Does a full healthy year of Russ Wilson get the Seattle Seahawks back into the playoffs?
Ed Stein
Before answering the main question, consider the opposite. Without Russell Wilson, at or near 100 percent, the Seattle Seahawks don’t make the playoffs.
A healthy RW3 is an excellent start to a playoff team. But there is so much that’s out of his control. He needs time in the pocket, and the Seahawks are down three starting offensive linemen from last year. Additionally, if the defense is a leaky sieve, the way it was in at least half of the previous two seasons, it won’t matter how many points Russ puts up.
The last part is the schedule. Division games are always big rivalries, so going 3-3, no matter what the overall team strengths are, is a baseline. They play the NFC South and AFC West in 2022. A 5-3 (or better) record in those games seems about right.
Finally, the Seahawks have the “luxury” of a fourth-place schedule which puts Detroit and both New York teams on the docket, and both games against east coast teams are in Seattle. Put down 3-0 for those matchups. All totaled, Seattle should come in at 11-6, which is likely Wild Card territory.
The Seattle Seahawks 2022 opponents are officially set they will play:
HOME: Cardinals, Rams, 49ers, Falcons, Panthers, Broncos, Raiders, Giants, and the Jets
AWAY: Cardinals, Rams, 49ers, Saints, Buccaneers, Cheifs, Chargers, and the Lions
A pretty decent Schedule for 22 pic.twitter.com/ETTSMiCNko
— Roman Reigns ERA (@Ashton_Koch47) January 10, 2022
Joe Swenson
Maybe. But truthfully, it doesn’t have a lot to do with Russ. It’s more about how the defense is set up, free agency, a running back that can stay healthy, another o-line upgrade, and getting an effective pass rush.
Some of those things will enhance Russ’ chances. But a healthy Wilson needs a better supporting cast outside of his two outstanding WRs, Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf.