byau
Active member
Yup, still pumped, let's see here ..
I'm okay giving the Seahawks a pass vs Tampa Bay
Way too many circumstances.
It's mid week, a few days after a pretty bad loss, and to be honest I am still pumped about the Seahawks. And actually/surprisingly after the game on Sunday, I didn't feel that badly. With the leadup to the game hearing about all the injuries, plus considering the few weeks prior the super high level of play, I for some reason was surprised ...and not surprised. Either the Seahawks would climb high or have a bad day.
Defense: Missing 1/2 your LOB. Your best pass rusher. Two great role players up front as well (Mike Morgan/Brock Coyle). Against a confident gunslinger quarterback and a huge receiver that has that ceiling to climb high on any given day.
Offense: really everything to me was on the O-line. Let's be honest, have been over performing these last few weeks. George Fant having a perfect game? The last few weeks they've been sensational. Today they had a return to the middle compounded by the loss of the consistent man in the middle Justin Britt. Not saying it was only the O-line, but it was a domino effect that had the O-line been more like the previous two weeks, would have been an entirely different ball game.
Overall: the last few weeks they've been almost perfect. Epic teams can keep that up for the most part, but still might have a down game.
And the game itself:
Tampa I think was treating this as a back-against-the-wall scenario. They played really well. Well called game. And they were ready to play and were the big bully that day.
Seahawks played uncharacteristically lethargic. Uncharacteristically NOT the bully. Key word = "uncharacteristically"
Me, not worried about it.
Injuries happen, we are getting guys back
i.e. reinforcements are coming!!!
The "run" game will get helped going forward
Besides my optimism for the o-line going forward (they will be less like Tampa, more like New England/Philly) Russell scrambling showing he can take some load on. Nice to see him back. And that will help the run game a lot too
Playoff bound
Realistically we are playoff bound. If the season ended today, we are in the playoffs. For others.. maybe that's a meh. For me ... I am always excited when my team looks to be in the playoffs.
Vegas Agrees! Seahawks still great!
Vegas seems to usually get things more right than wrong, and why not? That's how they make money so I trust their analysts a lot more than any columnist. Columnists goal is to GET PEOPLE TO READ (or listen, or click). Why do you think Prisco baits the Seahawks fans so much? You'll even hear stories about analysts getting fed the picks they should choose
Vegas? Bottom line is money, you need 50% of people to bet on one team, and 50% of people to bet on the other team. They move the line to do this. So to me it's a better indication of how teams are doing. And Vegas seems to really like the Seahawks not just this upcoming week but the rest of the season even AFTER the Tampa loss.
The NFC (minus Dallas)
The rest of the NFC I would say we win a majority of the time. Before the Tampa game we had separated ourselves to a sure second (with Dallas as a sure first) and the rest of the NFC almost a big mess on the spectrum (with the Giants likely the best of that mess). With the lost to Tampa (which I do give them a pass on to a high degree) the Seahawks do not have that strong separation, but still lead the pack in the NFC (minus Dallas)
Okay ...what about Dallas?
Unfortunately, I don't believe the hype about waiting for the Dallas rookies to crash. I don't think they will. The 2013-2014 SB champions were a super young team. And they just had a will to do it. The Dallas team I see similarly. No crash, likely first seed, losing maybe one game the rest of the season.
And if the NFC Conference finals happened today, I think Dallas wins.
Fortunately, the NFC Conference finals does not happen today. It happens in January.
And December is when magic happens in Seattle
We know the Seahawks tend to better with their back against the wall. That's the run up to the playoffs. And they embrace that buildup to the playoffs which is why they always get their stuff together in November and December and have historic climbs as the playoffs near.
While Dallas is playing at a high level, I don't see them being able to climb faster than the Seahawks. And at some point towards the playoffs the Seahawks will climb up and pass the Cowboys (not in record, but in potential to win it all)
While Seahawks I think would lose today, for the next four to six weeks they will get reinforcements back, they will get deeper as the new guys get quality playing time, Russell will get healthier, George Fant (still sold on him) will get better, the o-line gets more time together. And the guys just in general play great on historic levels.
Not sure Dallas will be quite ready, and that's where I see the youth being a factor. Maybe next year after being through it once, but not this year (like the 2012-2013 Playoff version of the Seahawks)
In short, I almost see it as:
Dallas: y = 1x + 4
Seattle: y = 3x + 1
In conclusion ...
To me I'm very excited to see what the "4th quarter" of the season brings. I do see a Dallas/Seattle NFC Conference Finals. I do see by that point the Seahawks being the team to beat and not vice versa.
And I'm pumped!
I'm okay giving the Seahawks a pass vs Tampa Bay
Way too many circumstances.
It's mid week, a few days after a pretty bad loss, and to be honest I am still pumped about the Seahawks. And actually/surprisingly after the game on Sunday, I didn't feel that badly. With the leadup to the game hearing about all the injuries, plus considering the few weeks prior the super high level of play, I for some reason was surprised ...and not surprised. Either the Seahawks would climb high or have a bad day.
Defense: Missing 1/2 your LOB. Your best pass rusher. Two great role players up front as well (Mike Morgan/Brock Coyle). Against a confident gunslinger quarterback and a huge receiver that has that ceiling to climb high on any given day.
Offense: really everything to me was on the O-line. Let's be honest, have been over performing these last few weeks. George Fant having a perfect game? The last few weeks they've been sensational. Today they had a return to the middle compounded by the loss of the consistent man in the middle Justin Britt. Not saying it was only the O-line, but it was a domino effect that had the O-line been more like the previous two weeks, would have been an entirely different ball game.
Overall: the last few weeks they've been almost perfect. Epic teams can keep that up for the most part, but still might have a down game.
And the game itself:
Tampa I think was treating this as a back-against-the-wall scenario. They played really well. Well called game. And they were ready to play and were the big bully that day.
Seahawks played uncharacteristically lethargic. Uncharacteristically NOT the bully. Key word = "uncharacteristically"
Me, not worried about it.
Injuries happen, we are getting guys back
i.e. reinforcements are coming!!!
The "run" game will get helped going forward
Besides my optimism for the o-line going forward (they will be less like Tampa, more like New England/Philly) Russell scrambling showing he can take some load on. Nice to see him back. And that will help the run game a lot too
Playoff bound
Realistically we are playoff bound. If the season ended today, we are in the playoffs. For others.. maybe that's a meh. For me ... I am always excited when my team looks to be in the playoffs.
Vegas Agrees! Seahawks still great!
Vegas seems to usually get things more right than wrong, and why not? That's how they make money so I trust their analysts a lot more than any columnist. Columnists goal is to GET PEOPLE TO READ (or listen, or click). Why do you think Prisco baits the Seahawks fans so much? You'll even hear stories about analysts getting fed the picks they should choose
Vegas? Bottom line is money, you need 50% of people to bet on one team, and 50% of people to bet on the other team. They move the line to do this. So to me it's a better indication of how teams are doing. And Vegas seems to really like the Seahawks not just this upcoming week but the rest of the season even AFTER the Tampa loss.
The NFC (minus Dallas)
The rest of the NFC I would say we win a majority of the time. Before the Tampa game we had separated ourselves to a sure second (with Dallas as a sure first) and the rest of the NFC almost a big mess on the spectrum (with the Giants likely the best of that mess). With the lost to Tampa (which I do give them a pass on to a high degree) the Seahawks do not have that strong separation, but still lead the pack in the NFC (minus Dallas)
Okay ...what about Dallas?
Unfortunately, I don't believe the hype about waiting for the Dallas rookies to crash. I don't think they will. The 2013-2014 SB champions were a super young team. And they just had a will to do it. The Dallas team I see similarly. No crash, likely first seed, losing maybe one game the rest of the season.
And if the NFC Conference finals happened today, I think Dallas wins.
Fortunately, the NFC Conference finals does not happen today. It happens in January.
And December is when magic happens in Seattle
We know the Seahawks tend to better with their back against the wall. That's the run up to the playoffs. And they embrace that buildup to the playoffs which is why they always get their stuff together in November and December and have historic climbs as the playoffs near.
While Dallas is playing at a high level, I don't see them being able to climb faster than the Seahawks. And at some point towards the playoffs the Seahawks will climb up and pass the Cowboys (not in record, but in potential to win it all)
While Seahawks I think would lose today, for the next four to six weeks they will get reinforcements back, they will get deeper as the new guys get quality playing time, Russell will get healthier, George Fant (still sold on him) will get better, the o-line gets more time together. And the guys just in general play great on historic levels.
Not sure Dallas will be quite ready, and that's where I see the youth being a factor. Maybe next year after being through it once, but not this year (like the 2012-2013 Playoff version of the Seahawks)
In short, I almost see it as:
Dallas: y = 1x + 4
Seattle: y = 3x + 1
In conclusion ...
To me I'm very excited to see what the "4th quarter" of the season brings. I do see a Dallas/Seattle NFC Conference Finals. I do see by that point the Seahawks being the team to beat and not vice versa.
And I'm pumped!