Seattle Seahawks 2011 Schedule: Game-By-Game Predictions; Do They Repeat?

The Seattle Seahawks entered 2010 with high expectations. They had a new head coach, a new running back, and a lot of young talent coupled with experienced veteran leadership. They looked to improve on their dismal 4-12 season the year prior, under Jim Mora. The Seahawks struggled mightily through most of the season, winning 6 and losing 9 through the first 15, with a 15 point, 34-19 loss at New Orleans being the closest defeat they suffered all season.

However, thanks to a surprise defeat of division leading, Cinderella St. Louis at the end of the season, and an extremely weak division, the 2010 Seahawks became the first team in NFL history to enter the playoffs in a non-strike season with a sub .500 record. This was made all the more unlikely when they managed a home game against the defending Super Bowl champion Saints.

Seattle continued to make headlines, defeating the Saints in a back and forth wildcard matchup that culminated with a 67-yard dash to postseason immortality by Marshawn Lynch that put the game out of reach. The final score was 41-36, and arguably the most exciting game of the entire 2010 playoffs. Seattle then travelled to Chicago and was taken down handily, 35-24, due in large part to a fantastic performance by Jay Cutler.

My reference is FB Schedules "2011 Seattle Seahawks Football Schedule."

Seattle against the NFC West:

The NFC West is certainly up for grabs. I can't pinpoint one team that is more or less likely to take the divisional crown, and because of this, I predict a pure split for Seattle, trading wins with the Rams, 49ers, and Cardinals on their way to a .500, 3-3 divisional record.

Seattle at non-divisional opponents:

Seattle has a pretty difficult road schedule, travelling to Philadelphia, Chicago, and Baltimore; all three extremely difficult road environments against three very good teams coming off winning playoff seasons-all of which I believe the Seahawks will lose. They will make up some ground with road wins in Cincinnati and Washington, but in the end, they'll end this section with a losing 2-3 record.

Seattle vs. non-divisional opponents at home:

This is where I believe the Seahawks must prove me wrong to have playoff hopes. They host Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Dallas, and the New York Giants. That's not good, from where I'm sitting, because where I'm sitting I see Seattle dropping four of five of these games, at home beating only the Cowboys. The 12^th man can only go so far.

So in the end I have Seattle dropping to a 5-11 record, and not even really competing for the NFC West, although I could see them playing spoiler to their divisional rivals. As always, this is purely hypothetical, and very subjective, considering free agency and the 2011 NFL Draft have yet to truly begin, but I don't see Seattle taking the divisional crown this year.

Reference:

FB Schedules Website, "2011 Seattle Seahawks Football Schedule"