I waited to write about the Seahawks' schedule release until after the NFL draft and free agency had occurred, because, well, it matters.
Let's take a look at the Seahawks' 2014 schedule:
Week 1: Sept. 4, 2014 vs. Packers (Thursday Night Football)
Week 2: Sept. 14, 2014 at Chargers
Week 3: September 21, 2014 vs. Broncos
Week 4: BYE
Week 5: Oct. 6, 2014 at Redskins (Monday Night Football)
Week 6: Oct. 12, 2014 vs. Cowboys
Week 7: Oct. 19, 2014 at Rams
Week 8: Oct. 26, 2014 at Panthers
Week 9: Nov. 2, 2014 vs. Raiders
Week 10: Nov. 9, 2014 vs. Giants
Week 11: Nov. 16, 2014 at Chiefs
Week 12: Nov. 23, 2014 vs. Cardinals
Week 13: Nov. 27, 2014 at 49ers (Thanksgiving Night)
Week 14: Dec. 7, 2014 at Eagles
Week 15: Dec. 14, 2014 vs. 49ers
Week 16: Dec. 21, 2014 at Cardinals (Sunday Night Football)
Week 17: Dec. 28, 2014 vs. Rams
It's a tough schedule from beginning to end with few "cupcake" opponents. In fact, the way the NFC looks as a conference nowadays means very few NFC cupcakes exist in the first place. Match that with the NFC West pairing against an increasingly tough AFC West in 2014 and it creates a tough schedule for everybody.
In 2014, momentum will be the key for the Seattle Seahawks finding success. Start off on a bad note, and the team could very well collapse this season. Start off strong with three wins before a bye, and Seattle fans may be able to have high hopes for another playoff run with the chance at an appearance in Glendale come February.
September 4th - Opening Kickoff Game vs. Green Bay Packers
Fans are incredibly excited about the Opening Kickoff game against Green Bay in Week 1. This is what Seattle lives for: home primetime match-ups against tough opponents. Take Green Bay. The Packers are no stranger to highly anticipated Week 1 match-ups as of recent years. After winning Super Bowl XLV vs. Pittsburgh in 2011, the Pack handled business at home against the Saints 42-34 in the 2011 Opening Kickoff game. However, Week 1 losses in 2012 and 2013 vs. the 49ers have led the Packers to 1-2 starts in both seasons. Green Bay hopes to turn their fortunes around in 2014, and a win in Seattle in front of a raucous crowd would be a statement that they are serious contenders next season. With that said, expect Green Bay to be a little tougher than San Francisco has been at the C-Link in recent years. They will come out firing, and the offense featuring Aaron Rodgers, Randall Cobb, and Eddie Lacy will attack Seattle fast and hard. Expect to see Richard Sherman targeted a few times with the Packers looking to make a statement in front of a national audience.
October 6th - Monday Night Football at Washington Redskins
This match-up features more of an unspoken rivalry -- the one between Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III. After underperforming and eventually being benched in the 2013 season, Griffin has mostly taken a backseat to the 2012 third round pick Russell Wilson in the discussion for which is better. After Wilson took home the Lombardi Trophy with his Seahawks in dramatic fashion, the 2012-QB discussion has focused on Wilson and Colts QB Andrew Luck. For Griffin, 2014 is about redemption. He will be out to prove himself and attempt to lead the Washington Redskins back to the playoffs after a disappointing 2013. I would guess that Griffin has this meeting with Seattle circled on his calendar. The Wilson-led Seahawks were the team that marched into Landover in the 2012 playoffs and knocked both Griffin and the Redskins out of the season, arguably leading to the 2013 downturn. Like the Packers on Opening Night, the Redskins really, really want this one. This will be a fun game to watch come October.
November 16 - at Kansas City Chiefs
There are more than a few reasons why this will be a fun game for both Chiefs and Seahawks fans to get pumped up for later in the season. One could point back to the old Chiefs-Seahawks rivalry from the days that the Seahawks played in the AFC West. Another could be the fact that both teams were in the 2013 playoffs and have high expectations for 2014. In the 2013 season, the Chiefs broke the all-time noise record that the Seahawks set earlier that season before the 12th Man won it back against only a couple of weeks later (I expect Chiefs fans to organize another rally to break the record in this very game as a jab to the 12th Man). For Seahawks fans, playing the Chiefs has always been nerve-wracking -- especially in Arrowhead Stadium. The Hawks are only 18-32 all-time against their old AFC West foes, and 5-20 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Seahawks have not won at Arrowhead Stadium since 1999, and have not beaten the Chiefs since 2002. The last time the two teams met, the Chiefs embarrassed the Seahawks in Seattle 42-24 when Matt Cassel (yes, it was Matt Cassel) threw three touchdowns to Dwayne Bowe alone. Needless to say, the stakes will be high this time around and this could be a statement game for Seattle late in the season if they can escape Arrowhead with a win.
November 27 - Thanksgiving Night at San Francisco 49ers
It is a little weird for Seahawks and 49ers fans to have to wait until Thanksgiving to see their two teams knock heads this season. However, the wait will pay off because this will be an amazing game. This will be the first time the Seahawks play their rivals at the new Levi's Stadium, and it will happen after America has stuffed themselves full of amazing turkey dinners all day. These games have been so much fun to watch for both teams, but winning at home has gotten a bit old. The Seahawks need to make a serious statement in 2014 by beating the 49ers in San Francisco -- a feat they have not accomplished since 2008, when the 49ers were a 4-12 team. Yes, two weeks later the two will meet in Seattle. But as a Seahawks fan, I look most forward to this game, on a national holiday, on primetime, and mostly, in San Francisco.
Other match-ups to keep an eye on in 2014:
Week 2 at San Diego Chargers: The Chargers are a team that has the potential to contend for a Super Bowl almost every single year but they squander it with poor coaching and execution. With that said, that potential does come out. Let us not forget that the Chargers were clutch in 2013, making the playoffs then beating the Bengals in Cincinnati in the Wild Card round. They were close to making a comeback against the AFC Champion Denver Broncos in the divisional round. In the regular season, they pulled out surprising wins in Denver, Kansas City, and Philadelphia. With that said, there is no true homefield advantage in San Diego, as the Chargers lost at home to the Texas, Broncos, and Bengals last season.
Both match-ups against the Rams and Cardinals: Let us not forget that the NFC West has been referred to as the "NFC Best" and that is not only because of the Seahawks and 49ers. The Cardinals are a team that beat the Seahawks in Seattle and barely missed out on the playoffs with a 10-6 record. When Carson Palmer does not decide to drive the team into the ground, Arizona is a legitimate force. On the other side, Bradford has had a start of his career very similar to former No. 1 San Francisco QB Alex Smith. Everybody knows that Sam Bradford can be a great quarterback in the NFL, but injuries and coaching has held him back. The Rams have a tantalizing defense that can keep them in games this season, and they always play the Seahawks tough, especially in St. Louis. The Seahawks have four tough games against the Rams and Cardinals that should not be overlooked.
Week 14 at Philadelphia Eagles: In the midst of two extremely tough games against the rival 49ers, the Seahawks will travel to Philadelphia to play a very fundamentally sound Eagles football team. This could be considered a must-win for the Seahawks, especially if they fail to win in San Francisco the week before. The Eagles are coached very well by Chip Kelly and make very few mistakes. They almost beat the Saints in the playoffs last season. While the nation will be watching the Seahawks in Weeks 13 and 15, this could turn out to be the most critical game of the three.
Overall, everybody knows the Seahawks have a very tough schedule. Everybody knows repeating as Super Bowl Champs is also extremely difficult. However, I would not have it any other way.
Go Hawks!
