I skipped posting a pregame blog the last two weeks for two reasons. After being dominated by the Buccaneers, I really didn't have much to say coming into the 49er game. I thought maybe they had a shot at winning that game, but wasn't extremely confident. So this week, I thought that maybe I shouldn't post, since they won last week when I didn't. I'm not superstitious, but never mess with the mojo, right? Anyway, the Seahawks start out strong... not only did they complete a 90 yard TD to Koren Robinson on the 1st play from scrimmage, the defense looked fired up for the first time all year, making some nice tackles for losses, intercepting Donovan McNabb, and playing solid football. We led 7-0 all the way until 7 minutes remained in the 1st half. I thought to myself, "I guess I better quit blogging the Seahawks, they are better off without me."  All of a sudden, after Reggie Brown's TD reception with 6 1/2 to go, the wind flew out of our sails. The urgency was gone, the pressure on McNabb was gone, the good downfield coverage was... you guessed it, gone.

Robinson's play went for 90 yards in 15 seconds. The rest of the game, we got 143 yards in  22:30. The Hawks punted 11 straight times. 11 in a row. Ouch. I actually stepped out of the room for a minute and when I came back, they were leading 7 zip. So I missed more than 1/3 of the offense for the entire game. That's kind of sick if you ask me.  What's even sicker is that right now, looking ahead in the schedule and with the way they have been playing, there is a distinct possibility that we will not see the Seahawks win again this year.

Now I have some things to ask you. What does this team need? Is there one area that can be addressed going into next year that will fix things, or are we just too far gone? Or, is it going to be enough to bring Hass back and get a nice high draft pick at WR and try to shore up the defense a little? I really don't know. With all the early injuries, I didn't expect them to be great, but I definitely didn't expect the only wins thus far to have come against 2 other 2-6 teams. How many games will we win? What would you do if you were running the Seahawks?

In my first few blogs of the NFC West this year, I was right on with my picks for the most part, and sounded like I knew what the heck I was talking about. Not anymore. I'm starting to wonder if I'm a reverse barometer. The Cardinals and Rams both made me look bad last Sunday, and I for one am happy the Cards will not mess me up this week. That game against the Cowboys was definitely one of mixed emotions for me. They did go against my pick, but they beat one of my least favorite teams in sports... and ohbytheway, they are also leading the division. Then, we have the Rams. Beating the Redskins. Really. No, really? I'd bet more than a few elimination pool players went down on that game. I did pick the Seahawks to lose a close one to the Packers. I was half right. They lost. Not close. Also, the 49ers did as I told them and lost to the Eagles. Thanks niners.

So, what to do this week? I'm thinking no picks. If last week's game was a must win, this week's game is a can't lose. Or it is completely over. Good news... the Seattle Seahawks have NEVER lost a game in Tampa Bay. Bad news... Tampa is undefeated at home this year at 3-0 with victories over Atlanta, a drubbing of Carolina last week, and also, a victory over those same Packers who whipped our tail last Sunday. Good news... The Buccaneers starting QB Brian Griese is out. Bad news... You won't be able to tell the difference with Jeff Garcia in. Worse news... Matt Hasselbeck is still out for us. Seneca Wallace may play, which would be okay, or we have another start for Charlie Frye, which probably won't. Good news... I really don't have any more good news.

The only positive I can see is that Holmgren and his team knows that this is it. The end of the season already. They are 10 1/2 point underdogs in a game that could turn the rest of the season into meaninglessness. (new word I just made up there) Holmgren has had to watch film of that game this week and realize that he would've loved to be the Green Bay coach against the Seahawks last week. I said we would need to run and run often. They did and still got killed. This week I'll say we need to run and run well, and occasionally throw the ball DOWNFIELD. There was no threat of a deep play. None. Holmgren would've teed off agaisnt his own game plan. He's still a good coach though, and must know that he's got to open up the secondary at least a little bit if he wants to have any chance at all. Most of the passes that Frye threw were little dump-offs. Those can work if we open things up some with the long ball. He has to trust in Frye at least a little bit, or it will be another string of 3 and outs and a 1-5 record.

Like I said, no picks this week. Just a plea. We need a little hope. You are on national television. This is Mike's last season. Win a game. Please? We don't want to be rooting for a good draft pick. Please.

...watching a total trouncing last week. The good news is, we aren't playing the Giants again. Even better news: it can't get any worse. At least I don't think it can. Now for the bad news. Matt Hasselbeck is not expected to play, although it will likely be a game-time decision. If he doesn't, the start will go to Charlie Frye, who has compiled a stellar 6-13 record in his 19 career starts. What was that I said about it not getting any worse? And after waiting for Deion Branch's return to the field, (yes, I know he's been a disappointment, but I was hoping he'd bring something to the table) he plays in one game and promptly goes out injured again. Great.

The Packers are reeling nearly as badly as the Seahawks, although they are still only 1 game behind the Bears in the NFC Norris as Chris Berman calls it. Their defensive numbers, if you can believe it, are almost as bad as ours. Green Bay's defense is ranked 26th and Seattle's is 27th in the league in yards allowed per game. The Pack allow 5.5 yards per play, which sounds pretty bad... until you see that the Hawks allow 6.0 yards per play. The key to this game for the Seahawks, especially if Frye starts, will be to run and run often. The Packers have allowed 157 yards a game on the ground. For the Seahawks to win, I feel they must gain at least that much rushing the football.

Here's the thing: this is a MUST win for this team. I know, it's still early, but I believe it is time for the Seahawks to make a statement. Hopefully, the statement won't be "We just aren't very good", because so far, that's what their play has been saying. That said, this is also an extremely important game for the Packers as well. After their 2-0 start, they have dropped 3 straight. A 4 game losing streak will make fans wish Brett Favre had never left, if they aren't wishing that already. It's hard to believe that this is a rematch of a divisional playoff game from last year. Both teams seem to be floundering. Back to the Seahawks. If they lose, they go to 1-4 with games at Tampa and at San Fran the next two weeks. The main reason I call this game a must win is that I don't see them winning both of those games. 2-5 or 1-6 sounds like the season is over to me.

The line on this game is Seahawks by 1. I hope they are right, but after last week, and with Hasselbeck out, I have to take the Packers by 6, 37-31. But I sure hope I'm wrong and the Seahawks pull this one out. My quick picks last week, and my call that Seattle would lose a close one were so bad that I almost don't want to make any picks this week. But I will anyway. St.Louis, minus Scott Linehan, will still get clobbered by the Redskins, and in honor of last weeks Seahawks loss, I'll say 44-6. The Cardinals are a better team than I gave them credit for and will give the Cowboys a run for their money but fall 31-24, and the 49ers will lose at home to the Eagles, 24-20.

 

This post is difficult for me. Do I play homer and tell you that the Seahawks will win for sure, or do I preach gloom and doom, the Giants are too good, we have too many question marks etc.? Well, I've never been a homer, so that's out, but I've never been a sky is falling kind of a guy either. So here's what I'll do... I'll really tell you what I feel and you can rip me if I'm wrong. At this point, I give the Seahawks about a 35 percent chance of winning this game. In order to do that, they must control the line of scrimmage, especially on offense. Hasselbeck can not be sacked 5 times and expect to win this game. If I were Holmgren, I'd really be about trying to establish the run in the first half, especially with a solid pass rush on the other side and some rusty receivers on ours. The Hawks need to use the pass to keep the Giants D honest at times, but I'd try to use a ball control passing game and not go deep too often.

We do have Deion Branch and Bobby Engram back, but I'll be surprised if they make a big impact this first game. Also, the Giants will be without wideout Plexico Burress whom the team has suspended for missing a team meeting. The Seahawks have got to be concerned about falling to      1 -3 and for that reason, I think they make a game of it. I look for the Giants to have the lead in the 4th, Seahawks close the gap late, but... ugh... fall a little short, but cover the 7 point spread, 24-20. I hope I'm wrong and they win it. I have been before. The fact is though, we are 1 -2 with our only victory being against one of the worst teams in the league right now. The Giants are 3-0 with a victory over the Redskins, who are looking like one of the best teams in the league. Kind of scary. Go Seahawks! Prove me wrong.

In other NFC West games, the 49ers play host to the Patriots, the Cardinals host the Bills, and the Rams take a much needed week off.  My quick picks: 49ers by 3, Bills by 10, Rams lose even though they are off.

One last thing. Thanks to those of you who checked out my Cubs post. Kind of cool to actually have someone reading my stuff. Sorry Cub fans. Rough Series. But your still not cursed. Maybe jinxed, but definitely not cursed.

At first glance, it appears that the Seahawks could end September 2008, one of the worst months in recent franchise history, only 1/2 game out of first place. The bye couldn't come at a better time considering all the injuries to our receivers. Okay, the Cardinals and 49ers are playing a better brand of football than they've played in several years, but this week looks like it could be tough for both clubs. And then there's the Rams. Sorry Rams fans, methinks you are done for.

Here are the games to be played in the NFC West this Sunday.

Buffalo Bills (3-0) @ St. Louis Rams (0-3)  Line: Bills by 8.5
The Bills are coming off a gut-wrenching, nail-biting, last second, 1 point victory over the Raiders. The Bills appeared to have overlooked the Raiders, a team with head coaching issues who probably couldn't beat anyone but the Chiefs right now. They meet the Rams this week, another team with head coaching issues who wishes they were playing the Chiefs right now. The Rams are coming off a gut-wrenching, nail-biting , last second, 24 point loss to the Seahawks. Will the Bills sleepwalk through the first 3 quarters of a football game for the 2nd week in a row? Will Trent (oops, where'd the ball go)  Green spark his club like Gus (I've played for every team in the NFL... twice) Frerotte did for the Vikings last week? Will the Bills team from the last few years finally show up and give the Rams a chance in this one? Uhh... no. In a game that is not as close as the final score, Buffalo takes it behind 2 Marshawn Lynch TDs and steady, if not spectacular play by Trent (I'm better than Green and Dilfer) Edwards by the final score of 24-10.

San Francisco 49ers (2-1) @ New Orleans Saints  (1-2) Line: Saints by 4.5
This should be an entertaining ball game. Mike Martz offensive schemes have done wonders for his team as has the play of J.T. (boy am I glad I don't have to hold the clipboard anymore) O'Sullivan and Frank Gore. The Niners have gone from dead last in most offensive stats in '07 to a steady middle of the pack and O'Sullivan, who is starting his 4th NFL game after 7 years on the bench, appears to be gaining confidence every week. The Saints are led by Drew (am I really leading the league in passing yards for a 1 and 2 team) Brees and Reggie Bush. Tight End Jeremy Shockey is out for 3 to 6 weeks in what could be a bonus for Reggie Bush FF owners. Bush's running yards are not spectacular, but he may end up reminding 49er fans of Roger Craig - solid runs, good catches out of the backfield, and good at watching the short yardage back score TDs. In a nail biter, Martin Gramatica hits the go ahead FG with just over a minute to play. 49ers fall just short on the 2 minute drive when O'Sullivan throws a pick just as the Niners are nearing FG range. Final score: Saints win 38-36.

Arizona Cardinals (2-1) @ New York Jets (1-2)   Line: Jets by 1
Arizona, led by QB Kurt (I'm glad they didn't make me give my MVP trophies back when I was sucking it up with the Giants) Warner, WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, and RB Edgerrin James, can move the ball downfield in a hurry. The New York Bretts proved last week against the Chargers that they can let the ball move downfield in a hurry. Brett (do you really think I might not play because I'm "questionable") Farve has not yet met expectaions with his new team. I for one, have not been aboard the Favre bandwagon this season but am preparing to jump on for this game. Knowing New York fans attitudes, the honeymoon is likely over. If the Jets lose this game, the grumbling will begin. God knows they are freaking out over the baseball season (Mets will be knocked out of the playoffs Sunday and shouts of "Fire Manuel" or "Fire Girardi" will be heard all over the 5 boroughs) and fans are just waiting for the Knicks to begin play so they can take out their frustration by booing mercilessly from their 200 dollar seats, while drinking their 10 dollar Budweisers. Farve knows all of this by now, or he will once he reads my blog, and will know that he must win one for the great fans of New York. Kurt Warner is knocked out of the game and the Jets win going away, 30-16.

I could be wrong.

20 passes for Hasselbeck, Julius Jones runs well, and an easy win. All in all a pretty ho-hum game, but we've got to be pleased to have a 1 in the W column. The receiving by committee worked out okay, but the best thing about this game was that our defense held firm for the majority of the time. We held Stephen Jackson down until garbage time... ditto for Tory Holt... and forced Bulger to turn the ball over a couple of times. This has to beg the question "was it our great defense, or a bad Rams offense?"  I'd have to say it was a little of both. Defensive questions should be a bit clearer after the next few games though, what with the rough October schedule.

All in all, I have to give the Seahawks an A for this game. They did exactly what they needed to do and suffered no more major injuries. Since they have the bye next week, September is now over for the Hawks. My grade for them for September is a C-. If the Bills hadn't proven themselves to be a pretty good team the last 2 weeks, the grade would have to be a D. The scale changes for October. If Seattle can win 2 out of 4 for the month, they get a B; 3 of 4, an A, and if they go undefeated, we're Superbowl bound. I'm pretty sure we aren't going undefeated in October though. If I was a bettor, I'd probably lay 100 to 1 odds against it.

Here's hoping they can get healthy over the next two weeks and be ready for the Giants in New York. 

Ok Seahawks fans, so we're 0 and 2, what now? Is there hope left for this season or is it already over? Until the Hawks signed Koren Robinson, there probably wasn't an uninjured receiver on the roster that you'd heard of. With the Sonics gone, is there anything left in pro sports worth watching or are we just waiting for the Mariners spring training? Will Mike Holmgren go out with a whimper? Will the string of division titles end in '08?

Well, in all this there is some good news. The Rams are coming. The Rams, who have been outscored 79-16 through 2 games. The Rams, who have allowed almost 170 yds a game on the ground. You can expect Julius Jones to run wild against them and get us back to 1-2. Matt Hasselbeck should only have to throw 20-25 times in this game at most and bring home an easy win. Now I'm sure most of us expected a couple of easy wins already, but this game should not have you worried. If the unthinkable happens and the Rams pull off an upset, then yes, the season is done, especially when you look at the schedule for the next few weeks. There is more good news however. We have a bye in week 4. Time to get healthy. Generally, an early bye week is not a good thing, but in the Seahawks case, it might be just what the doctor ordered. Deion Branch should be back for week 5 against the Giants and Nate Burleson is a possibility as well.

There is more bad news. The schedule looks rough in October. Three of the four games are on the road. At the Giants, home to the Packers, at the Buccaneers and at the 49ers. The good news here is the division. I know, you are as sick as I am that the NFC West is hounded as the worst division, making all those division titles seem like no big deal. They were a big deal. But you have to admit, our chances of getting to the playoffs over the Niners, Cardinals and Rams seem slightly better than if we traded places with the Cowboys, Giants, Eagles or the Redskins. If the Seahawks can scrape up a 3-4 record through October, I think we'll see them make a late season playoff run. If not, it could turn into a very long season.