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Seahawks Schedule: Predictions for Every Game

By Ben Renner

January 1, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll (right) shakes hands with San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly (left) before the game at Levi's Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 25-23. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 1, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll (right) shakes hands with San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly (left) before the game at Levi's Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 25-23. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 15, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) takes a knee in the end zone prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional playoff game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

Week 16 — at Dallas Cowboys, Sunday Dec. 24th 1:25PT, FOX

This should be a playoff preview, and it could be between the NFC’s two top seeds. It’s difficult to predict either team resting its starters in the second-to-last game, so I see two top teams going full strength against each other.

Dallas is one of the few teams in the league that matches up well against Seattle’s defense. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, after a sensational rookie season, will by this point have shaken off his sophomore slump. He’s a mobile quarterback with big physical receivers like Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, the kind of players who sometimes give the Seahawks defense problems. Prescott fully embraced handing the ball off to Ezekiel Elliott last year, and that should still be the case this year. No one was able to completely stuff Elliott for a whole game all year last season, and he could cause trouble for Seattle’s vaunted front seven.

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I could see Elliott and Prescott doing just enough to eke out a close win at home.

Final Score: Cowboys 23, Seahawks 21 (11-4, Div: 3-2)

Week 17 — vs Arizona Cardinals, Sunday Dec. 31st 1:25PT, FOX

If the Cardinals rebound from their 7-8-1 season, this will be a big game for both teams. If the Cardinals start Palmer and not a rookie or replacement-level passer like Stanton, and the Seahawks have something to play for in this game, it will be close. Assuming all of those factors line up, it will be a nail-biter, possibly for the division crown, although I could see Arizona making the playoffs but trailing Seattle by a couple games in the standings by season’s end.

Final Score: Seahawks 20, Cardinals 18 (12-4, Div: 4-2, No. 2 Seed in NFC)

The Seahawks will avoid injury at key positions this year (knock on wood), win the NFC West, and take the Conference’s number-two seed. They’ll get the Divisional round playoff game at home this season and play for a shot at the Super Bowl. With an easy regular season schedule, they’ll be in position for another Super Bowl run.

Next: Five Observations From the Seahawks Schedule

Obviously, we don’t even know who all will be on the Seahawks’ roster by September 10th, much less who will be playing and making a difference for their opponents. We still have the NFL Draft next week, followed by plenty of opportunities for key players on all teams to get hurt, disgruntled, or promoted. But on paper, the Seahawks should have a good season and contend for a championship yet again.

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