Seahawks don’t have good history coming off bye week
Nov 17, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette (83) dives forward for yards after the catch while being tackled by Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Chad Greenway (52) and Minnesota Vikings free safety Andrew Sendejo (34) during the first quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
The Seahawks are off on Sunday while preparing for their most difficult matchup of the year. Their Monday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints will be a tough one to win and the Seahawks will need everything to be clicking to beat the Saints and maintain the best record in the NFC.
But playing games after the week off has not been kind to Seahawks teams in the recent past. Seattle has lost five of their last six games coming off the bye, their last win coming in 2010 against the Chicago Bears, and the win before that coming in 2006 against the St. Louis Rams.
Here is a quick look at the score of their last six games coming in the team’s first game following the bye week:
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2012
Week 12 — @ Miami Dolphins, L 24-21
2011
Week 7 — @ Cleveland Browns, L 6-3
2010
Week 6 — @ Chicago Bears, W 23-20
2009
Week 8 — @ Dallas Cowboys, L 38-17
2008
Week 5 — @New York Giants, L 44-6
2007
Week 9 — @ Cleveland Browns, L 33-30 OT
2006
Week 6 — @ St. Louis Rams, W 30-28
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You may have noticed that all of those games were on the road. The last time the Seahawks played a game at home following a bye week was 2004, when they lost to the Rams 33-27 in overtime.
The last time they won a home game after the bye week was 1995, when they defeated the Denver Broncos, 27-10.
Just how long ago was 1995? The Seahawks were members of the AFC West. Their quarterback was Rick Mirer and their leading rusher was Chris Warren, who made the Pro Bowl team that year.
Needless to say, it’s been awhile.
The Seahawks will be looking to change their fate on Monday Night Football. The team could extend their franchise-record winning streak at home to 14 consecutive games. More importantly, the team could take dominant control of the NFC.
Can the Seahawks beat the Saints? We will find out next week.