Playoff Situation

[RiverDog]

It’s a 3 game season . If we wind up 7-10 I think it’s all got to be on the table including Pete’s job security . I agree with that .

I'm keeping my powder dry and not making any predictions about what my feelings will be at the end of the season. If we lose out, there's a chance that I'll be on the Fire Pete bandwagon. Heck, even if we win out, I'm not necessarily in his corner. For me, it's more than these last 3 games. I'm not looking at a W/L record or making/missing the playoffs. I'm looking at the past 7 seasons in total, draft picks, trades, coaching hiring and firings, the whole ball of wax. I'm tired of these half good, half bad .500ish teams.

[NorthHawk]

Pete will go when he decides it's time.
We are a middle of the road team. Much better than I thought we would be, but there is some hope.
On Offense we still have to address the middle of the OL. It's our weak spot on Offense. And a true #3 WR.
On Defense we have to address both the interior of the DL and the pass rush. Those are our weak spots on Defense.
So that's a lot of improvement needed to really be considered competitive in the sense that we would be in the discussion of a championship type of team.
We haven't been able to improve the DL for 5 or 6 years now so something has to be done.
Long term (3 years) we need a top QB as well. Maybe next year if Geno moves on or slides back to his normal level of play.

[c_hawkbob]

I like our current talent trajectory and our prospects for continuing the rise over the next couple years. This year was always transitional and I only expected our current win total for the whole season, so I can't complain no matter what happens these last three games. I will say the last time we were in a transitional year the post season was terrific fun and it'd be sweet if we replicated it but with the division out of reach I don't expect it.

As for whether I'm tired of middling ball; we may have tried to hold on to the magic a couple years too long but I can't fault them for that. At the beginning of the year I was ready for Pete to go, but I could stand a couple more years of drafts like this years if you held a gun to my head.

[Hawktawk]

[

I'm keeping my powder dry and not making any predictions about what my feelings will be at the end of the season. If we lose out, there's a chance that I'll be on the Fire Pete bandwagon. Heck, even if we win out, I'm not necessarily in his corner. For me, it's more than these last 3 games. I'm not looking at a W/L record or making/missing the playoffs. I'm looking at the past 7 seasons in total, draft picks, trades, coaching hiring and firings, the whole ball of wax. I'm tired of these half good, half bad .500ish teams.

I think Jodi will make the call and I think shes able and willing. If we have a winning record which means a 2 or 3 game improvement with all these rookies and a garbage dumpster find QB absolutely hes back.
Go 7-10, 8-9 I dont know. I said pre season i give him one year and I figured Jodi would do the same. I had a sense she was tempted to clean house last year.
I think your seven seasons of bad is a bit too much protest as we had 5 playoff teams in that time. That's in a division that's produced 3 super bowl participants and a champion and 9 or 10 playoff teams in the last 5 years. Every team has some down years but its far and away the most successful run in seattle sports history irrespective of sport.

And for all the talk of how it was all Russ the last 6 years well it was somewhat on him. We only won 3 wild cards after he threw away 49. No dynamic play to lift us to at least 1 divisional win. We were destroyed with injury year after year.
Again as TCS says look around the league. We've had hits and misses . We have some great players, steals from our supposed dry times.

This years draft was excellent to great depending on how Walker progresses .We do have some weaknesses that are even more glaring due to injuries and scheme on defense, interior line is weak.

I expected 10-7 and a clear mandate for Geno and Pete etc. If we wind up in no mans land like we might then I really dont know
. In the case of Geno he has to be more like the first 9 then the last 5 if we're gonna have a chance and hes gonna get goff money.
Or hes in no mans land too where people really start to look at the blemishes before signing up for a 32 year old guy off a 7-10 team. VERY important 3 weeks.

[RiverDog]

I think Jodi will make the call and I think shes able and willing. If we have a winning record which means a 2 or 3 game improvement with all these rookies and a garbage dumpster find QB absolutely hes back.
Go 7-10, 8-9 I dont know. I said pre season i give him one year and I figured Jodi would do the same. I had a sense she was tempted to clean house last year.
I think your seven seasons of bad is a bit too much protest as we had 5 playoff teams in that time. That's in a division that's produced 3 super bowl participants and a champion and 9 or 10 playoff teams in the last 5 years. Every team has some down years but its far and away the most successful run in seattle sports history irrespective of sport.

And for all the talk of how it was all Russ the last 6 years well it was somewhat on him. We only won 3 wild cards after he threw away 49. No dynamic play to lift us to at least 1 divisional win. We were destroyed with injury year after year.
Again as TCS says look around the league. We've had hits and misses . We have some great players, steals from our supposed dry times.

This years draft was excellent to great depending on how Walker progresses .We do have some weaknesses that are even more glaring due to injuries and scheme on defense, interior line is weak.

I expected 10-7 and a clear mandate for Geno and Pete etc. If we wind up in no mans land like we might then I really dont know
. In the case of Geno he has to be more like the first 9 then the last 5 if we're gonna have a chance and hes gonna get goff money.
Or hes in no mans land too where people really start to look at the blemishes before signing up for a 32 year old guy off a 7-10 team. VERY important 3 weeks.

Jodi is a mystery. None of us know how she makes her decisions or who she trusts. By her own admission, she's not a football person, so obviously she's not making the calls on her own. I neither trust nor mistrust her to run the team. The only decision she's made is to stand pat.

Making the playoffs simply isn't good enough. 14 out of 32 teams qualify. I want to see teams that are legitimate threats to go to the Super Bowl, and even you said that we haven't seen that standard met for some time.

We'll see where we stand when the season ends. As Cbob said, there's enough improvement in how we approach things like the draft to justify giving Pete another year, and to be honest, I'm leaning in that direction. But I'm not willing to write him a blank check. I'm not sitting still and letting him fire coordinator after coordinator and pretend that he's solved the problem.

[Old but Slow]

To me it has a feeling like Pete is going to retire. With a mountain to climb toward another championship, it may be more than he wants to take on at his age (I wonder what his wife thinks). It is time.

My fear is that the team will suddenly win a couple of games, and he might get the fire back and stay another season. I have been a Pete supporter, was glad when he was hired, and appreciated what he brought. But, his time has passed. His systems have tired.

[RiverDog]

To me it has a feeling like Pete is going to retire. With a mountain to climb toward another championship, it may be more than he wants to take on at his age (I wonder what his wife thinks). It is time.

My fear is that the team will suddenly win a couple of games, and he might get the fire back and stay another season. I have been a Pete supporter, was glad when he was hired, and appreciated what he brought. But, his time has passed. His systems have tired.

I was against Pete's hiring back in 2010, mainly because I considered him more of a college coach than an NFL coach, and the league is littered with the corpses of successful college coaches that failed in the pros. Despite Pete's success, I still maintain that opinion and consider him to be the exception and not the rule, either that or my assessment of him being just a college coach wasn't accurate. Whatever the situation, I was dead wrong about him.

As far as how much longer he's going to coach, who knows. I doubt that he would have signed a contract that carries him through the 2025 season at which time he'll be 74 years old if he didn't fully intend to fulfill it, and as we are all aware, he has the mind and body of a man 20 years his junior. If anyone can coach into their mid 70's, it's Pete.

But things may have changed. We had a miserable season last year, the whole Russell Wilson drama may have taken a toll on him, and he hasn't had very many times where he put up back-to-back losing seasons, something that's a very real possibility. Does he want to hit the rocking chair like this, going out a loser? If I had to bet, I'd say that he comes back for at least one more year.

I hear ya about the danger of winning just enough games to make you think that a Super Bowl is just around the corner. I sometimes feel like an old thirsty cowboy leading a mule across a flat desert and seeing a shimmering lake in the distance.

[Hawktawk]

Jodi is a mystery. None of us know how she makes her decisions or who she trusts. By her own admission, she's not a football person, so obviously she's not making the calls on her own. I neither trust nor mistrust her to run the team. The only decision she's made is to stand pat.


"Jodi most definitely didn't stand pat. She traded the most iconic figure in franchise history in his perceived prime. And look where its gotten each team. Good lord man. You missed something.
She didn't clean house. I think John was secure and is for another 5 years if he wants now but Pete was close. I think she decided someone who knew the floor plan in the Vmac needed to stay. Honestly whatever happens it was smart bringing him back as I rather doubt say Nathaniel Hackett could be anywhere near 7 wins with 3 to play. Oh wait......"

"RD
Making the playoffs simply isn't good enough. 14 out of 32 teams qualify. I want to see teams that are legitimate threats to go to the Super Bowl, and even you said that we haven't seen that standard met for some time. "

"Making the playoffs is good enough because you always have a chance. The Giants were 9-7 when they beat the 18-0 Pats. Got lucky as hell too, without some key fumbles its Alex Smith and the 9ers in the game.
Honestly these days if you're in you have a shot. Look at Cincy last year. Bad defense. Horrible line. Last second win vs Raiders, Titans ,KC in OT and a play away from a Lombardi.
You dont have to be as good as we were then to win and almost nobody is. 9ers are a carbon copy of us including a young smart polite team oriented qb that does enough on a great team. Lets see what they do while everyone here begs for Will Levis held together with duct tape to revive the franchise:D

Of course the Hawks team wasn't as dominant later in the decade and you always want more. But the story post SB 49 was spending the first half of EVERY Divisional and a couple WC losses punting and throwing picks and pick 6es. If the defense isn't as good the O has to pick it up when you get to the playoffs. In the last 5 postseason losses AFTER 49 we NEVER HAD A SECOND HALF LEAD in 4 of them. IN 3 WE NEVER LED.

Id be fascinated to see Geno in the postseason just out of curiosity because we never saw the level of play in the postseason out of the offense we saw in the regular season, really ever other than SB 48 where Russ turned in an MVP performance and the Divisional the following year vs Carolina. Anyone want to credit our offense with the win in the 2014 NFC Title game have at it. Saints in 2013 Divisional
Both super bowl teams last year had mediocre defenses although they were playing the best then. "


RD
"We'll see where we stand when the season ends. As Cbob said, there's enough improvement in how we approach things like the draft to justify giving Pete another year, and to be honest, I'm leaning in that direction. But I'm not willing to write him a blank check. I'm not sitting still and letting him fire coordinator after coordinator and pretend that he's solved the problem.

"Jodi is hands on and very instinctive. She already proved it. If I continue to see this type of play out of a defense that for 4 weeks proved it was capable of stopping people Im outta here and would not be surprised if she is too. I'm tired of watching it. We should have 9 wins at least. Id say 10 or more with any defense . That's even with struggling to run we should.
I'm far from a blank check. Its not 6 weeks ago. Fascinating frustrating mind boggling year as a hawks fan."

[Aseahawkfan]

I'd like to see Pete around a while longer, see what happens once he gets the D-line rebuilt. I think Pete and John are pretty aware the run defense is not working and the D-line and LBs are the reason. I would be real surprised if they don't focus on that next year in the draft and free agency. It's a matter if they hit in the draft with those positions. So far they have been missing way more than hitting with pass rushers. Fat butt DTs should be available. They have been good about finding LBs as well. Pass rushers are hard to find, so that's not so reliable.

Maybe some pass rusher will come free in free agency and if we re-sign Geno for cheaper, we can sign a pass rusher for cheap like we did with Nwosu. Another Nwosu style player would boost our pass rush.

I'll roll with Pete a few more years. He's jettisoned the last of his Super Bowl team he was attached to. He now seems to be functioning in his original win forever mode like he did when he first arrived. He doesn't seem too attached to any player, so he can make better talent decisions.

I say give Pete one more championship run for a few more years and see what happens. Next draft will be a real indicator of the team direction. This draft gave us a nice infusion of talent and a good base. Next draft keeps the talent infusion going. We'll see what Pete does with it next year. I think Pete wants one more ring.

[MackStrongIsMyHero]

I'd like to see Pete around a while longer, see what happens once he gets the D-line rebuilt. I think Pete and John are pretty aware the run defense is not working and the D-line and LBs are the reason. I would be real surprised if they don't focus on that next year in the draft and free agency. It's a matter if they hit in the draft with those positions. So far they have been missing way more than hitting with pass rushers. Fat butt DTs should be available. They have been good about finding LBs as well. Pass rushers are hard to find, so that's not so reliable.

Maybe some pass rusher will come free in free agency and if we re-sign Geno for cheaper, we can sign a pass rusher for cheap like we did with Nwosu. Another Nwosu style player would boost our pass rush.

I'll roll with Pete a few more years. He's jettisoned the last of his Super Bowl team he was attached to. He now seems to be functioning in his original win forever mode like he did when he first arrived. He doesn't seem too attached to any player, so he can make better talent decisions.

I say give Pete one more championship run for a few more years and see what happens. Next draft will be a real indicator of the team direction. This draft gave us a nice infusion of talent and a good base. Next draft keeps the talent infusion going. We'll see what Pete does with it next year. I think Pete wants one more ring.

Pretty much in agreement with this so long as I don't see any more Jamal Adams type trades. Hopeful we won't considering this year's draft looks in-line with a proper rebuild versus trying to make splash moves meant to keep the window open. The roster reckoning has happened, and we are walking past that can that was kicked down the road. The bolded portion is spot-on.

[RiverDog]

I'd like to see Pete around a while longer, see what happens once he gets the D-line rebuilt. I think Pete and John are pretty aware the run defense is not working and the D-line and LBs are the reason. I would be real surprised if they don't focus on that next year in the draft and free agency. It's a matter if they hit in the draft with those positions. So far they have been missing way more than hitting with pass rushers. Fat butt DTs should be available. They have been good about finding LBs as well. Pass rushers are hard to find, so that's not so reliable.

Maybe some pass rusher will come free in free agency and if we re-sign Geno for cheaper, we can sign a pass rusher for cheap like we did with Nwosu. Another Nwosu style player would boost our pass rush.

I'll roll with Pete a few more years. He's jettisoned the last of his Super Bowl team he was attached to. He now seems to be functioning in his original win forever mode like he did when he first arrived. He doesn't seem too attached to any player, so he can make better talent decisions.

I say give Pete one more championship run for a few more years and see what happens. Next draft will be a real indicator of the team direction. This draft gave us a nice infusion of talent and a good base. Next draft keeps the talent infusion going. We'll see what Pete does with it next year. I think Pete wants one more ring.

Pretty much in agreement with this so long as I don't see any more Jamal Adams type trades. Hopeful we won't considering this year's draft looks in-line with a proper rebuild versus trying to make splash moves meant to keep the window open. The roster reckoning has happened, and we are walking past that can that was kicked down the road. The bolded portion is spot-on.

Like I said, I want to see how this season plays out before I jump on or off the Pete bandwagon. Winning our last 3 doesn't mean I'm jumping back on nor does losing out mean that I'll be calling for his head. I do like the way they went about rebuilding the roster, just that it's taken them too long to recognize that we're not a player or two away from challenging for a SB.

The Adams trade was bad enough, but they compounded their mistake by signing him to a $70M contract extension. They need to cut bait with that guy. We have too much money tied up in safeties.

[NorthHawk]

Pete doesn’t seem too confident of late as he’s given up designing his Defense and let it change to a 3-4.
I don’t know why he would do that unless he was setting the team up for some type of transition. He’s run that Defense
since the ‘80s and got it to the point of being one of the all time great Defenses in the NFL, and then he hands over the
reins to another person to run a different one. It’s very strange unless he’s going to step away soon.

[Hawktawk]

Pete doesn’t seem too confident of late as he’s given up designing his Defense and let it change to a 3-4.
I don’t know why he would do that unless he was setting the team up for some type of transition. He’s run that Defense
since the ‘80s and got it to the point of being one of the all time great Defenses in the NFL, and then he hands over the
reins to another person to run a different one. It’s very strange unless he’s going to step away soon.

It wound up a terrible decision . We had marginal 4-3 talent . The only lineman we really had that was suited to a 3-4 was 35 year old Al woods . I get Pete was trying something new and not sure Hurrt didn’t fool him like he fooled me . It’s bad . Other than that 4 game stretch I can’t figure out .

[RiverDog]

Pete doesn’t seem too confident of late as he’s given up designing his Defense and let it change to a 3-4.
I don’t know why he would do that unless he was setting the team up for some type of transition. He’s run that Defense
since the ‘80s and got it to the point of being one of the all time great Defenses in the NFL, and then he hands over the
reins to another person to run a different one. It’s very strange unless he’s going to step away soon.

Pete seemed to me like he was brown beaten into making changes in his defensive philosophy. There was a lot of very legitimate criticism of his system as he hadn't fielded a top 10 defense for 5 years and had only been getting worse. I can understand the feeling. Was it a mistake? Hard to tell. No defense is going to thrive when they are as weak up front as we are, and maybe it will work out in another year or two. Then again, maybe not.

I don't necessarily think that it's a sign that he's about to hang it up, just that he was trying to mollify is critics and accusations that he was stubborn.

[NorthHawk]

If that's the case then he's been forced to abandon a big part of his core philosophy. It's part of his program that he touted all the while when he
came here and had great success with. If he's been forced to do something he doesn't believe in the it would suggest he might want to move on.
And that's just Defense. On Offense he's moved from his Peteball Offense to more of a modern day version that features the pass. It's something
we needed to do, but again it goes against his program and how he became as successful as he is.
It just has an odd feeling about the whole situation.

[RiverDog]

If that's the case then he's been forced to abandon a big part of his core philosophy. It's part of his program that he touted all the while when he
came here and had great success with. If he's been forced to do something he doesn't believe in the it would suggest he might want to move on.
And that's just Defense. On Offense he's moved from his Peteball Offense to more of a modern day version that features the pass. It's something
we needed to do, but again it goes against his program and how he became as successful as he is.
It just has an odd feeling about the whole situation.

I don't disagree that it's odd and out of character for him. I just don't think that we can connect the dots and say that it's evidence of his impending retirement. It certainly doesn't trump that contract he signed that carries him through the next 3 seasons.

[NorthHawk]

He doesn't need the money and a few years ago he was asked how long he expected to coach and he said he was taking it year by year so I inferred from that comment that he was willing to pull the plug if it suited him.
When you suddenly give up on your lifes work, a record of major success on two levels, to me it seems like he's setting the stage to leave under his own terms.
But maybe it's just me that's reading that into it.

[RiverDog]

He doesn't need the money and a few years ago he was asked how long he expected to coach and he said he was taking it year by year so I inferred from that comment that he was willing to pull the plug if it suited him.
When you suddenly give up on your lifes work, a record of major success on two levels, to me it seems like he's setting the stage to leave under his own terms.
But maybe it's just me that's reading that into it.

I never heard him say that he was 'taking it year-by-year', so maybe you're on to something. If he does retire, I hope he makes the announcement the day after we're mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

There's also the question of the Hawk's ownership as according to some, Paul Allen's trust requires that his sports teams be sold at some point within the next few years. If they are put up for sale in 2023, will Pete remain?

[Hawktawk]

I still don’t think Pete has the final call on his tenure unless his call is I’m retiring . I don’t think he’s ready . My guess he wants next year and see where they go with this rook class a year older and wiser plus whoever comes in next years draft and FA.
As for Hurrt he swindled Pete as bad as John Swindled denver . I was convinced . Brock and Salk . He was such a dynamic speaker . He should be a salesman , a politician or a preacher . Dude was full of it . I think Pete is too classy to fire someone in season and we are still in it but I think Hurrt is coaching for his job these last 3. Not sure Pete Isn’t too .

[RiverDog]

I still don’t think Pete has the final call on his tenure unless his call is I’m retiring . I don’t think he’s ready . My guess he wants next year and see where they go with this rook class a year older and wiser plus whoever comes in next years draft and FA.
As for Hurrt he swindled Pete as bad as John Swindled denver . I was convinced . Brock and Salk . He was such a dynamic speaker . He should be a salesman , a politician or a preacher . Dude was full of it . I think Pete is too classy to fire someone in season and we are still in it but I think Hurrt is coaching for his job these last 3. Not sure Pete Isn’t too .

If we are going to have to replace our HC, now is the time. We would be one of if not the leading destination for potential HC's as we have some really good draft capital and we're in a good position with our cap space. Plus, we don't have a humongous albatross of a QB contract hung around our necks like they have in Denver and Arizona, two teams that might be in the market.

But even if we lose our last 3, I don't think it's going to happen unless North Hawk is right, and Pete decides to retire.

[Hawktawk]

I’m not sure it’s now . I think this team has over performed and barely underperformed being far better positioned is because of Pete’s positive style . That includes Geno . Pete and Geno are married in a way , their fates intertwined . Pete respects him and vice versa , a much more real normal qb Coach relationship . I’ve heard Pete be more critical of Geno in 14 games then 10 years with Russ . But he’s praised him too . I know Pete is disgusted with the inability to run . More with the inability to stop it . He was more angry about Diggs drop then Homers fumble . I did see him yawn on the sideline at a night game which I’ve never seen . He’s 8 years older than me and I don’t want to do a damn thing .

It’s still gonna come down to the last three . Win all or 2 stand Pat , for sure if there’s playoffs . Win 8 or 7 everyone but John better keep their head on a swivel . I hear how Jodi isn’t a football person ( attends every home game ) hands on and a strong leader . Ask Terry Schotz and the entire brass of the trailblazers fired after missing the playoffs once . They were in the conference final the year before .
“ a lack of postseason success . “
But the blazers didn’t go to any championships much less back to back and win one .
The class with which Pete conducts himself , the love his players have for him and the record of his teams had bought him respect and time . But we have 3 wild card wins in 7 , seasons most recently 4 years ago . We are 3 and 6 since 49 and have been blown out of every divisional loss. We have no home field advantage. River how do you think Jodi felt watching the Raiders game . If I don’t turn it off due to refs I might so I don’t have to watch them try to stop the run .

I think anything’s possible . If Pete’s fired maybe you do look at a good young coach that can grow up with whoever is brought in . Maybe you do move up in the draft if there’s a somewhat certain star at qb . Franchise Geno and let him walk or try to trade him . Sign lock if he’s cheap as an option to a high draft pick if a new coach thinks he can develop him . He’s baby Josh Allen imo just no juice about him anywhere other than Pete .

Fasten your seat belt
It’s all on the table . The 4-2 finish saved Pete last year . He needs 2 of 3 this year .

[trents]

Peaked? come on, we beat bad teams and no good teams, there was no rise and fall.

It's hard to convey sarcasm in text.

[Hawktawk]

Peaked? come on, we beat bad teams and no good teams, there was no rise and fall.

It's hard to convey sarcasm in text.[/quote]

It’s a lot of BS too . It’s the show . 2 of the teams we beat are in strong contention for the postseason . The team we beat twice won 11 last year and entered the game as the favorite . We held them to 3 points .

Well yeah they didn’t have their kicker or DHop . 19-9 fumbling an attempted punt in the end zone . Then we beat the Chargers at So Fi, destroyed them . Then the 6-1 Giants averaging about 200 rushing yards coming in . Stuffed them , shut down the run , beat the hell out of Jones . So then 3 games later we play AZ with a kicker and DHop . 31-17
A guy named HT was the only one impressed vsJax last year when Geno went 20-24 with 2 passing TDs and a rush TD. He completed his first 15 passes, completed 10 to Lockett in the FIRST HALF. 2 TDs to DK who made the “I’ve never had a ball like that “ comment after a perfect dart into a small window for a TD. 138 qbr , 80% completion .

Well that is a bad terrible team so it doesn’t matter . Not impressive .

Then he starts this year completing 80% first 2 against the top 2 defenses in the league . It’s an NFL record .

You know who you all are and here you go again . How bad is Jacksonville ? Ask Dallas . Most of those same guys . Just better coaching . We were the only team that had shut Jacksonville out in the first half and almost shut them out period .

We were the hottest team in the league those 4 weeks then we went to Munich to tee it up at 6:30 AM pst on jello so bad you were falling down with 1” cleats .

We’d have Fing destroyed those slow pigs if we could stand up . Kicking off at midnight . We’d have beaten Brady up , knocked him
Into retirement .
We led the league in pressures and sacks and were 3 behind Dallas for the outright lead in sacks . Nwosu was leading the league in pressures with 31. We were #1 against the run in that time . # 1 scoring defense at about 13 ppg that month . We got 1 pressure on Brady even though he was taking 2.75 seconds to throw , his slowest release of the year . 2 flags on obvious fouls picked up including the game winning TD. Still a close loss . Not surprising Tampa is worse than us since returning . I’ll be pist till I die .

It’s no doubt it tripped us when we were at full throttle .

But the win streak was legit . I saw the 1 win Texans take KC to OT. We beat all 4 of those teams by 10 or more . I know where we lost our mojo. I don’t know why they can’t get it back but it’s sports psychology . If we squeak out Tampa and go to the bye at 7-3 we’re not having this conversation. But there’s aunts and balls etc . Just a hunch . Not the first time the league has screwed us .

[NorthHawk]

The majority of teams we beat weren't playing well when we played them.
The Giants were probably the only team playing well who we beat - maybe the Chargers, too but they were not consistent week to week and we took advantage of it.
So really, how well have we played this year? Well enough to beat teams who weren't doing well but not good enough to beat solid teams consistently.

[RiverDog]

The Jets looked horrible last night, their only scoring coming off a strip sack fumble that gave them the ball already in scoring position. Although they could look a lot better if Mike White heals enough to play against us, it's looking like we should be able to win our last two games against them and the Rams, who also looked pretty bad in their last outing. 9-8 is a realistic expectation and might be good enough for a 7th seed in the playoffs.

[Hawktawk]

The majority of teams we beat weren't playing well when we played them.
The Giants were probably the only team playing well who we beat - maybe the Chargers, too but they were not consistent week to week and we took advantage of it.
So really, how well have we played this year? Well enough to beat teams who weren't doing well but not good enough to beat solid teams consistently.

Baloney. We lost to the saints giving up over 200 rush yards. A week later we gave up like 80 Rush yards and 3 points to AZ. Giants were 6-1. Chargers had a bad loss to the Jags (how bad a loss now?) but had a winning record with one of the dude QBs everyone wants us to draft. Its the show.

Those 1 month stats were not a fraud at all. Its OK and true to say we were bad, then the hottest team in the league for a month winning 4 games by at least 10 points each, some a lot more. They played bad because we beat their ass. Its a mystery but its a fact.
We were bad, then great for a month then we went to Munich and never got our stroke back. It happens . It happened. But dont try to explain away how we were playing before we went across the god damn pond for Rogers follies.

[Hawktawk]

The Jets looked horrible last night, their only scoring coming off a strip sack fumble that gave them the ball already in scoring position. Although they could look a lot better if Mike White heals enough to play against us, it's looking like we should be able to win our last two games against them and the Rams, who also looked pretty bad in their last outing. 9-8 is a realistic expectation and might be good enough for a 7th seed in the playoffs.

White is a gunslinging fearless stud. If hes in its trouble. Id drool to face Wilson. Hes awful. I dont fear mayfield or the Rams although that's probably famous last words.

[NorthHawk]

Baloney. We lost to the saints giving up over 200 rush yards. A week later we gave up like 80 Rush yards and 3 points to AZ. Giants were 6-1. Chargers had a bad loss to the Jags (how bad a loss now?) but had a winning record with one of the dude QBs everyone wants us to draft. Its the show.

Those 1 month stats were not a fraud at all. Its OK and true to say we were bad, then the hottest team in the league for a month winning 4 games by at least 10 points each, some a lot more. They played bad because we beat their ass. Its a mystery but its a fact.
We were bad, then great for a month then we went to Munich and never got our stroke back. It happens . It happened. But dont try to explain away how we were playing before we went across the god damn pond for Rogers follies.

The Saints weren't playing well and we lost to them.

So who did we beat and when?
Denver - A scat show still
Detroit - Playing one of the worst Defenses in the league at the time and for a number of games after
Arizona - Not a good team
Chargers - An up and down team who wasn't playing well at the time
Giants - A team that was playing well
Arizona - still a bad team
Rams - A bad team this year decimated by injuries

None of those teams were any damn good at the time we played them and most still aren't with the possible exceptions of the Chargers and Giants.

[Hawktawk]

Parity : but BS . It’s the show . A 10 point win is a good win in this league . Detroit had a poorly ranked defense in part because we almost hung a 50 burger on them. I’m apologizing for zero of our wins . Az is 2 games worse because we made them that way . They had their starters the second game and we beat them
31_17.
Your revisionist history is baloney . We were hot as hell going into Munich whether you believe it or not .
And I believe what we did to Denver in the opener is a hangover they are just getting over . Tripped them and it went down from there . Our trip was Munich . If it’s in Tampa we’re a game better , maybe a few games . Winning breeds winning , confidence . Losing breeds losing and a lack of confidence . We’re there . Denver’s there . Any win is a great win and any loss is a bad loss . No style points .

[NorthHawk]

Revisionist history?

Look at the post RD provided. Our opponents win % is around .450. That’s not because we played them, it’s because the teams
we played aren’t very good this year. And those that are now playing better weren’t playing well when we played them.
Detroit had one of the worst Defenses in the league before we played them and it continued on for a number of games after.

You seem to be focused on the Bucs game. We were exposed by them and following that game others took advantage of
our inability to stop the run. They seemed to be able to run on that field and we couldn’t. The following games have shown we aren’t as good as our record showed at the time.

[RiverDog]

Revisionist history?

Look at the post RD provided. Our opponents win % is around .450. That’s not because we played them, it’s because the teams
we played aren’t very good this year. And those that are now playing better weren’t playing well when we played them.
Detroit had one of the worst Defenses in the league before we played them and it continued on for a number of games after.

You seem to be focused on the Bucs game. We were exposed by them and following that game others took advantage of
our inability to stop the run. They seemed to be able to run on that field and we couldn’t. The following games have shown we aren’t as good as our record showed at the time.

To reinforce North Hawk's point about the teams we've played, our strength of schedule percentage is .441. That's 30th in the 32 team league. Our strength of victory is a little better relative to the rest of the league, currently at .404, or 23rd, but that's still in the 30th percentile.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/standings/_/view/playoff

[Hawktawk]

It’s the show . I apologize for no win ever . I do not credit our red hot month to bad competition at all . We got swept by the worst division in football . Run over by the saints and the refs Then hot as hell . Then stuck in the mud . I watched it happen . You want to apologize for Seahawks wins have at it .

[Aseahawkfan]

It’s the show . I apologize for no win ever . I do not credit our red hot month to bad competition at all . We got swept by the worst division in football . Run over by the saints and the refs Then hot as hell . Then stuck in the mud . I watched it happen . You want to apologize for Seahawks wins have at it .

Quality of the opponent matters no matter how many try to downplay it. We are a lower tier team that isn't very competitive. The runt that is sucking worse than us in Denver kept us competitive the last four years or so. He's lost his magic. Maybe so he has Pete. We'll see who can get it back first. If either one gets it back at all.

[RiverDog]

It’s the show . I apologize for no win ever . I do not credit our red hot month to bad competition at all . We got swept by the worst division in football . Run over by the saints and the refs Then hot as hell . Then stuck in the mud . I watched it happen . You want to apologize for Seahawks wins have at it .

Quality of the opponent matters no matter how many try to downplay it. We are a lower tier team that isn't very competitive. The runt that is sucking worse than us in Denver kept us competitive the last four years or so. He's lost his magic. Maybe so he has Pete. We'll see who can get it back first. If either one gets it back at all.

The point of my previous post wasn't to 'apologize' for our wins. It was to keep things in perspective. There is no denying that based on current W/L records, our schedule is a little on the light side. That's not an asterisk behind the first '7' in our 7-7 record qualifying our wins. It's simply a statement of fact that might help explain some of our unexpected success.

[Hawktawk]

We actually have been quite competetive , just not successful enough . We still have a top 5 scoring offense with no run game . I think of our 7 losses 5 were by 1 score . 4 of our 7 wins were by 10 points or more . In one we just missed 50 . Our pass defense is #17 with bad safety play . We cannot stop the run other then the mystery 4 game stretch. It was great football . Sherm and KJ were blessing it. Pete was doing a victory lap week 10. Then Tampa and we’ve seen what happened since . One win and Geno had to be perfect in the last minute to get it .
Asea I don’t know how far off we are . Not sure if it’s a few key pieces , front 7 , safety , o line . Or is it fools gold ? Time to blow it up ?
These games starting tomorrow will show us a lot .

[RiverDog]

We actually have been quite competetive , just not successful enough . We still have a top 5 scoring offense with no run game . I think of our 7 losses 5 were by 1 score . 4 of our 7 wins were by 10 points or more . In one we just missed 50 . Our pass defense is #17 with bad safety play . We cannot stop the run other then the mystery 4 game stretch. It was great football . Sherm and KJ were blessing it. Pete was doing a victory lap week 10. Then Tampa and we’ve seen what happened since . One win and Geno had to be perfect in the last minute to get it .
Asea I don’t know how far off we are . Not sure if it’s a few key pieces , front 7 , safety , o line . Or is it fools gold ? Time to blow it up ?
These games starting tomorrow will show us a lot .

The entire league has been 'quite competitive'. The 1-12-1 Texans are 'quite competitive', having lost 6 games by a touchdown or less plus the tie. You could apply your "if your aunt had balls she'd be your uncle" logic to their case, too.

And I would argue that our safety play hasn't been as bad as you're making it out to be. Ryan Neal has been playing extremely well, better than Adams did in 2021. Despite the interceptions, our corners have been making some mistakes. It would shickle the tit out of me if we let Adams walk next year and gave the job to Neal full time. He's a more complete player.

[Aseahawkfan]

We have the 17th ranked passing defense. It would be higher, when you can't stop the run then you have to move your safeties up for run defense which weakens the pass defense.

That's how it works. Until we fix the run defense, pass defense is going to look soft.

[Old but Slow]

The mere thought of the Seahawks in the playoffs is puzzling, at least. First, it is not a playoff quality club. Second, it is a travesty that the league has decided to go for the money and has expanded the playoffs to too many teams. And, finally, it hurts our draft position.

It is against my grain to advocate losing, but times call. Lose out. Take a fall. Cruise to lose. DiscomPete. I can hate myself for a month or so, but I will be happy come the draft. Making the playoffs does not have the same weight that it once had. No team at 7-9 should be allowed. When half the league gets in, what does it mean?

I am obviously not with the program.

[RiverDog]

The mere thought of the Seahawks in the playoffs is puzzling, at least. First, it is not a playoff quality club. Second, it is a travesty that the league has decided to go for the money and has expanded the playoffs to too many teams. And, finally, it hurts our draft position.

It is against my grain to advocate losing, but times call. Lose out. Take a fall. Cruise to lose. DiscomPete. I can hate myself for a month or so, but I will be happy come the draft. Making the playoffs does not have the same weight that it once had. No team at 7-9 should be allowed. When half the league gets in, what does it mean?

I am obviously not with the program.

I'm not going quite that far. Tanking has hardly ever worked out. I'm reminded of the scene in the locker room in the film "The Natural". "Losing is a disease", followed by a grounder hitting an uninterested 3rd baseman in the balls. You don't ever want to establish the notion that losing is acceptable or advantageous. To do so would encourage apathy, like what has plagued the Lions and Jets over the past 3 or 4 decades.

But I agree with your first paragraph. The playoff setup is absurd, with 14 of the 32 teams qualifying. They're rewarding mediocrity.

[obiken]

Playoffs? Don't talk about - playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs?! I just hope we can win a game!...

Cbob, not Jim Mora!! what a classic!