfortunately, Deebo Samuel and Jaylon Moore will not. However, the 49ers still have an incredible amount of depth at wide receiver and the offensive line has been a stable unit for the most part. Deebo might be gone, but if Aiyuk cannot fully recover from the injury, then there is another trio that could pick up the slack: Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson, and Ricky Pearsall. It might not sound totally inspiring, but with Shanahan as the play-caller, they will be effective and efficient.

At the start of the offseason, the 49ers saw many of their stars depart elsewhere. Javon Hargrave, Talanoa Hufanga, Dre Greenlaw, and Charvarius Ward were the most notable names to leave. The good news is that they still have two of their key cornerstones in Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. Not only that, but Robert Saleh is coming back as the defensive coordinator, so a familiar face will be more than welcomed back in the building. The 49ers made sure to give Bosa some extra help by drafting Mykel Williams in the first round, but I truly do not know if this team is going to be truly better than they were last year. With Greenlaw gone, you don’t know who is going to pair up with Warner on the second level. Deommodore Lenoir got himself a nice contract extension, but who is his right hand man? On the other hand, Hufanga’s void will be filled with the likes of Malik Mustapha and Ji’Ayir Brown, along with veterans Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant hoping to adapt to their new change of scenery.

Because this game is being played in week one, I think that the 49ers are going to get off to a strong start to their season and show that they are ready to put themselves back on the map. I do not think this will be a cakewalk because the Seahawks proved that they can be scrappy and opportunistic last year, but Sam Darnold is the biggest X factor in this matchup, so I want to see what he is able to do with a slightly less talented team around him than the one he had in Minnesota.

WEEK 2 @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS

If the Steelers did not sign Aaron Rodgers, then I think that this would have been the first victory of the season for the Seahawks, but even that would not be an easy feat since they would be on the road. However, now that Mike Tomlin has his quarterback, his streak of winning seasons has a strong chance of staying alive for another year! Najee Harris is gone, but Jaylen Warren has always been a huge focal point of this offense, and I think rookie Kaleb Johnson could mold in well with Arthur Smith’s system. George Pickens got traded, yet DK Metcalf is always a receiver that any quarterback would love to have. Hopefully, he shows more consistency in his play because he is incredibly athletic and physical, but you do not see it as often as you would hope. Pat Freiermuth is always a serviceable security blanket, Calvin Austin shows plenty of flashes with his speed, and Roman Wilson is trying to bounce back after an injury-riddled rookie year. However, the offensive line brings up a lot of concerns as they allowed the ninth most sacks in the NFL. Dan Moore Jr. left in free agency, which will make Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones the two startling tackles for the season, so let’s see if that is a move that will pay off over time.

Whether the Steelers make the playoffs or not, I seriously doubt that defense is going to regress. That is if TJ Watt clears up whatever issues he might have with the front office. Otherwise, they are screwed. As much as I love guys like Alex Highsmith and Cam Heyward, they will not have a pass rush without the former Defensive Player of the Year. We can only hope that rookie Derrick Harmon can have an instant impact on that line because that would be absolutely critical. The linebacking room is a deep one per usual, and I think it will get even stronger with Jack Sawyer as a late draft addition, but I hope they do not wear down like they did last year before. As for the secondary, it is also a well respected group that just got stronger. Darius Slay might not be the corner that he was in his prime but he can still play at a high level and complement a shutdown beast in Joey Porter Jr. The same goes with safety Juan Thornhill to help out Minkah Fitzpatrick. They will be the biggest reason why this Steelers team is competitive, but if their offense is near the bottom of the dumpster, then it is going to be an exhausted group as the season progresses.

Not only does Pittsburgh have the better quarterback, but if Watt is able to get a new deal, then they will have a more dominant defense. I feel like this is the type of game where both teams will throw a couple jabs in the first half, but then Pittsburgh will pull away in the second half and make sure they are the ones smiling after the game ends.

WEEK 3 vs. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

There is no excuse why the Seahawks should not win this game. They are at home, they are playing against a vastly inferior opponent, and the last thing they could do is start off the season 0-3. To put it nicely, I do not have a lot of hopes for the Saints this year. I feel bad that this is the first head coaching job for Kellen Moore because on a team with no cap flexibility, an aging roster, and no plan at quarterback, this is the worst situation he could have asked for. Everything was put on halt when Derek Carr retired, so now there are three guys competing for the starting job: Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and rookie Tyler Shough. I wish I could say that at least there are the Pelicans, but that team is on the verge of blowing it up. The only silver lining I have is that at least the Saints offense will be healthy. Alvin Kamara had a bounce back season with close to 1500 total yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed will more than likely be the two biggest targets for whichever quarterback throws them the ball, along with tight ends Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill. Brandin Cooks is even coming back, so there is some nostalgia there. The offensive line is not completely horrible either and it got better with Kelvin Banks Jr. replacing Ryan Ramczyck at right tackle. The only issue is that once everybody got hurt, the entire offense plummeted, and it is one of the biggest reasons why the Saints had a dismal five win season.

As for the defense, how do I put this? They have zero depth and they are incredibly old. When you do look at the younger guys in this group, they are either inconsistent or inexperienced. They already lost their top two corners in Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo, their only two good pass rushers are Bryan Bresee and Carl Granderson, we don’t know what to expect from Chase Young, and Demario Davis can only do so much at thirty-six years old. At least they signed Justin Reid to reunite with his former Texans teammate Tyrann Mathieu, but with Brandon Staley as the defensive coordinator, my hopes are not that high for this group.

I do not care if this turns into a close game or a blowout. The Seahawks better win this game or else they are going to be the third wheel of the division for the rest of the season. Forget about playing second fiddle to the Rams or 49ers.

WEEK 4 @ ARIZONA CARDINALS

Normally, this would be the type of divisional series that I would say will end in a split. However, the Seahawks have been the definition of kryptonite to Kyler Murray over the years. He has only beaten them twice as a starter and is currently on a seven game losing streak, but at the same time, I doubt this game will be a blowout. Murray did not have a hard time bouncing back from his torn ACL and showed that this is still his team for the foreseeable future, James Conner is still a workhorse at running back, and Marvin Harrison Jr. established himself as the focal point of the passing game. Trey McBride rightfully earned a contract extension to make him the highest paid tight end in the NFL, but I am curious to see how Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch are going to perform in what should be make-or-break seasons for both receivers in the league. The fact that Arizona has one of the best offensive lines in football after being such a garbage heap a few seasons ago should indicate that this unit will be very efficient. The question is can they be consistent, because that has been the biggest con of Kyler Murray’s tenure in the NFL.

What I was really more impressed with was their defense with Jonathan Gannon leading the charge. I still feel their pass rush can get a lot better, but totaling forty-one sacks last year showed promising signs of improvement. It is why they drafted Walter Nolen with their first round pick and signed Josh Sweat to a long-term deal, giving players like Darius Robinson and Baron Browning chances to have improved in the 2025 campaigns. I am also expecting the run defense to get better because even though they have Zaven Collins, there is a reason why Arizona signed a proven veteran in Dalvin Tomlinson. The secondary is also an above average unit that at least made the effort of adding a potential number one corner by drafting Will Johnson in the second round, so that should take a lot of pressure off of Budda Baker’s shoulders. It is still a very young group, so I am anxious to see which guys are going to step up, especially as we approach the second half of the season.

This is going to be a quick turnaround for the Seahawks since this game will be televised on Thursday Night Football, but I have faith that they can string together back-to-back wins. The ones under the most pressure are the Cardinals because Seattle has proven to be the superior team over the past few seasons. The only way for the script to flip is if Kyler Murray has the game of his life and carry his team to victory.

WEEK 5 vs. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

This is already a make-or-break matchup for the Seahawks because this is the chance to see what type of team they are going to be this season. Either they are going to be one that beats up subpar opponents yet comes up short against those with legitimate expectations, or they are going to show they can compete with anybody else in the National Football League. Either way, the Buccaneers are not a cakewalk opponent, and have not been for the last five years. It began with Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield has done more than his job to make them a respected foe. He might have his third different offensive coordinator in his three years with the team, but I think that as long as the pieces are still there and the system does not change, then it should not be too big of an issue. Bucky Irving emerged as one of the more promising rookie running backs in the league, so any time the passing game does get held in check, then he and Rachaad White can pick up the slack. Say it is the other way around, then you have Mike Evans to worry about, somebody that is essentially guaranteed to total a thousand yards in a season. Chris Godwin is coming back, Jalen McMillan showed tremendous promise as a rookie, and Tampa drafted Emeka Egbuka to round out the receiving room. Their offensive line is also a well-rounded unit that showed improvement towards the second half of the season, but based on Mayfield’s style of play, it is a unit that might give up more sacks than you would like.

My only real concern with the Buccaneers is their defense, which should not be the case with Todd Bowles as the head coach. If you ask me, it is an average unit with a few key stars, but not much else. They have a beast in Vita Vea anchoring the pass rush, Lavonte David still playing at a high level at middle linebacker, and one of the best safeties in the league in Antoine Winfield Jr. However, they allowed the fourth most passing yards out of any other team and their secondary only totaled seven interceptions. I understand that Tampa drafted two corners with their mid-round picks and signed Haason Reddick in free agency, but I don’t believe that those additions moved the needle with this group. Although they have guys they can show up in spurts, Tampa does not have a lot of players that are difference makers, and that is critical if they want to make a deep playoff run.

I think that we are going to get a close and tightly contested grudge match, especially between two former top three picks of the 2018 NFL Draft, but the Buccaneers just have the better team. Baker Mayfield has not lost to Sam Darnold in his career yet, and when these two were teammates in Carolina, it was the number one pick that had the upper hand. If Darnold can withstand the pressure and put the team on his back, then Seattle will absolutely have a fighting chance to get this win.

WEEK 6 @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

On the surface, this should be seen as an easy victory for the Seahawks, and for good reason. It will be interesting to see how the Jaguars look with Liam Coen as the new head coach, because if Trevor Lawrence continues to look mediocre at best and pathetic at worst, then that contract extension is only going to appear worse as the days roll by. Coen has a lot of work to do with not just getting Lawrence back on track, but with the rest of the offense as well. They have two capable starting running backs in Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby, while Brian Thomas Jr. has emerged as the focal point of the passing game, but the offense suffered a lot of turnover at the same time. Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, and Evan Engram were all released. Jacksonville replaced them by promoting Brenton Strange as the starting tight end, signing Dyami Brown in free agency, and then trading up with the Browns to draft Travis Hunter with the second overall pick! Not only is Hunter supposed to help out a ton in the passing game, but that secondary has desperately needed a standout cornerback for years, and the Jaguars got a guy that can do both! One of the biggest surprises of 2024 was that their offensive line actually did pretty well, despite only winning four games. It only let up thirty-two sacks, the ninth fewest in the league, and I think it got stronger with the signing of Patrick Mekari in free agency. Anton Harrison showed improvement, Ezra Cleveland thrived at left guard, and the unit did pretty well for itself without Cam Robinson at left tackle. Lawrence is going to be the biggest X factor for this team’s success, or else Jacksonville’s new regime will not be afraid of moving on from him in the upcoming offseason.

As for the Jaguars defense, I have been consistent in saying that it has been the team’s Achilles heel for the last five years. The only two guys that kept it somewhat afloat were Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, so even with the addition of Travis Hunter, this group has a lot of making up to do this year. Arik Armstead has been a disappointment, Devin Lloyd showed a lot of consistency issues, and I did not like that Jourdan Lewis was the only addition they made to the secondary in free agency. Maybe Hunter and Tyson Campbell can form into a solid duo, but for this team to truly turn things around, everything has to be absolutely perfect in all aspects of play.

Having said all of this, I see this as a trap game for the Seahawks. The reason why is because if you look at Sam Darnold’s numbers against the Jaguars, they are not promising at all. In three matchups in Duval, the former third overall pick is 1-2 as a starter, throwing just three touchdown passes and six interceptions. His one victory was last year when he was on the Vikings, but he still threw three picks and it took four field goals for that team to barely hang on and survive. Seattle should be the favorites in this game, but if Darnold continues to put the ball in harm’s way, then this is going to be one of their more humiliating defeats of the season.

WEEK 7 vs. HOUSTON TEXANS

You are going to see this pattern a lot with the Seahawks this year. One week, they will look like they should be Wild Card contenders, and then come out sloppy the nex. Fortunately, I think we will see more bright spots in this Monday night matchup than glaring flaws. Last season was rough for a franchise that was finally starting to get things back on track. Despite winning the AFC South and making it back to the playoffs, it felt like they were worse than last year, and now it is time for everybody to prove that it was just a fluke. That means CJ Stroud is going to have to break through that rough sophomore wall and return to the promising stud he was in his rookie season. This season will be a bigger challenge because not only is Stefon Diggs gone, but Tank Dell is expected to miss all of 2025 with that gruesome knee injury he suffered in December. However, I think both Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are going to surprise a lot of people in their rookie seasons, which will take a lot of pressure off of Nico Collins and even newly signed Christian Kirk. Along with Joe Mixon and Dalton Schultz, it is still a talented offense that just let go of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, so it is time for Nick Caley to right the ship. Yet, their offensive line still gives me pause for concern. They traded away Laremy Tunsil, released Shaq Mason, and traded away Kenyon Green. The new guys that the Texans signed include Cam Robinson, Trent Brown, and Ed Ingram. The only returning pieces are Juice Scruggs and Tytus Howard. I don’t know how, but it felt like their offensive line got worse. That says a lot, considering that CJ Stroud was the second most sacked quarterback in the league!

As for the Texans defense, the one thing that held them back from their potential was the lack of discipline. That falls on DeMeco Ryans because this was supposed to be the unit for him to turn around. They have the talent, but they need the chemistry and mental toughness to really go far in the playoffs. Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter did a tremendous job on the front four, they have a legitimate linebacker duo of Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o, but it is their secondary that I think makes this group even more dangerous. They have a transcendent number one corner in Derek Stingley Jr., a couple of rising studs in Calen Bullock and Kamari Lassiter, and Jalen Pitre is one of the more underrated safeties in all of football. They also just acquired CJ Gardner Johnson in a trade with Philadelphia, which means Jimmie Ward will not have to take a huge load of the work as one of the only veterans on the team.

The Seahawks have not lost a home game to the Texans in franchise history, and I think the bright lights on Monday night will give Seattle a bigger advantage. I do not expect this to be a pretty win because I can see both offenses look sloppy, but this is going to come down to discipline and defensive intensity. If Houston can prove that they are capable of not getting in their own way in this matchup, then I can see a different outcome.

WEEK 8: BYE WEEK

WEEK 9 @ WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

Any time I watched Sam Darnold on a primetime stage last year, I never got the most promising numbers, regardless if his team won or lost the game. Now the Seahawks have to take the road to play the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football, and my guess is that I am not going to get an awe-inspiring performance on Darnold, especially against a team that was just in the NFC Championship last year. The main guy in charge? Seattle’s former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. But the biggest reason why Washington is getting all the hype is because their quarterback has emerged as a superstar that lifted them to the conference championship game, so he is hoping that they get further this time around and have a happier ending. The supporting cast around him did not change drastically from last year. Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler have been a solid running back tandem, Terry McLaurin is easily one of the more underappreciated receivers in football, they just acquired Deebo Samuel as an extra option, and Zach Ertz returned to being the reliable security blanket that everybody wants in their offense. Washington also made sure to address its offensive line by trading for Laremy Tunsil, so let’s hope that he is not one of the more penalized tackles in the league this time around. However, it is a group that allowed the seventh most sacks, so it is not like Washington is going to have an unbelievable offense that cannot be stopped. Fortunately, they drafted Josh Connerly Jr. as a future starter at right tackle, so the Commanders made sure to address the two most important positions on that front.

Their defense is a very unique one run by Dan Quinn. They do not have too many household names, but it is a group that is opportunistic and one you do not want to turn the ball over against. Jonathan Allen is gone, but they still have a franchise cornerstone in Da’Ron Payne along with a quality starter in Dorance Armstrong to lead the pass rush. The Commanders are also expecting Jer’Zhawn Newton to take the next step at defensive tackle and even signed Javon Kinlaw to give him a bigger role. Bobby Wagner is still playing at a high level and Frankie Luvu has been more than an exceptional complement to have in the linebacker room, but the secondary is one that I am hoping shows signs of improvement. Hopefully, Marshon Lattimore can have a full and healthy season to remind us why he is still one of the best corners in football. Mike Sainristil will be in the slot and Jonathan Jones is expected to be another outside defender, which is not the most ideal situation, but you at least have proven starters. However, one player that I have high hopes for is safety Quan Martin. He totaled eighty-seven tackles last year and showed up huge in the playoffs, the type of player that Dan Quinn loves to have on a daily basis.

I can definitely see this coming down to the wire, but if Seattle’s defense is on the field in the last two minutes and Jayden Daniels is the one with the chance to put on the finishing touches, then that is the worst situation they could put themselves in that night.

WEEK 10 vs. ARIZONA CARDINALS

I was not lying when I said that this pattern is going to be frustrating, but that is essentially how the Seahawks have been over the last few seasons. Because of their track record against Arizona, I have a strong feeling that Seattle is going to sweep the series once again. If Sam Darnold could do it to Green Bay last year, I do not see how he cannot do the same thing against Kyler Murray.

WEEK 11 @ LOS ANGELES RAMS

This is probably the toughest game of the season for the Seahawks for two reasons. The first is that the Rams are the defending division champions, but the second is because this was one of the only teams that Sam Darnold lost to twice last year. The first was on a Thursday night stage in October, but the second was his in the playoffs, when he only scored nine points and got sacked as many times. This is the true litmus test of the season for Seattle, because beating them is one thing, but to do it on the road is an even bigger feat. The Rams have always been a consistent playoff contender under Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford. Their offense has always been their bread and butter, regardless of the different pieces they had over the years. Kyren Williams is a touchdown machine just like a certain man named Todd Gurley. The Rams have one of the best young receivers in the league in Puka Nacua, and while the Cooper Kupp era unfortunately had to come to an end, it is not terrible getting Davante Adams as a consolation prize. I personally thought it was a bummer that Demarcus Robinson departed in free agency, but knowing Sean McVay, there are going to be at least a couple guys that will carve out bigger roles. My guesses are Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell. Unfortunately, Tyler Higbee is not the same tight end that he once was, but I think both Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen have a strong chance of stealing the starting spot at some point in the season. Their offensive line gave up the sixth fewest sacks in the league, so if you are a team that does not have a scary pass rush, then it might take a while before you actually get to the quarterback.

Their defense has a boatload of playmakers, but I still feel like there is a lot of room for improvement. Braden Fiske and Jared Verse made instant impacts in their rookie seasons, while Kobie Turner and Byron Young showed the young guys how it was done. Their biggest loss was letting Christian Rozeboom walk away in free agency because they do not really have anybody else that could replace him. Hopefully, the secondary could ease things for the time being. Derion Kendrick is coming back from injury and Darious Williams is back, but this group proved that there were plenty of guys that successfully adopted the “next man up” mentality. Kamren Kinchens and Jaylen McCollough thrived in the safety positions, while Ahkello Witherspoon and Cobie Durant might have found a new home. It is not the most explosive defense, but they are hungry for blood, a group that is not afraid to get nasty when things get difficult.

Because the Rams are at home and this game is taking place in one of the biggest months of the regular season, I do not see how they can lose. I understand that Seattle beat them in the same stadium last year, but the Rams were playing backups in the regular season finale because they already clinched the NFC West. Now that both teams are at full strength, we will get a chance to see how high the ceiling is for the Seahawks towards the final stretch of the year.

WEEK 12 @ TENNESSEE TITANS

This is not the first time I will say this and I have a feeling this will not be the last, but this should be another game that the Seahawks win handedly. The Titans had the worst record in the league last season and clinched the first overall pick, which they used to select quarterback Cam Ward. I loved watching him when he was at Miami, but head coach Brian Callahan is going to throw this kid into the fire early, and I honestly cannot determine how he will perform. The pieces around him are not terrible, but then again, they only won three games with essentially the same supporting cast around him. You have Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears manning the backfield, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett as your expected top receiving targets, and an offensive line that honestly did not improve over the offseason. I have hopes for rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Deke, but I still cannot understand why new general manager Mike Borgonzi gave Dan Moore Jr. $50 million guaranteed to be their starting left tackle.

As for the defense, it really gave us a bunch of mixed signs every week. They were the second best group in yards allowed, yet were the third worst in points surrendered. All of the veterans that they acquired that offseason were let go before the 2024 season could even conclude, and a couple more might join them if they implode once again. Harold Landry was released, Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs were cut in the middle of the year, and Ernest Jones was traded. Hopefully, things do not head in the opposite direction once again because they have solid guys in their group. Jeffery Simmons, Arden Key, and T’Vondre Sweat held their own on the front four. Cody Barton and Dre’Mont Jones were brought in from Denver to help pick up the slack. L’Jarius Sneed is trying to return to form and will have guys like Amani Hooker and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. to step up on their end.

I can actually see this being a closer game than people expect, but the Seahawks should be the ones coming out on top regardless. Then again, Sam Darnold did give the Dolphins and Bengals their first victories of the 2019 season, so I guess anything is possible in this matchup.

WEEK 13 vs. MINNESOTA VIKINGS

I am going to be excited to watch this matchup because Sam Darnold will have a chance to get some revenge against his former team for letting him walk away in free agency instead of keeping him around in free agency. However, the Vikings think that if Darnold could win fourteen games for them last year, then they should have a lot of success with JJ McCarthy and essentially the same supporting cast. Let’s start with Justin Jefferson, who is still to this day the best receiver in football. If he gets doubled, then McCarthy will have Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor, along with a trusted security blanket in TJ Hockenson. In the backfield, Aaron Jones does not seem to have lost a step and is still one of the best flexible backs in the league. Their offensive line retooled in the offseason, letting go of their biggest liabilities and replacing them with potential gems. They signed Ryan Kelly and Will Fries in free agency and then drafted Donovan Jackson in the first round, pairing them with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill.

Their defense under Brian Flores was one of the more promising units to watch. They led the league in takeaways, allowed the fifth fewest points, tied for fourth in sacks, and gave up the second fewest rushing yards. The only category that this defense did not excel in was their pass defense, but those previous statistics I mentioned prove that this is a “bend but do not break” group. Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel thrived in their first seasons with the team by totaling double-digit sacks, and then they beefed up the trenches with the additions of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Just imagine what happens if Dallas Turner breaks out in his sophomore season. Patrick Jones II unfortunately departed in free agency, but their linebacker corps is still intact with Ivan Pace and Blake Cashman hoping to stabilize things with their run defense. The secondary is where it gets interesting because while they have a deep safety group and a number one corner in Byron Murphy, I do not like that their replacement for Stephon Gilmore was Isaiah Rodgers. Not to mention that their backups are Jeff Okudah and Ambry Thomas. I think that we are going to get more or less the same production from this defense as last year, but it is their quarterback that will be the ultimate X factor.

Both quarterbacks in this game have so much to prove this season, but I have more faith in McCarthy to win in Seattle because he is on a better football team. The Vikings have a more explosive offense and I believe that their defense is more feared. There is no question that this will be a close game, but I doubt that Darnold is going to have a field day and finish with a perfect passer rating against one of the top ten defenses in the league from the year before.

WEEK 14 @ ATLANTA FALCONS

In the last three matchups between these two teams at Mercedes Benz Stadium, the Seahawks have not only won, but made sure to humiliate the Falcons in front of their own fans and not make it close. Now that Michael Penix has the full keys to the Atlanta offense, one of two things is going to happen. Either he surges like Lamar Jackson did in his sophomore year and carries the team to relevance, or the flaws keep rearing their ugly heads as they walk into another mediocre season. As I said, this is a team that has plenty of talent to get over the hump. Bijan Robinson is easily one of the top five running backs in all of football and Drake London broke through in his third year with over 1200 receiving yards. However, for this offense to truly rise up the charts, they need Kyle Pitts to get back on the map. After his rookie season, he was expected to be a huge focal point of the offense. Then all of a sudden, his play diminished and he has been in a lot of trade rumors. At some point in time, the quarterback cannot be the scapegoat for this anymore, so it will be really interesting to see how Pitts performs in 2025. Let’s not forget that Darnell Mooney fell eight yards short of a thousand last season and Ray-Ray McCloud set career highs in targets, catches, and yards! I don’t have a lot of concerns for the offensive line, even with the loss of Chris Dalman, because it is a group with proven starters. The Falcons only gave up thirty-two sacks the year before and was considered one of the best run blocking lines in football, so it really comes down to the receivers getting open and Penix being smart with his decision making.

As for the defense, it was really the most disappointing in the league. There is a reason why they did not decide to bring Matthew Judon or Justin Simmons back after signing them to prove-it deals for one year. They also knew that they could not keep Grady Jarrett around much longer because after the extension he received in 2019, he never totaled more than six sacks in a season. The good news was that Atlanta had two first round picks and decided to boost the edge with those selections. They finally made a smart decision and took Jalon Walker with their first pick, but then stunned all of us by trading a future first for James Pearce Jr. That means that head coach Raheem Morris sees them as immediate impactful players to complement Arnold Ebiketie. The rest of their defensive line has proven veterans like Leonard Floyd and David Onyemata, but they are also not getting any younger, so a lot more weight is going to be given to the young guys. They finished with the second fewest sacks in the NFL, so even though that number will get higher this season, I do not see a drastic improvement. I never had an issue with the linebacking room. Kaden Elliss is an extremely versatile linebacker and I have hopes for JD Bertrand, so I think the signing of Divine Deablo can help this group instead of hurt them. But the one position group that I have never been fond of is the secondary. AJ Terrell and Jessie Bates might be All-Pro caliber players, but who do they have to help out? I like Dee Alford, but he had an up-and-down season as he struggled with coverage. Jordan Fuller is a guy that I liked when he was on the Rams, but he tailed off in Carolina and got cut after one year for a reason. Mike Hughes did not do too bad and Atlanta brought him back on a new contract, yet I am worried that last year might have been a blimp in the radar.

Seattle is going to do everything they can to make sure their season stays alive, so beating up a mediocre Falcons team should be a good start for them, even if Michael Penix turns out to be a solid starter. I think this will be a game where the Seahawks defense takes control from start to finish, and the offense gets into a better rhythm as time passes, which will allow them to pull away in the waning minutes.

WEEK 15 vs. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

This should be the last time I say this but the Seahawks better not lose this game, especially in their home stadium. The reason why is very simple: the Colts do not have a legitimate starting quarterback. We thought it could be Anthony Richardson, but his inaccuracy issues completely plagued this team, and it did not help that he was in and out of the lineup throughout the season. I seriously doubt Daniel Jones is going to get this team over the hump, so what I see is an average offense led by two subpar quarterbacks. I feel bad for Jonathan Taylor because his prime is just being wasted. The same goes with Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, because while Joe Flacco was not exactly the transcendent backup that he was in Cleveland, he at least proved that all those two needed was a better player throwing them the ball to help the two of them grow. However, one player that I think a lot of teams will have a hard time planning against will be rookie Tyler Warren. Regardless of who starts at quarterback for Indianapolis, he is going to be the ultimate security blanket because there are so many things he could do with the football. The offensive line was not so bad last season, but the departures of both Ryan Kelly and Will Fries are going to hurt them in 2025. Outside of Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith, I don’t really know which players on that front are going to excel at the highest level, meaning that Indianapolis is more than likely bound for another mediocre season.

Newly hired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is hoping to get his career back on track in a new change of place and prove that Gus Bradley was truly not the right man for the job. When I look at the Colts defense, I see a lot of names, but I know that the production was not there the year before. Their front four was supposed to be led by DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye, and Laitu Latu. Yet, they totaled the seventh fewest sacks with thirty-six. Zaire Franklin is one of the consistent leading tacklers in the NFL, but their run defense allowed close to 132 yards per game. However, I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that their secondary was still a travesty. This offseason, Chris Ballard did his job to make sure that it would not be an issue again. They brought in Charvarius Ward to be their new number one corner and signed safety Camryn Bynum to elevate it even higher. These were the two latest additions to a secondary that already had starpower in Nick Cross, Kenny Moore, and Jaylon Jones. Now it is up to Anarumo to see if he can finally turn this group around for the first time in close to five years.

If the Seahawks lose this game, then it would not surprise me if this was the one that would eliminate them from playoff contention. However, I think that day will come in due time, so this victory will bring them back to a 500 record with three weeks left in the year.

WEEK 16 vs. LOS ANGELES RAMS

Since the Rams upset the Seahawks in the Wild Card in January of 2021, they have only lost at Lumen Field once, and that was when Baker Mayfield was the starting quarterback of an injury-riddled roster. That means LA is not afraid to walk into the home of the twelfth man and make some eager fans very upset. To make a long story short, this is going to be a sweep and one that the Seahawks can not afford at this point in the season.

WEEK 17 @ CAROLINA PANTHERS

If the loss against the Rams does not eliminate Seattle from the playoffs, then this road matchup against Carolina might be the one that does the trick. After seeing his career nearly get destroyed to begin the 2024 season, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completely rebounded down the stretch and is now a sign of optimism rather than the biggest liability. Head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan are hoping that he and the rest of this offense can pick up where they left off, because they showed more positive flashes than they did in the last five years. Chuba Hubbard emerged as one of the best running backs in the league and he will have a nice right hand man in Rico Dowdle to step in when needed. Adam Thielen is not getting any younger, but that is a reason why Carolina used their first round pick to draft Tet McMillian, who will join a receiving corps featuring Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker. They also have a rising tight end in Ja’Tavion Sanders that will be seeking more opportunities, along with an offensive line that only let up thirty-six sacks. I do not think they will be a top ten unit right away, but if Carolina continues to head into the right direction, then they can absolutely be one of the more efficient offenses in the league.

However, I think the true X factor of this team is their defense, which was a disaster last year. It ranked dead last in total yards, passing, and points. They had the fourth fewest sacks and totaled nine interceptions, with a lot of it attributed to guys like Derrick Brown and Shaq Thompson missing the entire season. Brown will be returning, along with highly touted cornerback Jaycee Horn, but I do not think that this unit got drastically better. I like Tershawn Wharton, Christian Rozeboom, Tre’von Moehrig, and Pat Jones II. I think those are highly respected players that will be beneficial to this group. Yet, are those three really going to move the needle? Their leading tackle Xavier Woods is gone, Josey Jewell was okay, and neither Jadeveon Clowney nor DJ Wonnum made a difference on the defensive line. We knew that defensive coordinator Ejero Evero was going to have his hands full, but I seriously cannot tell if this group will overachieve or not. As much as I want them to, this team does not have the right personnel to do that at the moment, unless their offense turns back the clock a decade and starts ripping everyone’s hearts out.

Sam Darnold has not played against the Panthers since departing from the organization in 2023, but if Bryce Young truly picks up where he left off, then this is going to be the cherry on top for the 2025 Seattle Seahawks. This has to be the game where Darnold has the day of his life, or else their season is going to have another humiliating end.

WEEK 18 @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

If the 49ers have a fantastic season and decide to play their backups in the finale, or if they do not improve from the year before, then I see the Seahawks winning this game. However, my guess is that San Francisco is going to be in a down-to-the-wire fight with the Rams for the NFC West lead, and the last thing they can afford is one more regular season loss to end their hopes. I unfortunately expect another series sweep if that is the case, but I am personally hoping we get a split just for the sake of chaos.

FINAL RECORD PREDICTION: 7-10