A Break from Conspiracy Corner

I am going to put Conspiracy Corner to rest for the time being. It may resurface later in the season, but I hope not. The reason for this is the dramatic improvement the Seattle Seahawks have made over the last three games. After the ineptitude of the first two games, it was hard to find any positives for this team, with the exception of the stellar play of Earl Thomas. Besides, the Seahawks may already have enough victories to eliminate them from the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes. Miami and Indianapolis are playing terrible football, and there is no reason to expect improvement from either team in the foreseeable future.

Having seen the team in person for the two home games as well as the game against the New York Giants on television, I have a good feeling about this team, which I would have thought to be impossible only a month ago. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not talking Super Bowl here. However, given how a number of teams in the NFC have struggled so far this season, a wild card berth is a possibility. Perhaps not a strong possibility, but a possibility nonetheless.

I don’t think the Seahawks have a chance to catch the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC West title. The 49ers were my choice to win the division way back in April, and they’ve outperformed my expectations so far this season. Given the relative softness of their schedule, they could very well finish with a record of 11-5 or better. If the Seahawks win nine games this season, I would consider that a tremendous accomplishment.

For that to happen, the Seahawks must win their next two games at Cleveland and at home against Cincinnati. This is the easiest part of the schedule, and the team must take advantage of it. The following two games are at Dallas and at home against Baltimore, so the Seahawks cannot afford any missteps now.

There is reason for optimism. As Keith pointed out earlier this week, the Browns are not a very good football team. The Seahawks have had two weeks to prepare for Cleveland. After last year’s bye week, the Seahawks played their best game of the regular season in their victory at Chicago. I expect a rested, well-prepared football team to take the field against the Browns.

It is staggering to think that it’s almost been FOUR YEARS since the Seahawks won consecutive games away from Qwest – oops, I mean CenturyLink – Field. The Seahawks have been a perennially poor road team, but a victory this Sunday following the Giants game two weeks ago could be an indicator of a major change in that perception.

I am excited to an extent I never would have thought possible this season. The last few weeks have brought me back from the depths of an abyss that had been several years in the making. Even if the team were to falter the rest of the season, the attitude I have towards this team right now would still make the season a positive one for me. Not to mention the fact that I’ll never have to see Aaron Curry blow another play in a Seahawks uniform ever again! That alone makes this a successful season!