2008 Sked and W-L Predictions

by lemonverbena on Jul 21, 2008 12:17 AM PDT

Training camp opens this week!! So the silly season of "predicting" where teams will finish starts now, populated by you, me, the guy at the corner grocery, and every talking head in TV, radio and print. Let's beat the rush. For the Seahawks it's a season of transition. Bye-bye Shaun-A., hello Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett. Josh Brown: division rival. Leaving Kirkland for Renton and the VMAC. Holmgren's swan song, with Mora in apprentice. Definitely a big year.

Preseason

Seahawks at Vikings
Friday, August 8
KONG, 5:00 pm - NFLN, 8:30 pm

Bears at Seahawks
Saturday, August 16
KONG, 6:00 pm - NFLN, Sunday 10:00 am

Seahawks at Chargers
Monday, August 25
ESPN, 5:00 pm

Raiders at Seahawks
Friday, August 29
KING 5, 7:00 pm - NFLN, 10:00 pm

All that matters in the preseason is getting out uninjured. And not finishing winless. And beating the Chargers, because I'll be at the game screaming and drinking 100 beers. In their last regular-season meeting, San Diego handed the Hawks a last-minute loss in the rain at Qwest on Christmas Eve 2006. God that sucked. Week 3 of the preseason will also be the Seahawks only appearance on Monday Night Football. Nice respect for a 2nd-round playoff team defending its fourth straight division title.

Regular Season

Seahawks at Bills
Sunday, September 7
FOX, 10:00 am

All-time vs. BUF: 6-4

Me and my dad endured a hideous, frigid 38-9 beat-down at the hands of the Bills at Qwest in 2004. The upstaters richly deserve some payback. Buffalo looks to be a team on the rise, and winning on Week 1 has never been easy for the Hawks, but they're fortunate to make this trip East before the freeze sets in. Defense gets a couple of takeaways on Trent Edwards, Julius Jones comes out with a chip on his shoulder and goes for 100+. Seahawks. 1-0.

49ers at Seahawks
Sunday, September 14
FOX, 1:05 pm

All-time vs. SF: 10-8

Hopefully, Alex Smith will still be standing by Week 2. Visions of sacks and interceptions are already dancing in the defense's heads. Seahawks. 2-0.

Rams at Seahawks
Sunday, September 21
FOX, 1:05 pm

All-time vs. LA/STL: 10-9

Oh, hell yes. The sked is juicy early with two Divisional home games. If Josh Brown has a chance to win it with a field goal late we're screwed, but he won't. Brown and Howie Long's huge kid aren't going to resurrect this franchise overnight. Rams back to L.A.! That would make it a great division. Seahawks. 3-0.

Bye
Sunday, September 28

No team should have a bye so early, but that's the way it goes. At least they don't have to play overseas.

Seahawks at Giants
Sunday, October 5
FOX, 10:05 am

All-time vs. NYG: 5-7

Yikes. Tough game, but not a bad setup in that the weather should be good, and they have the bye week before the long flight and early start. I look forward to this one and like how we match up against NYG, but can't predict a road win against the Super Bowl champs. Seahawks haven't played well after the bye under Holmgren. Giants. 3-1.

Packers at Seahawks
Sunday, October 12
FOX, 1:15 pm

All-time vs. GB: 5-6
Playoffs: 0-2

Another huge game with lots of intrigue. Hawks looking to avenge the playoff loss on the frozen tundra. Holmgren facing his former team for the last time. To say these fuckers have had our number is an understatement. We stole their coach, but they stole Ahman Green and have ripped our hearts out twice in the playoffs. Aaron Rodgers should be good for some takeaways, though, and Qwest will be on fire. Seahawks. 4-1.

Seahawks at Buccaneers
Sunday, October 19
NBC, 5:15 pm

All-time vs. TB: 7-1

Yet another big matchup, this time on Sunday Night Football. Seattle gets a little road-game luck by not playing at Florida in the summer, and with the late kickoff. Those factors should level the playing field a bit, the Hawks historically play well in prime time, and the Bucs still might not have an answer at QB. Oh, and Fuck You Jerramy! Seahawks. 5-1.

Seahawks at 49ers
Sunday, October 26
FOX, 1:15 pm

The Alex Smith Era may be over by late October. Thank you, 9ers, for continuing to suck. Seahawks. 6-1.

Eagles at Seahawks
Sunday, November 2
FOX, 1:15 pm

All-time vs. PHI: 5-6

It seems like we play the Eagles every year. As The Dude said so eloquently: "I hate the fucking Eagles!" Will McNabb be healthy? Feeley? Hawks have had their number in recent years and this one should be no different. Seahawks. 7-1.

Seahawks at Dolphins
Sunday, November 9
FOX, 10:00 am

All-time vs. MIA: 3-6
Playoffs: 1-2

A "trap" game if there ever was one. Another long flight, but again they catch the Florida weather at the right time. Win this one and we could be 7-2 or even 8-1, with a great head start on home field advantage. Seahawks. 8-1.

Cardinals at Seahawks
Sunday, November 16
FOX, 1:05 pm

All-time vs. STL/PHX/AZ: 9-9

I'm very close to officially hating the Cardinals more than any other team, even the Rams and the Raiders. I can't look at them without wincing. Sucktastic history, horrible revamp of a classic uniform, leftover nickname and scheme from the original St. Louis franchise. Whisenhunt looks like he's got them headed in the right direction, though, and they're the hip pick to win the division. Screw you Zona. You still suck. Seahawks. 9-1.

Redskins at Seahawks
Sunday, November 23
FOX, 1:15 pm

All-time vs. WAS: 4-9
Playoffs: 2-0

Another huge game, a playoff rematch and Zorn's first trip to Seattle as head coach. Might have merited a Monday Night appearance but the Hawks play the following Thursday. A triumphant return ain't likely for ol' #10. Seahawks. 10-1.

Seahawks at Cowboys
Thursday, November 27
FOX, 1:15 pm

All-time vs. DAL: 4-6
Playoffs: 1-0

Hawks draw the traditional Thanksgiving matchup against the Cowboys. Short week, a good Dallas team and a tough game to win in the last year of Texas Stadium. Cowboys. 10-2.

Patriots at Seahawks
Sunday, December 7
NBC, 5:15 pm

All-time vs. NE: 7-7

Potentially ginormous NFL matchup, especially if Seattle actually gets to this point with only two losses. A "flex" Sunday Night game against the Pats is not going to get bumped. Who knows how the Pats will be playing, but assuming Tom Brady is upright, they're likely to be their normal badass selves. Hawk Nation will be in full throat for this one, and the Hawks will be on three extra days of rest, but a W against these guys will be a tall order. Preview of SB XLIII? Or just China Bowl 2009... Patriots. 10-3.

Seahawks at Rams
Sunday, December 14
FOX, 10:00 am

I really hate the fucking Rams too. Playing at St. Louis is never easy and they have our kicker now. Saint Lou is old and might be in deep suckitude by mid-December, but even if they're winless they will play us like it's the playoffs. Rams. 10-4.

Jets at Seahawks
Sunday, December 21
CBS, 1:05 pm

All-time vs. NYJ: 8-8

Could Pennington still be their QB by December? The Jets are awful regardless, and if the Hawks are on a 3-game losing streak they'll be out for blood. They should always beat the living shit out of this team as retribution for you-know-what. Seahawks. 11-4.

Seahawks at Cardinals
Sunday, December 28
FOX, 1:15 pm

This could be a meaningless game if Seattle has clinched their playoff position, but if the Hawks play their starters, they won't lose to Zona. It will almost certainly be meaningless to the Cards. Fucking Cardinals, I hate you. Seahawks. 12-4.

12-4 looks doable if: the offensive line comes together, Julius Jones runs downhill and hits holes like Shaun wouldn't, if Deion Branch comes back and produces, and if the team stays relatively healthy across the board. A win at Tampa Bay is probably my shakiest pick, so call 11-5 the floor, with 13-3 the ceiling if they win at St. Louis. It's an interesting schedule overall, with a lot of entertaining matchups on paper, and aside from the early bye week, some favorable timing for the Hawks.

Do it for Coach, fellas. GO SEAHAWKS!!

Poll

Where will the Hawks finish in 2008?

8-8

0 votes

9-7

2 votes

10-6

11 votes

11-5

34 votes

12-4

27 votes

13-3

14 votes

14-2

8 votes

96 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 27 comments | 0 recs |

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Read More: 2008 predictions, 2008 schedule, New Hawks Get Their Numbers(Field Gulls)

Comments

First off

Watch the language.

Now, I see 9-7 to 12-4 as the range.

Outside of the Patriots I’m sure all of the home games are looking good.

But in the last 2 seasons Seattle has gone (includes playoffs), 7-11 on the road, and they’ve thrown away gimmes in Carolina and San Francisco and so on.

They are bound to lose at least 3 gimme games and I see them being the Arizona finale, at Tampa Bay (I believe they will struggle), and at Miami.

For now, I’m going with 11-5, losses to the Giants, Cardinals, Dolphins, Bucs, and either the Pats or the Bills.

I asked someone to identify which was a pile of garbage and which was the shooting of the Seattle Sonics....he failed.

by SSreporters on Jul 20, 2008 6:59 PM PDT reply actions

Since when is foul language banned on FG?

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Jul 21, 2008 2:02 AM PDT up reply actions

Fuck

Coach Owens = No Fun Zone

by Scruffy Lefty on Jul 21, 2008 7:19 AM PDT up reply actions

Shit.

by BrianL on Jul 21, 2008 7:36 AM PDT up reply actions

Cock.

by redwolf75 on Jul 21, 2008 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Very funny

I asked someone to identify which was a pile of garbage and which was the shooting of the Seattle Sonics....he failed.

by SSreporters on Jul 21, 2008 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions

I think 11-5 is a pretty good guess

but in trying to pick all the games, you can see how the schedule could set up for a good start through 8-10 games. hopefully the come storming out, gain confidence and make a run at home field.

better not read my other fanposts if the language bothered you…

by lemonverbena on Jul 20, 2008 8:43 PM PDT reply actions

another risky pick

Although we seem to ‘have their number’, the Eagles can put up points in a hurry, something that the hawks don’t seem to do as often anymore… Unless we truly know them I wonder if they could break out this year.

by paul2 on Jul 20, 2008 10:30 PM PDT reply actions

love the opposing seahawk logo

..on the building in the photo above, btw.

by paul2 on Jul 20, 2008 10:32 PM PDT reply actions

i know, ain't it cool? they should put that on the new HQ.

life imitates video-game screen grabs.

by lemonverbena on Jul 21, 2008 6:40 AM PDT up reply actions

Jason Taylor

Taylor was signed by the Redskins. This is bad news for the Hawks. Teams like DAL or NE getting better at this point isn’t as bad as this because those are games we are not expected to win. Obviously those teams getting better is bad for our superbowl hopes but getting a first round bye has to be the first priority given what we’ve seen the last two seasons. The Redskins, who we play at home this year, clearly represent a marginal win opportunity for the hawks. 1/3 of the teams we play are gimme wins: 2xSF, MIA, etc. Some are very tough games we are unlikely to win @DAL, NE, etc. Now likely we will lose a gimme or two and perhaps win some of the tough games but the real important question is what we do with our marginal wins.

That said, what do we make of the Taylor signing. First I’ll digress about Taylor: It is not a secret that MIA were not happy about Taylor doing Dancing With The Stars. Teams prefer to have their players participating in off-season workouts, not frolicking in tights on TV. Obviously ABC likes having football stars on the show to attract a broader audience. The previous players they had were retired though; Jerry Rice and Emmit Smith. Taylor must have known he would attract criticism for joining the show while still an active player. This is not like being on celebrity poker, Dancing With The Stars clearly takes up a lot of time and is physically draining. While teams don’t like having players turn away from football conditioning and drills in the off-season, they certainly don’t want a guy advertising to the world that he isn’t practicing with his team. Personally, I thought Taylor looked pretty good in tights (not surprising), but clearly does not have what you would call an ‘on air’ personality. If the rumors are true and Taylor really doesn’t care about football as much anymore, this clearly bodes well for the Seahawks hopes to nab a marginal win against the skins.

The skins lost a couple of their other ends (one starter) to injury which is what prompted them to make the Taylor deal. They gave up a second round pick, which is a pretty price to pay considering Taylor has said he only plans on playing one more season then retiring. The Skins would like to see him play more than one year, but I have a hard time seeing Taylor not getting the same money and leaving for a post-retirement gig.

by michaelfox99 on Jul 21, 2008 8:21 AM PDT reply actions

I'm fine with it

There ain’t no way we’re losing to Washington at home, and at least having Taylor will make them slightly tougher when they face NY and Dallas.

by katal on Jul 21, 2008 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions

I think Taylor does make the Skins better...

...but not by so much that it changes the win expectation, at this early date anyway. They lost a starting DE to injury and replaced him with a starting DE. Good move, but it pretty much brings them back to even.

by lemonverbena on Jul 21, 2008 8:56 AM PDT reply actions

Perhaps they're a little better with Taylor then they were before.

The improvement is pretty marginal, though.

by BrianL on Jul 21, 2008 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Its a preety sweet schedule.

Can’t see us doing any worse than 10-6 and nobody in the West will do better than that. We’ll be going to the play-offs like Kings, damn hell ass Kings

by ciarannh on Jul 21, 2008 1:14 PM PDT reply actions