2018 Seattle Seahawks Season Odds & Predictions

The Seattle Seahawks had a rare down season in 2017. Of course, for them, a down season is going 9-7. Nevertheless, it was just the second time in Pete Carroll’s eight years in Seattle that the team failed to make the playoffs. In the other six years, the Seahawks have reached the Divisional Round of the playoffs, if not further.

With that kind of track record, the Seahawks did not take kindly to falling short of a playoff spot. Carroll made wholesale changes to his coaching staff and also parted ways with several of the team’s veteran players. All of the changes were made to get the Seahawks back to being a run-heavy, defensively stout team. But will it be enough to put Seattle in contention to reach the Super Bowl in 2018?

Seattle Expected Win Total & Super Bowl Odds

The oddsmakers are not believers in the Seahawks turning things around quickly. Seattle is listed at +5500 to win the Super Bowl. Even for a team with Seattle’s track record, those are bleak odds. However, the Seahawks are projected to match last year’s win total of nine games. If they can get back to being virtually unbeatable at home, there’s every chance the Seahawks can match or exceed that number. However, that could be tough after going just 4-4 at home last year.

After Russell Wilson led the Seahawks in rushing last season, Seattle’s top priority this offseason was to fix its rushing attack. With that in mind, they drafted Rashaad Penny, who rushed for over 2,200 yards in 13 games at San Diego State last season. He has a nice blend of power and speed, and with nearly 300 carries last year, he should be durable, which he’ll need to be with little depth behind him.

The Seahawks also opened up their wallet this offseason to help keep most of their offensive line intact. D.J. Fluker at right guard is the only new addition to the group, so there should be good continuity and depth among the group. However, with all the coaching changes, there has been a change in blocking scheme from zone to man, so that adjustment will be interesting to watch early in the season. 

Finally, there is Wilson, who quietly had one of his best seasons as a passer, tying his career-high with 34 touchdown passes. He’ll once again have Doug Baldwin as his primary target. Meanwhile, the likes of Jaron Brown, Brandon Marshall, and Tyler Lockett all give Wilson several secondary targets who could have productive campaigns. Of course, it remains to be seen if Nick Vannett and Ed Dickson can make up for the productivity at tight end the Seahawks will lose with the departure of Jimmy Graham.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Seahawks are hard to recognize in certain places. The Seattle defensive line is quite young, although Jarran Reed and Frank Clark could be rising stars. The Seahawks have also brought in veterans like Dion Jordan and Tom Johnson to provide depth to the defensive front. At linebacker, K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner are familiar faces, but the Seahawks have also added Barkevious Mingo to assist a pass rush that struggled a season ago.

The vaunted Seattle secondary will also look much different from the Legion of Boom that dominated in the past. Byron Maxwell is sticking around to provide some semblance of stability, but it’ll be up to younger players like Shaquill Griffin and Akeem King to create a new identity. Considering the changes, teams won’t be so shy about challenging the Seattle secondary, especially if the pass rush doesn’t improve from last season.

With the vast amount of changes Carroll has made over the offseason, the Seahawks may need a transition year to get back on track. It may be up to Wilson and a rookie running back to carry the team unless Carroll can work his magic with such a young defense. All things considered, earning a wild-card spot may be the best-case scenario for the Seahawks in 2018.

Seahawks Schedule & Game-by-Game Predictions

Date Opponent Time
Sep 9 @ Denver Broncos 4:25 PM
Sep 17 @ Chicago Bears 8:15 PM
Sep 23 Dallas Cowboys 4:25 PM
Sep 30 @ Arizona Cardinals 4:05 PM
Oct 7 Los Angeles Rams 4:25 PM
Oct 14 @ Oakland Raiders 1:00 PM
Oct 28 @ Detroit Lions 1:00 PM
Nov 4 Los Angeles Chargers 4:05 PM
Nov 11 @ Los Angeles Rams 4:25 PM
Nov 15 Green Bay Packers 8:20 PM
Nov 25 @ Carolina Panthers 1:00 PM
Dec 2 San Francisco 49ers 8:20 PM
Dec 10 Minnesota Vikings 8:15 PM
Dec 16 @ San Francisco 49ers 4:05 PM
Dec 23 Kansas City Chiefs 8:20 PM
Dec 30 Arizona Cardinals 4:25 PM

At first glance, Seattle’s schedule looks quite manageable. However, the NFC West will be a little harder to traverse than it was a year ago. The Seahawks will also face plenty of challenging road games, putting pressure on them to hold serve at home in order to stay competitive.

Week 1: at Broncos – Loss

We know the Broncos have a capable pass rush, but we’re not yet sure about the Seahawks. Going to Mile High in Week 1 will be a tall task for this young Seattle team.

Week 2: at Bears – Loss

A Monday night game in Chicago is not as easy as it would have been a season ago. Wilson and the Seattle offense struggle to get anything going against the Bears, who will score a big win early in the year.

Week 3: vs Cowboys – Win

Coming home is Seattle’s good luck charm. The Seattle defense gets it going with the home crowd behind them and stop a Dallas offense that’s a bit one-dimensional.

Week 4: at Cardinals – Win

Is Sam Bradford still healthy at this point in the season? That’s not exactly a certainty. Even on the road, the Seahawks are able to put some pressure on Bradford and win a defensive slugfest.

Week 5: vs Rams – Loss

Even at home, the Seahawks can’t contain Todd Gurley and the Rams. The Seattle offense could also struggle to get much going against a stout Rams defense.

Week 6: at Raiders – Loss

Derek Carr is willing to take chances against the Seattle secondary, and those chances end up paying off. The big-play Raiders win convincingly over the Seahawks, who head into their bye week limping.

Week 7: Bye

Week 8: at Lions – Win

Carroll is angry after a 2-4 start to the season, but he manages to find some answers during the bye. The Seahawks rely on their offense to get them a much-needed road win in Detroit. 

Week 9: vs Chargers – Win

Penny has a breakout game, rushing for 150 yards against a hapless Chargers defense. Playing with the lead, Seattle’s defense is able to bother Philip Rivers and look like the Seattle defense of old.

Week 10: at Rams – Loss

Any momentum the Seahawks may have built up the past two weeks is stopped in its tracks when they visit the Rams. Once again, the Rams out-play a team in all aspects, beating Seattle with the greatest of ease.

Week 11: vs Packers – Loss

A Thursday night home game seems like it would favor the Seahawks. However, Aaron Rodgers has one of those nights when he’s unstoppable, carrying the Packers to a road win.

Week 12: at Panthers – Loss

Even with a little extra time to prepare, the Seahawks have a tough time on the east coast. It also doesn’t help that the Panthers have a stout front-7 that can slow down Seattle’s running game and make life difficult for Wilson.

Week 13: vs 49ers – Win

This is a Sunday night primetime game, and unlike a couple weeks prior against the Packers, the Seattle defense is ready. The Seahawks show Jimmy Garoppolo just how hard it is to win in Seattle.

Week 14: vs Vikings – Loss

Even with the home crowd behind them on a Monday night, the Seahawks can’t get the job done. Minnesota’s defense travels well and outplays the much younger Seattle defense.

Week 15: at 49ers – Loss

Two weeks after Garoppolo was humiliated by the Seattle defense, the young quarterback gets some redemption, throwing for 300-plus yards and three touchdowns. 

Week 16: vs Chiefs – Win

With their playoff hopes all but dead, the Seahawks play loose and aggressive and hand a loss to Kansas City, a team with still a lot to play for late in the season.

Week 17: vs Cardinals – Win

Despite the losing season, Carroll finds a way to motivate his young team before a meaningless Week 17 game, allowing the Seahawks to close the season with back-to-back wins.

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