Just remember since 2011 this team has finished no worst than 5-3 in the 2nd half of the season.
2011: started 2-6, ended 5-3, 3 losses by 11 points
2012: started 4-4, ended 7-1, 1 loss by 4 points.
2013: started 7-1, ended 6-2, 2 losses by 9 points
2014: started 5-3, ended 7-1, 1 loss by 4 points
Historically, in the last 4 years, Seahawks have average about 6 wins to 2 losses in the 2nd half.
Seahawks can go 6-2 in the 2nd half and still get in the post-season.
Either beat Arizona twice, and hope they drop a game somewhere.
or
Beat both the Rams and Vikings, and hope they both finish 9-7 or 10-6 and win tie breakers, would probably get the Seahawks the 6th seed.
This team has a penchant for solidarity in the 2nd half.
Positives:
The Defense looks like its rounding back into its dominant self after big letdowns vs Cincy and Carolina.
The Offensive Line looks like its taking small steps forward, and the best part is that other than a couple of games by I think Okung and Nowak, the starters have mostly played together and have been healthy.
The Wilson and Graham connection is starting to meld into a unstoppable force. If Bevell can utilize Graham correctly, and Wilson can clean up some of his errant throws, I could see Graham average about 100 yards, 1 TD per game. They are that close.
Marshawn Lynch has relatively low milage so far this season missing two games, Seahawks also have a player in Thomas Rawls, and Jackson has been very complementary. I could see the Rushing Game revved up utilizing all three players.
Paul Richardson should add a new dynamic in the WR corps. The kid was becoming Russ's go to target last year when they needed to move the chains.
Defensively, the Front 7 is becoming super stingy, and trending towards that elite status. The LOB is starting to wake up again, the Seahawks are transforming their gameplan more to match-up football ala Sherman which I think is helping to neutralize some of those zone weaknesses we've seen other teams have learned to exploit the last 2 years.
Jeremy Lane, if healthy and able, like Richardson is going to infuse a new dynamic into the CBs, as a guy who can play inside and out, helping to spell Cary Williams, as well as add to the stable of NCBs of which has became a strength with the small, shiftier Burley, and the taller, lengthier Shead. It will give the Seahawks options to play match-up football and to compete better all around.
Health-wise, with the Seahawks playing what 1 game in the last 23-24 days, they've got two much needed breaks with 10 days before the Cowboys game, and 14 days before quite possibly their biggest match-up of this season, right now. They got a chance to recuperate and revitalize, prepare their mind and bodies for the 2nd half gauntlet. All the guys who were banged up and hurting are going to be healthier, and all the guys who were healthy are going to be fresher. I think the break is going to be huge for Russell Wilson the most, he's kind of taking a lot of damage, and I think it will help him refocus. Some of the guys who kind of been playing banged up or not 100% like Gilliam and Hill, I think the break(s) is going to help them get back on track 90%-100% physically.
Schedule-wise, its no picnic, a lot of tough games in the last 8, maybe only 2 gimmes vs the 49ers and Browns. But after a rough start to the schedule this season, and the much needed mini-vacations, the Seahawks are going to play 3 home games in a row, and home-cooking has always been good for this team, the 12s are going to be riled up for SNF against the Cards, and if any momentum is to be gained, it would be in the next 3 games, If the Seahawks win those next 3, and start clicking together and start rolling, and as we've seen in the past its going to be hard to stop their primal avalanche once they get going and start imposing their havoc at will.
8-0 is far fetched but not entirely out of the question, its obtainable. 7-1 seems more plausible. And 6-2 seems like it would be the worst the team can do. Seahawks aren't horrible, they've played better than their record, they've just needed to clean up a few things coaching wise, execution wise, gain some needed experience and familiarity, and just galvanize as a whole, if one unit can't finish, then the others have to find a way.
I can't see this team going 5-3 or worst in the 2nd half, because to me, that means they would have given up, and this is a team that knows how to fight, knows how to claw its way backs, knows how to punch teams in the mouth with a physical brand of football. They'll find a way to get it back, to battle its way back into the picture of prominence, because thats what they've always done, and that is what they know. I never seen this team just lie down without a fight, without scrapping it to the final round, the more desperate they seem to get, the better they seem to be.
Half these guys are still fighting for, playing for contracts, and most of them still yet their own legacy has individuals and as a team. I know deep down, that they won't give up, its in their make-up, in their philosophy to go All In, and to win, and to be the best team in the NFL.
Sure, it may seem the road ahead isn't easy or pretty or smooth, but these team likes it ugly, it likes it hard, and it loves the challenge, especially when all the doubters and haters give them the slightest chance to succeed.
Win SNF vs Arizona, make it a statement game, and keep moving forward, keep it rolling, Seahawks have it in them to will themselves to a 3rd Straight Superbowl berth.
