Seattle Seahawks Team Preview & Predictions for the 2015-16 NFL Season

The Seattle Seahawks have something to prove this coming season: that they’re the team to beat in all of football. After Russell Wilson’s boneheaded play in the end of Super Bowl XLIX, only another title can exorcise that nightmarish finish to their ill-fated 2014 season.Are the Seahawks going to redeem themselves or flounder this year? Read on for an overview of Seattle’s key player this coming season along with the team’s key game, best/worst scenarios and a complete list of the Seahawks’ 2015 schedule.

For more about the 2015 NFL season, click on the following team names for their respective previews:  St. Louis Rams| San Francisco 49ers |Arizona Cardinals.
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2015-2016 Seattle Seahawks Preview

Overview

[sc:NFL240banner ]Several months after the Seahawks gave the city of Seattle its own Bill Buckner moment, Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, Richard Sherman, and some new company are eyeing a return to glory.

Last season should’ve been the completion of a back-to-back championship run by the Seahawks. Led by a high powered rushing offense that covered a league-best 172.6 yards on the ground per game and a stout defense that put opponents on a chokehold (16.3 points allowed per game), the Seahawks were the team poised to raise the Vince Lombardi Trophy back in February. Alas, the New England Patriots swooped in and took the title away from them. Despite their bitter loss to New England, sportsbooks still have the Seahawks installed as next season’s favorites to win the NFC West (-300) and among the chalks to win the NFC (+600) and Super Bowl (+600).

Offseason Review

The Seahawks learned at least two lessons from their recent Super Bowl loss. First is that when at the one-yard line on a potential game-winning play, give the ball to the best running back on the planet for Chrissakes. The other is that they should give Wilson better passing options in the red-zone. The Seahawks obviously took a big step in addressing the latter issue by acquiring All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham via a trade with the Saints. In exchange, the Seahawks sent center Max Unger and a 2015 first-round pick to New Orleans.

Having Graham on the team essentially makes the Seahawks’ offense more dangerous because unlike before, Wilson no longer has to mostly rely on a bunch of mediocre  receivers when inside the red zone. That’s not a knock on the likes of Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse. That’s just how people see Graham making an impact on Seattle’s passing game. In four seasons with the Saints, Graham amassed 4,752 receiving yards and 51 receiving touchdowns.

There were some key losses for the Seahawks, though. Aside from Unger, Seattle also saw cornerback Byron Maxwell, guard James Carpenter and outside linebacker Malcolm Smith leave. Maxwell was traded to the Eagles for Cary Williams, who should do just fine fitting in the Legion of Boom. Carpenter and Smith, meanwhile, both left in free agency. During the draft, the Seahawks elected to pick defensive end Frank Clark in the second round as their first selection overall. Frank has some character issues but the Seahawks seem to have the environment to iron out any wrinkles in his attitude.

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Key Player – Russell Wilson

Anyone could make a case arguing Lynch is the player most important to the Seahawks this coming season. Lynch has been the driving force of Seattle’s rushing game over the past few years, and should continue to fill that role again this 2015. But the arrival of Graham to Safeco Field suggests that the Seahawks are intent on incorporating their passing game more into the team’s offense. In any case, Wilson will be at the center of almost all that happens in the offense. Last season, Wilson finished 15th in total passing yards (3,475), and 16th in passing touchdowns (20). With Graham in tow, it’s fair to expect those numbers to improve significantly.

Key Game – @Green Bay (September 20)

The Seahawks have targets on their back when they arrive at Lambeau Field for an early season showdown with Green Bay, the team they beat in last season’s NFC championship game. In this game, the Seahawks’ defense will be heavily tested by Aaron Rodgers and company, who are dead set on scoring some measure of revenge after that heartbreaking overtime loss back in January. But those narratives aside, this game should be viewed as no less than a primer for the next NFC championship game. After all, the Packers, are the favorite to win the NFC with a price of +250.

Best/Worst Case Scenario for the Season

Best Case Scenario

The defense that has characterized Seattle’s success shows no drop off in form, which means Seahawks opponents would have to bleed for yards again. On offense, Graham fulfills the high expectations that come along with him after agreeing to play for Seattle. Wilson relishes the opportunity of having a potent red-zone target and finishes the season with at least 28 passing touchdowns. Lynch shows no signs of slowing down, and takes advantage of confused defenses as a result of Graham’s addition to the team. The Seahawks wins the NFC West and barges into the Super Bowl, where they’ll complete the mission to take home the franchise’s second Vince Lombardi Trophy in three seasons.

Worst Case Scenario

The dream team up of Wilson and Graham fails to live up to expectations, although that’s not entirely their fault. The loss of Unger turns out to be far more detrimental to the offensive line than what the Seahawks previously thought. With a weakened protection unit, the Seahawks’ offense sputters and becomes a season-long problem for the team. Seattle enters the playoffs as a wild card team and loses right away in their first game of the postseason.

Complete Schedule

WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET)
1 | Sun, Sep 13 | @St. Louis | 1:00 PM
2 | Sun, Sep 20 | @Green Bay | 8:30 PM
3 | Sun, Sep 27 | vs Chicago | 4:25 PM
4 | Mon, Oct 5 | vs Detroit | 8:30 PM
5 | Sun, Oct 11 | @Cincinnati | 1:00 PM
6 | Sun, Oct 18 | vs Carolina | 4:05 PM
7 | Thu, Oct 22 | @San Francisco | 8:25 PM
8 | Sun, Nov 1 | @Dallas | 4:25 PM
9 | Bye Week | |
10 | Sun, Nov 15 | vs Arizona | 8:30 PM
11 | Sun, Nov 22 | vs San Francisco | 4:25 PM
12 | Sun, Nov 29 | vs Pittsburgh | 4:25 PM
13 | Sun, Dec 6 | @Minnesota | 1:00 PM
14 | Sun, Dec 13 | @Baltimore | 8:30 PM
15 | Sun, Dec 20 | vs Cleveland | 4:05 PM
16 | Sun, Dec27 | vs St. Louis | 4:25 PM
17 | Sun, Jan 3 | @Arizona | 4:25 PM

Writer’s Prediction

Seattle wins the NFC West by finishing the regular season with an 11-5 record.
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