Balanced schedule could benefit Seahawks
All eyes on Nov. 1 clash with 49ers as Seattle looks to return to playoffs
SEATTLE So we finally have dates, times and TV designations to go along with the team names on the Seahawks’ regular-season schedule for 2020.
It’s a slate of games that, if you’re a believer in strength of schedule based on opponents’ win-loss percentage in 2019, is one of the tougher allotments in the league — but lots of people aren’t, since how a team performs one year often isn’t repeated the next.
But based on that metric, Seattle’s schedule is tied for the 13th toughest in the NFL with opponents sporting a combined .509 win-loss percentage a year ago. However, much of that is due to playing the 49ers twice — San Francisco’s 26-6 (13-3 twice) accounts for roughly a fifth of the wins of the 129-125-2 overall record compiled last year by Seattle’s 2020 opponents.
Otherwise, at first glance, it appears to be a pretty good schedule for Seattle. Only once do the Seahawks play back-to-back road games, meaning there’s no fourof-five on the road stretch like last season (not that it mattered much as Seattle went 7-1 on the road in 2019).
And there are opportunities for both a favourable opening and closing — Seattle has three of its first five and three of its last five at home.
Here we’ll review each game individually, ranking those contests we’re anticipating most down to those that, well, we’re not quite as hyped about. (And yes, there’s the coronavirus caveat, so everything feels tenuous right now.)
Nov. 1 vs. 49ers: The first of two
■
rematches of the titanic tilts that decided the NFC West last year takes place in Seattle, with the Seahawks hoping to again draw first blood. Maybe it will help that the 49ers will be coming off long trip to New England the week before. What will also help is not taking a delay-of-game penalty at the 1-yard line again. Nov. 15 at Los Angeles Rams:
■
The Seahawks’ first visit to the new football palace in L.A. shapes up to be a perfect weekend for California fans — the day before, UW plays at USC and WSU plays at UCLA. A 3-0 record (or 2-1 depending on your preference) would make for a fun trip home.
Jan. 3 at San Francisco: Could
■
the NFC West come down to one game for a second straight season? If so, flexing this one could also get the Seahawks a fifth prime time TV slot. Seattle is 5-1 in Santa Clara.
Sept. 27 vs. Dallas: Visits from
■
America’s Team are always fun, and the Cowboys will bring the usual huge (inflated?) expectations and attention with them, as well as what might be the highest-paid player in the NFL if Dak Prescott gets a new deal by then to surpass Russell Wilson. That would make for a good week’s worth of storylines right there.
Sept. 20 vs. New England: Well
■
shoot, there will be no Tom Brady for this one, no chance for someone to ask him if he’s still mad, bro. And maybe, for that reason, we could be rating this game too high. On the other hand, this is Seattle’s home opener, and seeing how things might unfold for the Brady-less Pats this year will be endlessly fascinating.
Nov. 19 vs. Arizona: Seattle’s
■
lone Thursday night game comes at home with an intriguing contrast in streaks — the Seahawks are 9-1 on Thursday night under Pete Carroll but have lost four of their last five and five of their last seven at home to the Cardinals. Something has to give, unless for some cruel reason, these two decide to play a tie again.
Nov. 8 at Buffalo: Believe it or
■
not, this will be only the fourth time the Seahawks have played in Buffalo, and the first time under Carroll. The last Seattle visit to Buffalo was in 2008; the two teams played in Toronto in 2012. And that curiosity value alone gives this game some intrigue, as does going against a Bills defence that last year allowed the second-fewest points in the NFL. Dec. 27 vs. Los Angeles Rams:
■
It’s so hard to know what to make of the Rams. While they took a downturn last year, it’s not as if they didn’t play well against the Seahawks, gaining an average of 466 yards of offence in two games against Seattle. But even if the Rams are out of it by then, the hope obviously is that there will be a lot riding on this one for Seattle.
Nov. 30 at Philadelphia: A
■
rematch of the wild card playoff win might have a little more appeal if it weren’t the third trip for Seattle to Philly in basically a year. The sure-to-be-fired-up Eagles fans will surely let Jadeveon Clowney know they’re still mad about the hit on Carson Wentz. Unless he’s playing for the Eagles by then ...
Oct. 11 vs. Minnesota: I must
■
have missed the press release from the NFL that the Seahawks are now contractually obligated to host the Vikings in a prime-time affair every season. This will be the third straight year Seattle has hosted Minnesota on a Sunday or Monday night. Seattle won the previous two contests by a combined 58-37, a fact defensive-minded Vikings coach Mike Zimmer will surely remind his players about.
Oct. 25 at Arizona: A late October
■ trip to the Valley of the Sun is a lot better than the late September excursions of the last two years (again, assuming things are normal and all that). More relevant is that this will be the first matchup of the year against QB Kyler Murray and an improving Arizona squad — it may be easy to forget the Cardinals scored 24 or more points in six of their last eight games last year, four times in that span against the other NFC West teams, including a win in Seattle.
Sept. 13 at Atlanta: A long trip
■
for the season opener for Seattle, with the hope that the Seahawks can emerge from Atlanta with a win for the second straight season. The Falcons are one of the NFL’S mystery teams. They probably need a winning season for former Seahawks defensive co-ordinator Dan Quinn to keep his job after going 7-9 last year — which ended with the Falcons winning their last four to save Quinn for the time being.
Oct. 4 at Miami: While Miami
■
is the site of one of the Seahawks’ greatest wins — the 1983 divisional playoff over Dan Marino and crew — Seattle has won there just one other time. It holds a 1-6 record against the Dolphins on the road in the regular season. This game will move up a few notches on this list if Tua Tagovailoa is the Dolphins’ starting QB by then.
Dec. 13 vs. New York Jets: The
■
second of two home games in two weeks against New York teams, this gets a slight nod over the visit from the Giants the week before on the anticipation meter, since an offence with Sam Darnold and Le’veon Bell has potential. And maybe we’ll get to hear that George Fant is eligible again.
Dec. 20 at Washington: A rare
■
trip to one of the NFL’S storied franchises should maybe rate higher in my rankings — this is only the second visit for Seattle to Washington since 2005. But the late December date has us thinking this is going to be rainy, muddy and ugly. Seattle is just 1-7 in eight games against Washington in the regular season since 1998. Dec. 6 vs. New York Giants:
■
If you’re a Seahawks fan who has Saquon Barkley on your fantasy team, this could be a fun day at the Clink. He’ll surely put up some numbers, especially if Seattle’s run defence doesn’t improve. Otherwise, Seattle might be a huge favourite.