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The Seahawks’ official 2021 schedule is here!!! Let the analysis begin. *note: some games listed below include more than one stat — bonus stats included free of charge.
Sept. 12 @ Indianapolis Colts
Since 2013, the Seahawks are 19-7 in the early kickoff slot, 2-1 in 10:00 AM road openers, and 4-0 against Carson Wentz (5-0 including playoffs). Will Seattle continue their dominance of the former second overall pick to kickoff the 2021 season? Game kicks off at 10:00 AM PT.
Sept. 19 vs Tennessee Titans
Tennessee had the third highest scoring offense in the NFL and were ranked 4th in weighted DVOA in 2020. However, they also fielded the 29th ranked defense and struggled to get after quarterbacks all year long. Should fans expect a high-scoring shootout (run-out?) in Seattle’s home opener? Game kicks off at 1:25 PM PT.
Sept. 26 @ Minnesota Vikings
Kirk Cousins has only gotten the better of Russell Wilson once in his NFL career, and that was when he was in Washington. Dating back to 2015, he has made 95 of a possible 96 starts, but if reports are to be believed, his grip as QB1 may be slipping. Will Cousins be the starting QB when Seattle heads to Minnesota to close out the first month of the season? Game kicks off at 1:25 PM PT.
Oct. 3 @ San Francisco 49ers
Despite suffering an onslaught of injuries on defense in 2020 (Bosa, Sherm, Armstead… the list goes on), the team still ranked fifth overall in weighted DVOA per Football Outsiders. With Saleh off to New Jersey, how different will the Niners’ talented defense look under Demeco Ryans in ‘21? Game kicks off at 1:05 PM PT.
Oct. 7 vs Los Angeles Rams
Matt Stafford’s average depth of target (aDOT) in 2020 was 9.8 (near top of the league), compared to Jared Goff’s paltry 6.4 aDOT (close to the bottom). Will Matt Stafford make the Rams’ passing game more explosive when they head to Lumen for some Thursday Night Football action? 5:20 PM PT - Thursday Night Football.
Oct. 17 @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Despite only finishing with ten picks on the season, Ben Roethlisberger had the second worst adjusted interception rate in 2020. How many passes will find their way into the hands of Seattle defenders when the teams meet up in Prime Time? 5:15 PM PT - Sunday Night Football.
Oct. 25 vs New Orleans Saints
The Seahawks will return home to play their third consecutive Prime Time matchup. They will face the Saints for the second time in a row without Drew Brees under center, having lost the last matchup at home to the Teddy Bridgewater-led squad in 2019. Who will be their starting QB when they come to Seattle in October? 5:15 PM PT - Monday Night Football
Oct. 31 vs Jacksonville Jaguars
The Seahawks have dominated rookie QBs at home dating back to the mid-2000s, with a record of 12-3 against first-year passers since 2005. Will number one overall pick Trevor Lawrence be able to handle Lumen field and the return of its ravenous fans? Game kicks off at 1:05 PM PT.
Nov. 7 BYE
Nov. 14 @ Green Bay Packers
Davante Adams had 18 touchdowns last season, and will continue to be a beast for Green Bay regardless of the QB drama circling the NFL media drain right now (I hear they signed Blake Bortles...). Will PFF’s highest-graded receiver from 2020 show up big in a contract year and put on a show against Seattle’s rebuilt CB group? Game kicks off at 1:25 PM PT.
Nov. 21 vs Arizona Cardinals
Deandre Hopkins had more than twice as many targets (160) than the next leading player for Arizona in 2020 (Christian Kirk — 79). Will adding AJ Green and Rondale Moore make this a more diverse and formidable passing attack in ‘21? Game kicks off at 1:25 PM PT.
Nov. 29 @ Washington Football Team
Ryan Fitzpatrick has become the consummate journeyman QB, posting the highest QBR of his career (76.9) in 2020, but only playing in nine games and starting seven. Will Fitzmagic or Washington’s 3rd ranked defense from last season be the bigger factor when Seattle travels to the east coast in late November? 5:15 PM - Monday Night Football.
Dec. 5 vs San Francisco 49ers
Capping off their run of Prime Time games for ‘21, Seattle will face the Niners at home for the second time. Nick Bosa had 25 QB hits and 9 sacks in 2019, only to miss fourteen games in 2020 after exiting in week two due to an unfortunate torn ACL. But this question isn’t about him. Will the 49ers be starting Jimmy G or Trey Lance at this point of the season? Or someone else entirely? 5:15 PM - Sunday Night Football.
Dec. 12 @ Houston Texans
Houston has become a cesspool of negativity for football in recent years, with one of the most poorly run organizations in the league failing to make moves that inspire any confidence in fans or players, alike. After finishing 4-12 in 2020, with three of those wins coming at home, will the Seahawks do their part to help new head coach David Culley and the Texans become the first team ever to record 17 losses in a single season? Game kicks off at 10:00 AM PT.
Dec. 19 @ Los Angeles Rams
LA retained Leonard Floyd, and Aaron Donald remains the most feared interior pass rusher in the NFL, but the Rams’ next three leading pass rushers — Michael Brockers, Morgan Fox, and Samson Ebukam — all landed on new teams during the offseason. Without high draft picks or high-profile free agents to replace them, will the Rams’ top-ranked defense from last season return in 2021? Game kicks off at 1:00 PM PT.
Dec. 26 vs Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are the only remaining NFL team to never have a QB post 4,000+ yards in a single season and has been a turnstile for signal callers, with 12 different players making at least one start at the position since 2010. Have they found their long-term answer in talented and exciting rookie Justin Fields, and how will the young passer fare against a team that traditionally raises hell for first year QBs? Game kicks off at 1:05 PM PT.
Jan. 2 vs Detroit Lions
Jared Goff is 5-4 against the Seahawks in the regular season. He is set to face his former division rivals on familiar ground, though for the first time while wearing a new uniform. Will the Hawks win their final home game of the season and drop Goff to an even .500? Game kicks off at 1:05 PM PT.
Jan. 9 @ Arizona Cardinals
The Hawks close out their season against the all too familiar Cardinals. New addition AJ Green will be 33 and fresh off his first season where he played more than more than 10 games but failed to reach 1,000+ yards and only posted two touchdowns. Can Green come back to life in the Cards’ passing game that was allergic to the deep ball in 2020? Game kicks off at 1:25 PM PT.
And that is that. Feel free to post answers or some questions of your own in the comments below!