The Seattle Seahawks had 10 games last year which were decided by one possession. This makes predicting the games they will have an easier time with in 2024 somewhat difficult. However, the Seahawks did have three games in 2023 they won handily.
Each of those opponents that the Seahawks won comfortably against was bad the year prior, with the exception of one team that did make the playoffs the previous year. Using that as a template moving forward, 12s might find that some of the easiest games in 2024 are against teams that were not great the year before. This seems simple except for the fact that each season is different due to teams making offseason changes.
For instance, the Chicago Bears are not on the list below because they added Caleb Williams should be much improved this season. Let's take a look at which games were easy for Seattle in 2023.
Which games should be the easiest for the Seattle Seahawks in 2024?
Seahawks beat New York Giants 24-3 on MNF
This was probably the least likely of the three games Seattle would cruise to victory in last year. The Giants had higher expectations in 2023, after making the playoffs and advancing to the divisional round in 2022. However, the Giants completely regressed in 2023, with an awful offensive line that gave up the most sacks in the NFL last season (85). Those deficiencies were apparent on MNF when the Seahawks sacked Daniel Jones 10 times, en route to a 24-3 blowout win.
Seattle cruises to victory over Carolina 37-27
Carolina, unlike the New York Giants, was a bad team in 2022, finishing 7-10. They did trade up in the 2023 NFL Draft to select Alabama QB Bryce Young with the first overall pick. Young was injured prior to the Seahawks game against the Carolina Panthers. Surprisingly, the Panthers decided to have their backup QB Andy Dalton attempt 58 passes, as they struggled to run the ball, finishing with 44 rushing yards. The Seahawks won by effectively running the ball, as Kenneth Walker III rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns, running away with a 37-27 win.
'Hawks handle Cards at Lumen Field 20-10
In the first match-up between the Seahawks and Cardinals in 2023, Seattle took care of business against an awful Arizona squad starting backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs. The Seahawks Rookie wide receivers Jake Bobo and Jaxon Smith-Njigba each had a receiving touchdown, and Kenneth Walker III rushed for 105 yards. Seattle was in control throughout much of the game, as they easily defeated their divisional rivals, 20-10.
Using recent history to help predict the Seahawks easiest 2024 games
When predicting the outcome of games in the future, looking at how a team performed the previous year can be a good indicator of what will happen this year. Both the Cardinals and Panthers had losing records the previous season, whereas the Giants overachieved in 2022 and ended up regressing in 2023. Based on what has happened this past season, here are the opponents the Seahawks should have the easiest time with in 2024.
Seahawks easy game No. 1 - September 8th vs. Denver Broncos
Sean Payton has bad memories of playing at Lumen Field as a head coach against the Seahawks. When Payton was with the Saints, his teams lost twice in playoffs, one a 41-36 upset loss in the 2011 wild-card round (known to Seahawks fans as the "Beast Quake" game) and in a 2014 divisional round game losing 23-15 (as Seahawks defeated the Saints en route to the Super Bowl). Then there was also the MNF beat down in 2013 when the Seahawks drubbed the Saints 34-7.
With the Broncos likely starting a rookie QB in Bo Nix, this game will feature both a rookie head coach in Seattle's Mike Macdonald and a rookie QB in Nix. This should provide lots of intrigue given the Broncos are starting over at QB, after the Russell Wilson experience did not work out. Along with the Seahawks starting a new era with coach Macdonald. This match-up should be favorable for a defensive-minded head coach in Macdonald, as he faces a rookie QB and an offense lacking in weapons.
Had the fates aligned this would have been a part two of what was a thrilling game between Pete Carroll and Seahawks former QB Russell Wilson. Instead, this game features two teams looking to start fresh and hoping for a new beginning. The Seahawks' previous two head coaches Pete Carroll and Jim Mora were superb in their first games, each coming away with blowout wins (Carroll won 31-6 over the Niners and Mora won 28-0 over the Rams). Could Mike Macdonald continue that trend?
Seahawks easy game No. 2 - September 15 at New England Patriots
Feels funny saying a game against the New England Patriots should be an easy game for the Seahawks, but these are not Tom Brady's Patriots. Last year, the New England Patriots went 4-13 and had the league's third-worst record. Even playing at home last year for the Patriots was tough for them, as they went 1-8 at Gillette Stadium. In the past, playing the Patriots at home was a tall task, but now in the post-Brady/Belichick era, the Pats are not quite as intimidating to play against in Foxborough.
The Patriots will be starting a brand new era this year, with a rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback. New England head coach Jerod Mayo will be coaching just his second NFL game and rookie QB Drake Maye likely will be making his second start. Outside of running back Rhamondre Stevenson, the Patriots lack play-makers on offense. This makes this another seemingly advantageous match-up for coach Mike Macdonald and the Seahawks.
These two teams look completely different from when they met in Super Bowl 49. Both Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick saw their long tenures in Seattle and New England come to an end after the 2023 season.
The Seahawks have the advantage of having a veteran QB in Geno Smith going against a rookie in Drake Maye. Seattle also has better big-play receivers than the Patriots in DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks should have more than enough firepower to pull away in this one.
Seahawks easy game No. 3 - October 6th vs. New York Giants
The Seahawks have dominated the Giants in each of their games against them in 2022 and 2023. Seattle has made life miserable for Daniel Jones in those games and the Giants offense has only mustered a combined 16 points in their previous two matchups with the Seahawks. The Giants also suffered a significant setback this off-season losing RB Saquon Barkley to the Philadelphia Eagles. The lone bright spot for the New York Giants is they selected WR Malik Nabers sixth overall.
Devon Witherspoon going against Malik Nabers is one of the most intriguing potential battles to watch in this game. Another interesting storyline will be if Daniel Jones is the starting QB for the Giants or former Seahawks QB Drew Lock.
The Giants decided to go the free agency route, rather than use the draft to rebuild their offensive line. Signing OT Matt Nelson, IOL Austin Schlottman, G Aaron Stinnie, OT Jermaine Eluemunor, and OT Jon Runyan in free agency.
The Giants were active in free agency and could have a brand new offensive line and QB in 2024. Unless those changes make a massive difference, the Seahawks should have no problem handling the Giants as they did last year and in 2022. Having an offense devoid of explosive play-makers is also troubling for New York. As long as the Seahawks shut down rookie WR Malik Nabers, the Seahawks should be on their way to another easy victory over the Giants at home.