Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks.
Here is your 100 percent, all-in, analysis of the 2021 Seattle Seahawks. While you were away, there might’ve been some things you missed. For example, the NFL now has a 17 game schedule. There are 7 playoff entrants from each conference. If a team becomes a COVID problem, they will forfeit their game.
QB – Russell Wilson
RB – Chris Carson
WR1 – Tyler Lockett
WR2 – D.K. Metcalf
WR3 – Freddie Swain
TE – Gerald Everett
LT – Duane Brown
LG – Damien Lewis
C – Ethan Pocic
RG – Gabe Jackson
RT – Brandon Shell
LDE – L.J. Collier
NT – Poona Ford
DT – Al Woods
LEO (rushing downs) – Benson Mayowa
LEO (passing downs) – Carlos Dunlap
SLB – Jordyn Brooks
MLB – Bobby Wagner
ROLB – Darrell Taylor
LCB – D.J. Reid
SS – Jamal Adams
FS – Quandre Diggs
RCB – Tre Flowers
Storyline – Seahawks defense against the oft-injured one-time MVP candidate and form Eagle, Carson Wentz. Indy features one of the best offensive lines in the league to go with an ever-improving defense. The Seahawks will trot out 2020 2nd round pick Darrell Taylor as an outside pass rusher and four 2020 pro-bowl selections on defense. 12s will see Seattle’s D come after Wentz hard.
Storyline – The home opener for the Seahawks will be against one of the best teams in the AFC from 2020. In this game, the defense must shut down All-World running back Derrick Henry. Not to mention one of the more accurate QBs in the league, Ryan Tannehill.
Tannehill has a newly acquired weapon in Julio Jones to go with AJ Brown and a host of other talents to use in the passing game. The Titans defense is so-so; expect Wilson to exploit a weak linebacking core as well as average speed in the secondary.
Storyline – For the second straight week, the Seahawks will have to ensure their run defense is up-to-snuff against one of the league’s best running backs in Dalvin Cook. Another team with multiple weapons on offense tries to take advantage of an iffy Seattle secondary that can get beat if the pass rush doesn’t get to QB Kirk Cousins.
The stars of Minnesota’s recent defenses have either gotten old or left. So this one could be a shoot-out, but the Seahawks should be able to score at will.
Storyline – Trey Lance or Jimmy G? Everything will depend on who stars at QB for the 49ers in this game. Jimmy Garoppolo has notoriously struggled against Pete Carroll-led defenses but managed to pull out a win here or there. RW3 will have his hands full against one of the best defenses the NFL has to offer in this NFC West showdown.
Storyline – Short rest, coming off of a division battle, into another division battle will be the story of the week. It’s also back-to-back weeks against top defenses. Things could look a bit iffy for the Seahawks offense unless Chris Carson can get it going early and Russ can make some magic happen off of the play-action pass.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford finally has a chance to work with actual weapons and a defense for a change. Speaking of defense, defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
Storyline – The Sunday Night NBC Game of the Week will feature two of the winningest QBs in NFL history and two QBs who take a beating behind poor offensive lines, or maybe they hold the ball too long. Either way, it’s going to be a sack fest kind of night. The Steelers will feature rookie Najee Harris while the Seahawks try to stop the run and the three-headed receiving monster of Ju-Ju, Claypool, and Diontae.
Storyline – This will be the third consecutive primetime game for the Seahawks as they face mistake-riddled quarterback Jameis Winston (if he’s still starting), who might be getting back All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas by this point in the season. Russell Wilson in primetime is one of the best of all time, and he’ll need three weeks of awesomeness to run the gauntlet.
Storyline – Number 1 overall pick and a shoo-in for the Hall-Of-Fame at this point, Trevor Lawrence will visit the friendly confines of Seattle. This is the final game before Seattle’s bye week. The Seahawks, as long as they are healthy, are a huge favorite at home against the rookie.
Storyline – I’m not sure if we’re supposed to hate Aaron Rogers or love the guy, but we surely do respect what he brings to the table. Green Bay looks to be knee-deep in the playoff race at this point, as does Seattle. So it’s Russell Wilson versus a depleted secondary and Aaron Rogers with two massively talented weapons. Let the passes fly; this should be a good one.
Storyline – First game against this division foe of the season. Arizona has a revamped defensive front, including future Hall-of-Famer JJ Watt. No more Larry Fitzgerald, but Kyler Murray figures to remind Seahawks fans about how Russell Wilson used to play, sort of. DK Metcalf vs. Buda Baker could be fun.
Storyline – This is Seattle’s fourth primetime game of the season. This one is against the team that nearly took Brady and the Buccaneers out of last year’s playoffs in the first round. The WFT defense is legit. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is a magician that sometimes forgets how to do his tricks. Get Carson going in this one, and the rest is history.
Storyline – It’s the Seattle Seahawks’ fifth primetime game of 2021 and second in two weeks. We’ll have to see where the Niners are with their QBs. Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll are money in primetime games. The division could be on the line, but that would require a healthy stable of running backs for San Fran.
Storyline – There isn’t one here. Houston has been gutted through internal issues, poor management, and a desire to blow up the team. This is also the second and final morning game on the west coast. The Texans have no defense and a poor offense. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Houston came into this game with two or fewer wins.
Storyline – Hopefully, both teams are in a position so that NBC can flex this game into their Sunday night slot. This is Game 14 of the season, and 12’s would like to see the Seahawks at or above 10 wins before facing off against the Rams in Los Angeles.
We’ll know for sure if the Rams made the right decision on Stafford vs. Goff by this point as well. So most of the storyline will be based on where both of these teams are in the standings.
Storyline – Like several other teams that the Seattle Seahawks face (Saints with Winston vs. Hill, San Fran with Lance vs. Garoppolo, Houston, and whoever they might put in), the Bears also have an unsettled QB situation between Justin Fields and Andy Dalton. The Bears have a good defense which should keep them in their games with most teams. But they don’t have many weapons on offense. However, they do figure to lose more than they win.
Storyline – Detroit and Houston are projected to both be 4 wins or fewer teams this season, and without a decent defense and a lack of receiving options for Jarred Goff, you can’t imagine that it would’ve changed between the start of the season and week 17.
Storyline – Depending on what’s at stake, this could be the lone game Seahawks contest flexed into a later time slot. Arizona figures prominently in the NFC playoff plans, as do the Seahawks. In fact, the entire NFC West should be in playoff contention for most of the season.
If the Seattle Seahawks roll in with 13 wins or more, they probably rest their starters after the first quarter. But if they have 12 or less, then it’s all hands on deck.
Seattle Seahawks: 12-5 – Division Winner and 3rd Seed
Los Angeles Rams: 11-6 – Wild Card and 5th seed
Arizona Cardinals: 10-7 – Wild Card and 7th seed
San Francisco 49ers: 8-9
Los Angeles Rams: 13-4 – Division Winner and 3rd Seed
Seattle Seahawks: 12-5 – Wild Card and 5th Seed
San Francisco 49ers: 11-6 – Wild Card and 6th Seed
Arizona Cardinals: 8-9
San Francisco 49ers: 12-5 Division Winner and 2nd Seed
Los Angeles Rams: 9-8 – Wild Card and 6th Seed
Arizona Cardinals: 6-11
Seattle Seahawks: 5-12
Los Angeles Rams +190
San Francisco 49ers +190
Seattle Seahawks +275
Arizona Cardinals +600
Los Angeles Rams +550 (2nd best)
San Francisco 49ers +650 (4th best)
Seattle Seahawks +1200 (5th best)
Arizona Cardinals +1600 (7th best)
Los Angeles Rams +1200 (4th best)
San Francisco 49ers +1400 (7th best)
Seattle Seahawks +2500 (10th best)
Arizona Cardinals +3500 (15th best)
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Joe Swenson is an award-winning writer, author, playwright, avid sports fan, and analyst for Pacific Northwest Sports.