Taking a look at the Seahawks remaining schedule vs the schedule of the rest of the teams within the AFC West, and it looks as though the Hawks are sitting pretty. Seattle has a (5-4) followed by St Louis at (4-5), San Francisco at 3-6 and Arizona at 3-6. Seattle is (4-2) in the Conference and more importantly, 3-1 in the Division. The Hawks are the only team in the Division with a winning record within the division, so they hold the tie-breakers and they hold the lead, a slight one at that.
Having sucked for so long, Seattle benefits from a good schedule. They don't play any weird games like on Thursday's or Monday's that require less preparation and recovery. They don't play on Thanksgiving or Christmas. They play every seven days the rest of the way. San Francisco, on the other hand, plays on MNF @ Arizona followed by a short week and then a Sunday game @ GB. They play Seattle on 12/12 and then the following Thursday they are at SD on short rest. St Louis and Arizona have basically a regular schedule, although Arizona plays on Christmas day (Saturday).
The Hawks have three road games remaining 11/21 @ NO, 12/12 @ SF (who are thinking payback) and the day after Christmas 12/26 @ TB. The Hawks could lose all three but hopefully they can go at least 1-2 in these road games. The four games at home that remain for the Hawks are 11/28 vs a suprising KC team, 12/5 vs an awful Carolina team, 12/19 vs a good Atlanta and the big one on 1/2 vs St Louis. Certainly, the 12th man will have a say in these home games and I'm sure the weather will help. At the worst, the Hawks will go 2-2 in these remaining home games and a shot at 4-0 with a little help. These four teams are all young teams and the ones that are playing good, well have to see if they are for real. It's getting towards crunch time and it's time to make hay while the sun is out.
San Francisco has a tough road to hoe. Home games vs TB 11/21, vs Sea 12/12 and 1/2 vs Arizona and road games 11/29 @ Arizona, 12/5 @ GB, 12/16 @ SD and 12/26 at St Louis. Who knows how San Francisco will do. On the road, they could go 1-2 or at best 2-1 unless they quit on the season. At home they have TB, which will be a tough game, Seattle that will be equally tough but a revenge game vs Arizona which has some good players but really suck.
St Louis, which is a suprise of the division, is getting good QB play, has a tough schedule. Three remaining at home 11/21 vs Atlanta, 12/19 vs KC and 12/26 vs SF. St Louis could lose all three of these or they could win all three. I'm guessing they go 2-1 in these. On the road, the Rams have four games but three in a row 11/28 @ Den, 12/5 @ Ariz and 12/12 @ NO. These all three could be loses but I'll give them 1-2 with a win at Arizona.
Arizona might have the roughest stretch. Only three remaining on the road but they envolve 11/21 at KC, 12/19 @ Caro and 1/2 @ San Francisco. I pick the Cards to go 1-2 in these. On the home front they have four games with three in a row with SF coming in 11/29, St Louis 12/5 and Denver 12/12 Chirstmas Day vs Dallas. Arizona could easily lose all four but well say they go 2-2.
Matt Hasselbeck is the best QB in the division with a slight edge over the kid from St. Louis and this might be all Seattle needs to capture the division.
With experience at QB, a fairly easy schedule remaining and going against teams that don't have much experience in crunch time, tie breakers that benefit Seattle with records vs Division and vs the Conference, Seattle is a lock to win the West. After that, in the playoffs, anything can happen but chances are Seattle will be playing better teams, but youth and enthusiasm, usually a downfall in the NFL playoffs could play a part.
Mariner Central Adopt-A-Players
Victor Sanchez at Clinton LumberKings: 0-1, 4 GS, 21.1 in, 20 H, 9 r, 6 er, 4 bb, 14 k, as of 5/15
Mike Zunino at Tacoma Rainiers 28 g, 109 ab's 19 r, 25 h, 8 2b, 2 3b, 6 hr, 31 rbi, 55 tb, 10 bb, 38 k, (.229/.304/.505/.839) as of 5/15
Taylor Ard at Clinton LumberKings 30 g, 98 ab, 13 r, 17 h, 7 2b, 1 hr, 9 rbi, 27 tb, 13 bb, 16 k, (.173/.277/.276/.552) as of 5/15
Luis Liberato - probably DSL
Former adopt-a-players:
Johan Limonta now with York of the Indy League
Greg Halman RIP
Tom Wilhelmsen now closing for the big club
King 5 Weather @ Safeco Field