Seattle Seahawks Schedule: Three Hidden Landmines

The NFL released schedules yesterday and Seattle Seahawks have another difficult road. Here are three hidden trap games for the Hawks.

The Seattle Seahawks have the fifth toughest schedule in the NFL for 2016. Before I dig too much into it, take a look for yourself:

More from Seattle Seahawks

• Seattle Seahawks: To rest or not to rest, that is the question
• Seattle Seahawks: 12s still waiting to exhale
• Seattle Seahawks: 4 Takeaways from 26-23 Loss to the 49ers
• Seattle Seahawks: Four Takeaways from Week 14 21-7 victory
• Seattle Seahawks: Three Takeaways from the Week 13 43-16 victory

The Seattle Seahawks play the AFC East this year and the NFC South, which means games against the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and Miami Dolphins from the East, and the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers from the South. They play five primetime games, three of them at home, and only play at 10am twice the entire year, a huge bonus for a team that historically struggles in early east coast games. You can see the obvious tough games on the schedule. Check out 12th Man Rising for things to hate and things to like about the schedule and general intrigue.

The Hawks have a showdown with NFC rival Carolina Panthers at home on Sunday Night Football, and a road date with the New England Patriots also on Sunday Night Football in Week 11. Another fun game should be Pete Carroll’s return to the LA Coliseum in Week 2. Aside from the obviously tough opponents, here are three trap games that could surprise the Seattle Seahawks when the season starts:

More from Emerald City Swagger

• Seattle Seahawks: To rest or not to rest, that is the question
• Washington State Football: What you need to know for 2018 Alamo Bowl
• Washington Basketball: 3 takeaways from Huskies win over Sacramento St.
• Seattle Seahawks: 12s still waiting to exhale
• Seattle Seahawks: 4 Takeaways from 26-23 Loss to the 49ers

1. Week 15: The Seattle Seahawks face the LA Rams in their annual visit to CenturyLink Field. This is always a trap game for the Seahawks. Jeff Fisher‘s Rams always have something special ready for them at home and away. A primetime game on Thursday Night Football in Seattle should bring out all of Fisher’s tricks, which have befuddled the Seahawks in the past.
2. Week 4: One of the two early east coast games is against the New York Jets in Week 4 (the other early start time is against the Saints in New Orleans). The Jets aren’t usually the type of team that figures out the Legion of Boom with short-pass maven Ryan Fitzpatrick (I assume) under center. However, as I mentioned before, the Seahawks historically come out flat during 1pm ET games on the east coast. The Jets have a mean defensive line and Darrelle Revis, which could prove challenging for an offensive line that could still be learning how to play well. It could be a brutal defensive struggle.
3. Week 6: After the Week 5 bye the Seattle Seahawks face their former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn when he comes to town with his Atlanta Falcons. Quinn has probably circled the date on his calendar already and by that time, his Falcons defense could be much-improved from last season.

The Panthers game in front of a loud home crowd in Seattle should be a dogfight, with the Seahawks seeking revenge against Cam Newton and company for bouncing them out of the playoffs last season. The Hawks also travel to Lambeau Field to face a likely-retooled and reloaded Packers team in December. It will be cold there.

Next: Mock Draft 2016

Overall, I see a fun schedule. Make your predictions and projected wins and losses in the comments section below.