Posted on 01/20/2006 5:25:16 AM PST by normy
I have had it with the total lack of respect the Seattle Seahawks are getting in the media. I recently watched Sean Salisbury and Mike Golic almost mock the Seahawks on Wednesday.
The Seahawks have probowlers at center,left guard,left tackle,quarterback,fullback and runningback. They have one of the most accomplished head coaches in the NFC and have won 14 games this year.
Carolina is a very inconsistant team who has to fly from Chicago to Carolina then back accross country to Seattle to play in a rain forrest. Carolina is 3rd in the NFL against the run, but Seattle is 5th. Seattle is number one in sacks, I believe Carolina is 2nd. Steve Smith scored two 50+ yard touchdowns against the Bears after the corner fell down. Seattle lost the league MVP had 3 turnovers and still won by 10. The Bears lowly offense put up 21 against Carolina and if the refs call the delay of game against Grossman, the Bears may have well tied that game instead of turning the ball over.
Seattle is 8-0 in Seattle this year and have one of the best offenses in the league. Look for Seattle to not just win but beat hell out of Carolina. Don't worry though Hawk fans, you still wont get respect because Nick Goings is Carolina's runningback and thats how Seattle will be "backing into the Superbowl."
Look for Seattle to exorcise their final demon in the Superbowl when the beat their former AFC West rival, the Denver Broncos, the second most disrespected team in the league for the title.
Sunday night will tell all....... as they say..."any given Sunday".
Hmmm. I shall ponder that.
SD
I'm looking out my 22nd floor window watching a gaggle of people trying to afix a Seahawks banner onto the side of the building across from mine.
The more they struggle, the more helpful people come out onto the patio to watch, give helpful advice, and otherwise hinder the process.
They may have it up by Sunday. :-)
As a Titans fan, I'd like to weigh in on this. I think the chance of getting Vince Young has people around her pretty excited, but there wouldn't be much disappointment if it was Leinart instead. If Steve McNair is going to be around anyway, I would think Young would be an excellent choice because the two know each other and their playing styles are similar. McNair could mentor his replacement and the system wouldn't have to change much.
But here's another possibility: Jay Cutler, who played his college football in Nashville at Vanderbilt. He's been well under the radar for most of his playing days, but in the past year he's gone from being a likely 2nd day draftee to a high first-rounder. By the time combines roll around, a lot of NFL experts are saying Cutler will be as highly rated as Leinart. It would be difficult for the Titans to pass on a local star if he's going to be nabbed high anyway.
My guess is NO will take Leinart and Tenn will take Young. I don't know how good Young will be but he should give 5 years of service before he gets broken.
How dare you!
Several years ago I put together an analysis of past NFC championship games starting when they started -- 1970. There's enough historical data to predict future results and lately, its been pretty accurate. This, of course, says nothing of the specific players and teams involved, only historical comparisons. Last year, I predicted Philly would win, and the three years prior to that, predicted they would lose. This isn't perfect, as I missed one of the prior games.
Seattle is making their first trip to the NFC championship game. Except for the first game in 1970 (where one team HAD to win), first timers are 5-6. Interestingly enough, all first timers who won beat a team who was making at least their third trip to the game, and Carolina is making their third trip. First time component edge: tossup.
HOWEVER, Seattle is a unique case as they switched conferences a few years ago. They were defeated by the Raiders in an early/mid '80s AFC title game, so essentially, they are 0-1 making their second trip. Teams making their second trip are 7-5 in the game, while teams making their second trip having lost their first game (like Carolina in 2003) are 3-3 and have won 3 straight. Second time component edge: tossup.
Carolina is making their third trip to the game, having been previously in 1996 (season following), and 2 years ago. They are 1-1. Teams making their 3rd trip are an overall 6-5 in the game. Teams making their third trip having won at least one of the previous two are 4-3. There are 4 other teams (NYG, TB, Ch, and GB) who have been exactly three times. Two of the teams are 1-2, one is 2-1, and one is 3-0. Carolina won't be 3-0, so historically, they are a third more likely to lose. Carolina is also the first team in NFC title game history to make their third trip with all three games being on the road. Third time component edge: tossup.
Home teams are 22-12 in the game, but if you scratch the 1980 decade where they were 9-1, that advantage essentially dissapears. However, home teams who are playing in their first or second NFC title game are 8-3. Home edge: slight edge SEATTLE.
The last few years when I ran this, there were clear indications (at least the times I was correct) in one or more of these areas that one team would likely win. This year, there is no indication.
For those interested further, the only teams with winning NFC title game records are Dallas (8-6), Washington (5-1), the Giants (3-0), and Green Bay (2-1). San Fran (5-7) has lost the most NFC title games and they are 1-4 in their last 5 games after winning 4 of 5 in the '80s.
So this game, under this system, is a complete tossup, so I'm not predicting a winner here based on the system. I think Carolina will win, though. I'm never sold on a Mike Holmgren team winning a game against an evenly matched or better opponent.
I like Hasselbeck and Co. with Wistrom leading the charges in a nailbiter on their home turf.
Oh, yeah - Holmgren.
This is a blowout. Seahawks should win the SB.
Look who's esconced high atop the Seahawk bandwagon. LOL
I can't believe the ref's didn't call that block to the back on the punt return.
I'm 100% in the NFL playoffs thus far. I'm sure that if I were to start gambling, that would all change. ;)
Walter Jones might be the best run-blocking tackle I've ever seen, ever.
SOS from you. At least you're consistent.
In other news, the sun rose in the east this morning.
SD
SMITHLESS IN SEATTLE
I went into this game thinking if we could only contain Smith enough to keep him out of the end zone we might just have a chance beating the team with a worth nickname “The Road Warriors”. I never dreamed we could hold him to 33, repeat 33 yards receiving the whole game was simply amazing.
I think it was most enjoyable seeing how pissed off he was that he wasn't getting the ball. Or the fact that the second half, we see him sulking on the sidelines. Steve Smith making excuses for his dismal performance (there's four guys covering me man). And of course the cherry on top for all Hawk fans, him fumbling on the final series to seal the win for the Hawks.
It goes to show you that football is still a team sport, and that one man alone can't shoulder the load forever in the postseason. At least he said it best in his postgame interview about being "outmatched, outhustled, and were beaten in every way."
At least Delhomme had an excuse. He was playing without a running game, playing on the road and playing in front of 67,837 espresso-jacked fans. No way was Carolina going to win this game with the entire Pacific Northwest screaming in their helmet earholes.
I have been waiting for this moment since 1976.
Way To Go Seahawks. Finally Some Respect.
It was good to see Zorn and Kreig and Cortez Kennedy out there after the game. I think I saw Jacob Green too.
I have to be honest, I knew we would win because we are really that good. We are the most balanced team in the NFC, Alexander is great, we have the best o-line in football and Matt is a great leader. Watching each game you could see us overcoming our past right before our eyes. It's great. If you read my post, which I posted before the game, I had this nailed. Now lets see if those shit talkers will man up and admit they had it all wrong. I am in a forgiving mood I am so damn happy.
Another great thing about the Hawks, and Pittsburgh for that matter, is they are all good guys and good coaches. I like seeing good guys and team guys win and media hype punks lose. Not that Denver or Caro were punks or even media hype, although Carolina was hyped a bit, they're just not punks.)
Since I live in Dallas I get the NFL Sunday ticket and either me or my Dad have gotten it every year since it was available just to watch the Hawks. My grandpa died last year but he would have been so happy, my dad and I can't stop smiling.
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