With the NFL’s Thursday announcement of when the Seattle Seahawks will play their 2018 schedule, it makes sense to predict each game now. Right? Before the draft and everything? Sure. Why not?
What can 12s expect from the Seahawks season in 2018? No one really knows. The draft has not happened and there will probably be roster moves to come. Will Earl Thomas still be on the team week one? That is just one question.
But what one can safely assume is that NFC West rivals the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams appear to be better. And the Arizona Cardinals are not yet awful. And these three teams make up over a third of Seattle’s schedule. Winning a majority of these games is a must if Seattle wants to make the playoffs this year.
Plus, Seattle will start with two road games. For a team just finding its new way, this isn’t so great. The Seahawks normally finish strong, though, and Seattle will be at home more at the end. What does this mean? I have no idea.
That said, here are my best guesses for how the season will go. Of course, this is pre-draft and all, so come January of 2019, feel free to mock me. (Which plenty of you surely already do.)
Week one against the Denver Broncos
When and where: September 9th at 1:25 pm on FOX in Denver, Colorado
The short take: The Broncos will be starting a new quarterback in Case Keenum. The Seahawks will be starting a whole bunch of new people of defense. Is this a winnable game for Seattle? Yes. But playing on the road is difficult always. And the Broncos win nearly 80% of their home games in September since 1979. Not a great recipe for a Seattle win.
Prediction: Broncos will beat Seahawks 23-17
Week two against the Chicago Bears
When and where: September 17th on Monday Night Football at 5:15 pm on ESPN in Chicago, Illinois
The short take: The Bears should be better. But good enough to host a week two game on Monday Night Football? Hmmm…That leads to some head scratching. And Seattle having lost in week one will need to win this game. Starting 0-2 for a “retooling” Seahawks team might mean the season is done.
Prediction: Seahawks will defeat Bears 26-21
Week three against the Dallas Cowboys
When and where: Hooray! The Seahawks get their first home game of 2018 on September 23rd at 1:25 pm on FOX
The short take: Seattle beat Dallas at the end of 2017. How? Who knows really? Seattle was kind of falling apart at the time and still managed to win. Including this awesome moment…
https://twitter.com/thecheckdown/status/945075156627603456
But just like week two, Seattle must find a way to win their first home game. And the Seahawks have won their last nine home openers, so there’s that.
Prediction: Seahawks defeat the Cowboys 20-17
Weeks four through seven
Week four against the Arizona Cardinals
When and where: September 30th at 1:05 pm on FOX in Glendale, Arizona
The short take: These two teams are the biggest questions marks in the NFC West. We know the 49ers are getting better, just not by how much. The Rams could be the best team in the NFL. But the Cardinals have a new coach and new quarterback. Seattle will have a bunch of new stuff in lots of places. The Seahawks could be very good…or not. Arizona could be decent…or terrible.
Prediction: Seattle usually does pretty well in Arizona. I think they win here and move to 3-1.
Week five against the Los Angeles Rams
When and where: October 7th at 1:25 on FOX in Seattle
The short take: This will be the biggest game of the early part of the season for Seattle. If the Seahawks really are 3-1 and the Rams are close to that or better, this is the best game in the NFL in week five. If Seattle can win at home, the team will know it is a playoff contender.
Prediction: The Rams destroyed the Seahawks in Seattle late last year. Seattle should be better than they were, but not good enough to beat Los Angeles. LA wins 31-14
Week six against the Oakland Raiders
When and where: Seattle travels to London for the first time on October 14th and plays on FOX at 10 am
The short take: The Raiders could be pretty good under newish coach Jon Gruden. But a week after a tough game against the Rams, Seattle might be tired (and maybe a little beat up). This is not great timing for the London game, not that it ever is.
Prediction: A tired Seahawks team loses 27-21 and falls to 3-3.
Week seven is the bye week: Laundry week for Seattle fans
Weeks eight through twelve
Week eight against the Detroit Lions
When and where: October 28th at 10 am on FOX in Detroit, Michigan
The short take: Seattle will see some familiar faces in Detroit. Luke Willson and DeShawn Shead both signed with the Lions this offseason. Detroit has been a solid team over the last couple of seasons, but not great. Of course, Seattle is not great in 2018 either.
Prediction: Detroit wins this game 24-17. As I said before, it is tough to win on the road in the NFL. Seattle won’t have been home in three weeks. Seattle falls to 3-4.
Week nine against the Los Angeles Chargers
When and where: November 4th at 1:05 pm on CBS in Seattle
The short take: The last time the Chargers played in Seattle was in 2010 and Earl Thomas was a rookie. In that game, the Seahawks free safety had two picks. Let’s hope he is still playing for Seattle and has two picks in this game.
Prediction: Seattle will be one of those teams that is rarely better just by showing up. The Chargers aren’t terrible. But the Seahawks win this because it is at CenturyLink. Seattle 28-17.
Week ten against the Los Angeles Rams
When and where: November 11th at 1:25 pm on CBS in Los Angeles
The short take: No matter what happens in this game, Seattle is the better city and has the better fans.
Prediction: But the Seahawks probably don’t have the better team. At least Seattle gets both Rams games out of the way near the first half of the season. LA wins 34-14. Seattle is now 4-5.
Week eleven against the Green Bay Packers
When and where: Thursday, November 15th at 5:20 pm on FOX and the NFL Network
The short take: So, a week after the first Rams game, Seattle travels to London. After the second Rams game, the Seahawks have a short week and play the Packers. That’s not good. Even though the game is in Seattle, a short after playing the Rams is a bad thing.
Prediction: Seattle’s schedule in 2018 is not as friendly as it was in 2017. And the Seahawks went just 9-7 with all their injuries last year. Green Bay wins this game 27-17 and Seattle falls to 4-6.
Week twelve against the Carolina Panthers
When and where: November 25th at 10 am on FOX in Charlotte, North Carolina
The short take: Carolina plays in a tough division. They are a decent team but might be, possibly like Seattle, the third best team in their division. They shouldn’t be better than the New Orleans Saints or Atlanta Falcons.
Prediction: I will go against trend. Usually Seattle doesn’t do that well in early starts on the East Coast, but this isn’t the same Seahawks team. Seattle wins 16-13 and moves to 5-6.
Weeks thirteen through seventeen
Four of the last five games for the Seahawks are at CenturyLink. This could be very important.
Week thirteen against the San Francisco 49ers
When and where: December 2nd at 5:20 pm on NBC in Seattle
The short take: Richard Sherman returns to Seattle as a member of the 49ers. Do I need to repeat that?
Prediction: The 49ers will be better, but this game is different. Sure, Sherman feels slighted that Seattle let him go. But Tyler Lockett and Doug Baldwin have also played every day against Sherman in practice. This is important. Seattle should be able to take advantage of this. Seattle wins 28-24. Seattle goes to 6-6.
Week fourteen against the Minnesota Vikings
When and where: December 10th on Monday Night Football at 5:15 pm on ESPN in Seattle
The short take: The Vikings are a good football team. In fact, they have more talent than Seattle. The Seahawks will struggle to find points in this game. Plus, Kirk Cousins already knows he can beat Seattle at CenturyLink.
Prediction: This will be Seattle’s worst offensive game of the year and they fall 24-6. Their record goes to 6-7.
Week fifteen against the San Francisco 49ers
When and where: December 16th at 1:05 pm on FOX near San Francisco
The short take: Nothing like having the 49ers and Seahawks play in nearly back-to-back weeks. Unfortunately, Sherman does get his revenge at home against Seattle. He will have two interceptions against Russell Wilson.
Prediction: The 49ers win 27-17 and Seattle falls to 6-8.
Week sixteen against the Kansas City Chiefs
When and where: December 23rd on Sunday Night Football at 5:20 pm on NBC in Seattle
The short take: The two best safeties in the game are on the same field. Eric Barry and Earl Thomas. Should be fun to watch who gets the better of whom.
Prediction: The Seahawks win at home in a close game 17-14 and move to 7-8. Seattle is simply playing for pride at this point.
Week seventeen against the Arizona Cardinals
When and where: December 30th at 1:25 pm on FOX in Seattle
The short take: Last year the Cardinals ended the Seahawks season on a sour note. Now, though, there is no Bruce Arians to feel superior to Seattle. And though Seattle isn’t going to the playoffs, it also doesn’t want a losing record.
Related Story: Russell Wilson has a new show and it's not bad...
Prediction: Seattle wins 31-17 and goes to 8-8. On the bright side, Seattle is in better draft position in 2019.