Putting this loss in perspective

[mykc14]

So I'm still feeling pretty crappy about this loss. When we lose I can usually find some sort of silver lining, but I am having a hard time with this one, mainly because of our DL play and remaining schedule. The offense worries me a little, but I really believe that we will be able to get the O back on track fairly easily as we basically have the same personnel as last year but have had a slight philosophical change, all we have to do is get back to our bread and butter and we should be fine so I have some optimism that the O will improve.

I know it is way to early to be looking at this stuff and I am just over-reacting but this is what I have to do until somebody starts a thread that says 3-2 is a disaster! I really wanted to make one today and that was my plan in researching our remaining schedule, but dammit I did the opposite.

DL: Most were worried about our DL to start the year and that fear is clearly justified. Losing Clem and McDonald hurt and we haven't been able to replace their QB pressures. The lack of pressure is worry enough but too many missed assignments, and just being out-physicalled (don't think thats a word) yesterday led to some big runs. My main worry stems from the fact that we don't have any help coming in this area. It isn't from injuries or some sort of philosophical switch in D, both of which would give me at least some optimism that it could improve, instead we just don't have the edge rush or inside push that we had last year. I know we have faced some really good QB's this year but our pass rush hasn't been near good enough.

Schedule: Again most saw this schedule as tough at the beginning of the year, but it is ridiculous. Basically all year (its early and things can change) we only have 5 total games against teams with losing records (Rams x2, KC, Raiders, and Skins). At the beginning of the year you hope you can go 8-0 at home then all you have to do is go 4-4 on the road to get to 12 wins and a good chance at HFA. With that loss we now need to go 5-3 on the road, which I just don't see happening. We have won 1 road game already so that means we have to win 4 more somewhere. The problem is the combined record of our remaining away games (besides Rams) is 18-9-1. That also means that we have to win ALL of our remaining home games, which seems more realistic as besides our own division we only have to play the Raiders and Giants. I am not saying this is going to be easy but much more realistic. wanted to today and that was my plan in researching our remaining schedule, but dammit I did the opposite.

[obiken]

Spot on M-14,
1.This was just penciled as a win by most of us fans; Dallas at home= a win. WRONG, Dallas, is a way better team than everybody thought. IF they beat the Eagles, then we will know.
2. Injuries are part of the drill that's why you don't draft tweeners, reaches, and hopes in the first round. You get the best, biggest sure thing you can find.
People on this site said I was wrong, but I still think losing Red Bryant was our biggest loss in FA. He was a major run stuffer, and teams are running on us. Moreover, we don't have the quality backups like last year like the loss of WT3. The hardest thing about the cap is not paying guys like Sherman a boatload, its getting the quality backups you have to have get through a season. If you think injuries are an excuse go look at the SF 49ers. They have 4 major starters out on their defense, and one who is the best OLB in the league. You have to plan, Pete didn't plan. We were lucky Carpenter, came into camp in good shape.
3. Mindset. The Hawks are going to learn the hard way that being the Champ is a target, not a free pass just to show up, that's why repeating is so hard.
4. Relax, a lot of FBall to be played, and there are NO easy outs in the NFC West anymore.

[RiverDog]

So I'm still feeling pretty crappy about this loss. When we lose I can usually find some sort of silver lining, but I am having a hard time with this one, mainly because of our DL play and remaining schedule. The offense worries me a little, but I really believe that we will be able to get the O back on track fairly easily as we basically have the same personnel as last year but have had a slight philosophical change, all we have to do is get back to our bread and butter and we should be fine so I have some optimism that the O will improve.

I know it is way to early to be looking at this stuff and I am just over-reacting but this is what I have to do until somebody starts a thread that says 3-2 is a disaster! I really wanted to make one today and that was my plan in researching our remaining schedule, but dammit I did the opposite.

DL: Most were worried about our DL to start the year and that fear is clearly justified. Losing Clem and McDonald hurt and we haven't been able to replace their QB pressures. The lack of pressure is worry enough but too many missed assignments, and just being out-physicalled (don't think thats a word) yesterday led to some big runs. My main worry stems from the fact that we don't have any help coming in this area. It isn't from injuries or some sort of philosophical switch in D, both of which would give me at least some optimism that it could improve, instead we just don't have the edge rush or inside push that we had last year. I know we have faced some really good QB's this year but our pass rush hasn't been near good enough.

Schedule: Again most saw this schedule as tough at the beginning of the year, but it is ridiculous. Basically all year (its early and things can change) we only have 5 total games against teams with losing records (Rams x2, KC, Raiders, and Skins). At the beginning of the year you hope you can go 8-0 at home then all you have to do is go 4-4 on the road to get to 12 wins and a good chance at HFA. With that loss we now need to go 5-3 on the road, which I just don't see happening. We have won 1 road game already so that means we have to win 4 more somewhere. The problem is the combined record of our remaining away games (besides Rams) is 18-9-1. That also means that we have to win ALL of our remaining home games, which seems more realistic as besides our own division we only have to play the Raiders and Giants. I am not saying this is going to be easy but much more realistic. wanted to today and that was my plan in researching our remaining schedule, but dammit I did the opposite.

I feel your pain. I could have handled the continued lack of a pass rush if we had at least stuffed the run. But Dallas b**** slapped us. It was Murray's running that killed us. That's what kept our offense on the sidelines, and that's something we haven't seen this season as we've been really good stopping the rush this season. We gave up over 400 yards total offense Sunday, including three 80 yard touchdown scoring drives. God, that was embarrassing.

[savvyman]

We are 0-2 in games this season when our coaching staff was out-classed by the opposing team coaching staff.

[HumanCockroach]

Spot on M-14,
1.This was just penciled as a win by most of us fans; Dallas at home= a win. WRONG, Dallas, is a way better team than everybody thought. IF they beat the Eagles, then we will know.
2. Injuries are part of the drill that's why you don't draft tweeners, reaches, and hopes in the first round. You get the best, biggest sure thing you can find.
People on this site said I was wrong, but I still think losing Red Bryant was our biggest loss in FA. He was a major run stuffer, and teams are running on us. Moreover, we don't have the quality backups like last year like the loss of WT3. The hardest thing about the cap is not paying guys like Sherman a boatload, its getting the quality backups you have to have get through a season. If you think injuries are an excuse go look at the SF 49ers. They have 4 major starters out on their defense, and one who is the best OLB in the league. You have to plan, Pete didn't plan. We were lucky Carpenter, came into camp in good shape.
3. Mindset. The Hawks are going to learn the hard way that being the Champ is a target, not a free pass just to show up, that's why repeating is so hard.
4. Relax, a lot of FBall to be played, and there are NO easy outs in the NFC West anymore.

Teams aren't running on us, Dallas ran on us. Seattle was number one in the NFL against the run prior to the Dallas game, and was allowing less than 2.5 Yards a carry. Where do people get this stuff?

[Hawk Sista]

And even Murray didn't average more than 2.5 a carry until he busted those big runs in the 4th. But his constant pressure (& threat kept the D honest) which is why I'm belly achin' over here. Beast had 6 YPC on 10 touches. What would 25 have looked like? What would have been open had we run the effin ball.

[mykc14]

I keep going back to the pass rush. I just read an article on ESPN saying we only have 7 sacks this season. At this point last season we had 13 sacks and 20 QB hurries, obviously a big difference. I know the quality of opponent this year has been ridiculous, I mean the combined record of the teams we have played this year (besides skins) is 18-5. I know its early and everything but we better pick up the slack somewhere. I know this would never happen but how good would you feel if we traded a 4th round pick to the Jags for Clem? Again, I know this wouldn't happen but just using it as a point to show how important he was to our success last year. We didn't have a clear replacement when we let him go and I still don't see one on the roster.

[HumanCockroach]

I honestly feel many fans are simply greatly over reacting to a loss. Yes Seattle played poorly, yes Seattle has been beaten by the same game plan twice, yes Seattle isn't where they were last season in th SB..... there are a lot of things Seattle "is" but a no playoff, also ran? Seriously? Maybe they don't garner HFA, maybe, they certainly needed this game to solidify a grasp on that, but Dallas will lose again this season, I guarantee it, and more than once, they too will drop a game to someone they have no business losing to, Philly will lose, Seattle will lose at least one more probably at least two more. Does that mean they have no chance at a SB? Of course not.

They have plenty to work on, but I might point out, that at this time last season they also had a lot to work on. Cripes, to hear 12's tell it, it's time to start scouring scouting reports for a top ten pick. LMAO. Simply no way are the leaders on this team going to simply go into the tank because they lost to Dallas at home, and did so handedly it STILL counts as one loss fellas, that's all, it doesn't matter how ugly it was ( and honestly, ask a Skins fan, or Tampa fan WHAT ugly is if need be)it is still just one loss.

[THX-1138]

Playing the devil's advocate here in regards to worrying about this loss:

How many losses do you think we can sustain in this division and still make the playoffs? My thinking is 4 tops. I don't think any team in the NFC West who has more than 4 losses is in the tournament. That's why I look at this loss as huge. We have 2 losses in 5 games with 11 yet to play, and no more bye in front of us. We have lost a bit of wiggle room where having an "off game" is concerned. The pressure is now on the team to fix the problems immediately and play 9-2 ball from here out.

Of course it's not time to panic. It's never time to panic. Panic is ridiculous. But it isn't exactly time to whistle through the graveyard, either.

[HumanCockroach]

Playing the devil's advocate here in regards to worrying about this loss:

How many losses do you think we can sustain in this division and still make the playoffs? My thinking is 4 tops. I don't think any team in the NFC West who has more than 4 losses is in the tournament. That's why I look at this loss as huge. We have 2 losses in 5 games with 11 yet to play, and no more bye in front of us. We have lost a bit of wiggle room where having an "off game" is concerned. The pressure is now on the team to fix the problems immediately and play 9-2 ball from here out.

Of course it's not time to panic. It's never time to panic. Panic is ridiculous. But it isn't exactly time to whistle through the graveyard, either.

I suppose it would depend on who the losses were to. More than four losses aren't going to end a season in this division, as long as they aren't to division teams, and conference teams. Last I checked Seattle had a loss to an AFC opponent on the road, and a conference loss to an opponent outside the division. We'll see how they do this Sunday against the Rams, they lose that one, and it might be time to be concerned, until the division starts playing games within the division, there isn't a whole lot to go off of. For instance, I could see the Cards dropping four of their next six pretty damn easy, does that mean they are out of the playoffs and should start doing draft HW at that point?? I wouldn't think so, but based on your four win theory, that is indeed what they should do..... Seattle will probably lose at LEAST four games, as will Santa Clara AND the Cards, meaning the four loss bar you set is silly. HFA will require four or less ( considering the creme puff NFC East has with the exception of this division) but, claiming more than four leaves you out of the playoffs, is an over reaction.

[NorthHawk]

If they come up with efforts within our division like the one against Dallas, we will end up with at least 6 losses, maybe 7.
It might not yet be time to panic, but the level of play so far isn't encouraging.

[HumanCockroach]

I don't know, some quality wins in there as well, against some tough opponents, the Dallas game was the anomaly, not the rule IMHO.

[RiverDog]

If they come up with efforts within our division like the one against Dallas, we will end up with at least 6 losses, maybe 7.
It might not yet be time to panic, but the level of play so far isn't encouraging.

This team has 9-7 written all over it. This season looks like those post-XL Seahawk teams that were never quite good enough to make it back to the NFC Championship game, let alone the SB.

Having said that, I fully acknowledge that it's not time to 'panic', but as it stands now, this isn't the same team we've been used to seeing for the past 1.5 years. Something needs to change, and change fast.

[Futureite]

I had NFC West winner pegged at 11-5 to start the yr and I am sticking to that. But injuries aee mountung up for all NFC West teams like we have not seen in recent yrs. That is a variable no one is ever really prepared for (as a fan), and anything can conceivably happen from Sunday on. The suck part is we are prob going to give up 450+ to Peyton going into a bye and will thus remain stuck in 3rd place for a couple weeks lol.

[HumanCockroach]

Wish this forum had the guy running around screaming with his head on fire. Bunch of nervous nellies in here ( what's new? They were here last season as well, preaching doom and gloom following the Rams game, the Cards loss, the Houston victory, the Indy loss, etc) whatever. Always so quick to see the worst possible scenarios are Seattle fans, always the quick jump back to "oh no we suck again" SMH.

[THX-1138]

HCR--No offense but what are you talking about? To a man nobody had tossed in the towel. But speaking for myself I'm not going to be all rah rah all the time. I have my own perspective that I view the Seahawks in. It has been tempered by what I regard as 35 years of realistic expectations. That you don't happen to agree with it does not in any way shape or form diminish what I have to say or make what I have to say "silly". 5 losses didn't get you s playoff spot last year in the division. We still have to catch two teams in front of us if we want to win the NFC West. I can't predict AZ as having any falloff from how they are playng now and I expect the 49ers to improve. And I can't consider this loss as just an anomoly when out of 5 games two of our losses came in very similar fashions. That begins to look just the tiniest bit like the beginning of a trend, don't you think?

[mykc14]

Like I have said before I am no where near jumping off the ledge and still fancy us a playoff team, but to get to the elite status we all expected we certainly have some work to do. I am still not sold on the Cards, they are good but are still doing it with smoke and mirrors to a certain extent. I still think the niners are the biggest threat to our division crown, and agree with THX, they are going to get better as their injured/suspended players come back. With all of that being said I still feel like we are the most talented team in the division. We are the same team with basically the same players as last year. Yeah, we are missing a piece here and there and certainly depth everywhere but we didn't go from SB champ to mediocre NFL franchise in a year, our offseason purge wasn't that bad. We need to get back to what has worked on O and start getting some turnovers on D and we will be fine, although with our remaining schedule HFA looks tough. I would say that we need to start pressure the QB, but I just don't see that happening when we haven't been able to do that up to this point in the season.

[Hawktawk]

OK screw it nobody fears the Hawks, they are finished, flash in the pan, blah blah blah.

OK bring it on. Were going to go 14-2, 13-3 at worst and this is a team that can win on the road in Texas if need be. The Hawks are going to be truly pissed and focused going forward......

[obiken]

All I am saying is that I feel we are somewhere between those that say relax everything is ok, and those that say the sky is falling in. ONE more loss and we match last years total with 10 to go. Sorry HT we got gashed for long runs, the average is meaningless. We are allowing teams to get 1st downs on 3rd downs and keep the ball moving. Stat boy the thing all you want, but our defense is not as tough as last year. All that said we still should have won this game. 3rd and 20 they convert, really??
River, I feel your pain, and see your points but Dallas is much better team that people thought, they just are, the record speaks for its self.
The Harvin thing is meaningless to me, I think we need to run our WR's and TE's down the field, then RW runs around till they get open. IF they don't its on them. A bad throw is on him. Forget all the trick crap. I agree with HS that Lynch should have had a lot more carries. Seattle needs to throw on 1st down more and then run to pick up short yardage, but no formula is perfect if you cant or don't execute.
Injuries are piling up like cork wood and that's my biggest concern.

[HumanCockroach]

HCR--No offense but what are you talking about? To a man nobody had tossed in the towel. But speaking for myself I'm not going to be all rah rah all the time. I have my own perspective that I view the Seahawks in. It has been tempered by what I regard as 35 years of realistic expectations. That you don't happen to agree with it does not in any way shape or form diminish what I have to say or make what I have to say "silly". 5 losses didn't get you s playoff spot last year in the division. We still have to catch two teams in front of us if we want to win the NFC West. I can't predict AZ as having any falloff from how they are playng now and I expect the 49ers to improve. And I can't consider this loss as just an anomoly when out of 5 games two of our losses came in very similar fashions. That begins to look just the tiniest bit like the beginning of a trend, don't you think?

Nope. The way to beat Seattle is to play keep away with the football, not a lot of teams can do that. Professing 9. Wins is silly, claiming more than four losses keeps a team out of the playoffs is as well. Arizona and Santa Clara also have to play teams we have lost to ( as well as us) I've seen teams drop seven games and win a SB. Seattle won't do that, butit in my realistic 35 years of watching football,I've never written off a season in week 6, if that is "realistic" you're welcome to it.

[Long Time Fan]

The title of this thread is very misleading.

I don't know, some quality wins in there as well, against some tough opponents, the Dallas game was the anomaly, not the rule IMHO.

This comment seems to be one of the few that puts the loss to Dallas into perspective.

[THX-1138]

Nope. The way to beat Seattle is to play keep away with the football, not a lot of teams can do that. Professing 9. Wins is silly, claiming more than four losses keeps a team out of the playoffs is as well. Arizona and Santa Clara also have to play teams we have lost to ( as well as us) I've seen teams drop seven games and win a SB. Seattle won't do that, butit in my realistic 35 years of watching football,I've never written off a season in week 6, if that is "realistic" you're welcome to it.[/quote]


Again, I wish to remain respectful of your opinion but I have to reiterate that not a single person on this board or in this thread has expressed the sentiment that the season is over. You are misreading the comments. I believe the overwhelming sentiment is that the Seahawks have made their return to the playoffs way more difficult. And from where I sit you and I are saying the same thing about our two losses: that they are similar in that both teams who beat us employed tactics (and just plain better play) to keep our defense on the field and to keep our offense off of it. X's and O's aside, strictly speaking, we lost those games because we lost the time of possession battle, partly because we abandoned the ground game. While two losses is certainly no trend it does point to one. The blueprint is there for all other teams to see, they just have to come up with a gameplan that best works for their team to employ it, and then execute it properly.

You're not on an island, my friend. We are all basically of the same opinion concerning where our football team stands. Personally I just feel that the odds are now more against the Seahawks than you do. Just because I feel that way shouldn't affect how you feel or the actual outcome. Let me put it this way: If the Seahawks were to perform better than what I project do you think I'll be disappointed somehow because I was wrong? I am greedy and want even more dominance of the NFL from the Seahawks. My faith in the team has zero bearing on how things will turn out. I believe in Quantum Mechanics but in this case I don't think the observer has any real affect on the observed.

[mykc14]

The title of this thread is very misleading.

.

I agree! When I wrote the title and started the thread it was supposed to be a little more optimistic. It was going to be something along the lines of yeah our DL can't get a pass rush and we have played a brutal schedule but by looking at the upcoming schedule we are going to be fine. Then I started looking at the schedule and my tone changed. Also, it was more in regards to getting HFA, and the perspective was supposed to be the only thing that changed was instead of going 8-0 at home and only having to go 4-4 on the road now all we have to do is go 7-1 at home and 5-3 on the road, just like last year.

[Long Time Fan]

When I wrote the title and started the thread it was supposed to be a little more optimistic. It was going to be something along the lines of yeah our DL can't get a pass rush and we have played a brutal schedule but by looking at the upcoming schedule we are going to be fine. Then I started looking at the schedule and my tone changed. Also, it was more in regards to getting HFA, and the perspective was supposed to be the only thing that changed was instead of going 8-0 at home and only having to go 4-4 on the road now all we have to do is go 7-1 at home and 5-3 on the road, just like last year.

I applaud the spirit of the thread, but question the breeding ground of negativity this week. We can all agree that the Seahawks played uncharacteristically poorly.

I don't think this becomes any form of trend unless there are uncontrollable factors (injuries namely). We would all love the HFA throughout the playoffs, but.....
I would caution that believing that it is necessary is a trap game. We can lose at home (clearly) and we can win anywhere, anytime. HFA is a goal that is the big carrot in the regular season and it works for us maybe better than any other team, but I'm far more concerned with the health and quality of play WHEN they enter the playoffs. We all want the same things for this team. They have given us reason to fend off the occasional doubt. I don't expect everyone here to fart sunshine after that loss, but there is a perspective that that game was an anomaly.

That's my story, I'm sticking to it.

[Hawktawk]

I applaud the spirit of the thread, but question the breeding ground of negativity this week. We can all agree that the Seahawks played uncharacteristically poorly.

I don't think this becomes any form of trend unless there are uncontrollable factors (injuries namely). We would all love the HFA throughout the playoffs, but.....
I would caution that believing that it is necessary is a trap game. We can lose at home (clearly) and we can win anywhere, anytime. HFA is a goal that is the big carrot in the regular season and it works for us maybe better than any other team, but I'm far more concerned with the health and quality of play WHEN they enter the playoffs. We all want the same things for this team. They have given us reason to fend off the occasional doubt. I don't expect everyone here to fart sunshine after that loss, but there is a perspective that that game was an anomaly.

That's my story, I'm sticking to it.[/quote]

^^^^+1. In 2012 the Hawks had the Falcons BEAT on the road until 25 seconds of Gus Bradley's brain cramps.That was after smoking the Redskins on the road. And Santa Clara was sweating their sack off thinking of the prospect of seeing us again at their place. Last year Hawks were 6-2 on the road.Getting hung up on HFA and the vaunted 12th man can be somewhat of an albatross, a monkey on the back.It would be nice, sure, but IMO it will take 12-4 minimum and probably more to get it. Pundits are jumping off the bandwagon like rats from a sinking ship, one week after putting RW in the MVP category.It might be good to fly under the radar for a while. If Seattle gets angry and focused they can repeat. If they keep on resting on their laurels its going to be a long season and watching the playoffs on TV.

[c_hawkbob]

Watching Mike & Mike this morning they were talking about the overreaction to our loss; Greeny saying we were still the best team in the league and that the NFC playoffs still go through seattle and Golic, while noting that the 'Girls had a game up on us well as the W, basically agreeing. They compared our strength of schedule so far with all of the 5-1 teams ranked ahead of us noting that all of them were well below .500 in that category while we had been playing, and for the most part beating, the best teams in the league. That fans and pundits were being unrealistic expecting any team to play that schedule and do any better.

[HumanCockroach]

Honestly, could care less if the pundits are jumping of the ship ( to be honest I don't really remember to many being on board to begin with, and certainly not for very long, even if they were) glad they are gone, maybe we can focus a little better. There has been plenty of appearances, guest spots and the like, but for the life of me, I don't remember a whole heck of a lot of positife attention this off season and the first couple weeks, unless it was "this team can beat them" or "what team will take them down" kind of deal...

f-em, who needs em'?

[RiverDog]

For the record, I am not "professing" 9 wins. I am appraising our team as we stand now. I am going off the logic that you're only as good as your last game, and our last game sucked. Therefore, we are currently not a very good football team, certainly not worthy of our defending champion status. We're 3-2, and already have lost as many games at home as we did all last season. We're a .600 team, not the .750 or .800 team we've been the past couple of seasons. Those are facts, and it's not over reacting to state facts or to state what is real. Furthermore, I'm not going to sit here and rationalize losses by making excuses, like our schedule, injuries, or bad calls. Been there, done that. It's that type of thinking has led me to some major letdowns when unrealistic expectations are not fulfilled.

There's plenty of time to right the ship, especially considering that we haven't even played a divisional opponent yet and unlike the past couple of years, no one team in our division is going to run away and hide. Everyone else in the division has as many or more problems than we do, as do some of the other favorites in the NFC, like the Saints and Panthers. It's life in the NFL, in the world of parity, and what makes the NFL worth watching and what makes it my favorite sport. One or two losses does not end your season like it does in college football. But you're kidding yourself if you think that this team is on the right track or that all systems are A-OK. We have some major problems we need to figure out.

[c_hawkbob]

The point is that when we were actually not a very good team we would have killed for a winning record after the schedule we've had to play so far. You're simply exaggerating the negative having been exposed to the extreme positive of last season.

We're not that team anymore, we may never be again. Very few teams in the history of the league ever reached that level and very few ever will going forward. It's just not fair to expect that from this team. I really don't think we'll ever be as good as we were at the end of last year again. That was a special team and a special experience.

Doesn't mean we can't still win it all, I still think we're the favorite to, in fact we can win several, but we're gonna have to fight for 'em now, there are a few teams in the league as good as we are now.

[RiverDog]

The point is that when we were actually not a very good team we would have killed for a winning record after the schedule we've had to play so far. You're simply exaggerating the negative having been exposed to the extreme positive of last season.

We're not that team anymore, we may never be again. Very few teams in the history of the league ever reached that level and very few ever will going forward. It's just not fair to expect that from this team. I really don't think we'll ever be as good as we were at the end of last year again. That was a special team and a special experience.

Doesn't mean we can't still win it all, I still think we're the favorite to, in fact we can win several, but we're gonna have to fight for 'em now, there are a few teams in the league as good as we are now.

I'm not exaggerating anything. We're 3-2, a .600 team. We are in third place in a 4 team division. We are coming off a bad loss where we got beat at home. Which one of those facts did I exaggerate? Seems like pretty simple and straight forward statements, no?

But to the rest of your comments, I agree wholeheartedly. It is an unreasonable expectation for any team to repeat as champions, as the facts tell us that it doesn't happen very often, at least not under today's constraints of free agency, salary caps, etc. If it happens and we do the unexpected, then I'll enjoy it a lot more than I would have if I went into the season expecting to repeat. Last year was special. All the stars lined up. That may not happen this year, and by being a realist, I'm preparing myself for the worst while still hoping and rooting for the best.

[Long Time Fan]

The point is that when we were actually not a very good team we would have killed for a winning record after the schedule we've had to play so far. You're simply exaggerating the negative having been exposed to the extreme positive of last season.

We're not that team anymore, we may never be again. Very few teams in the history of the league ever reached that level and very few ever will going forward. It's just not fair to expect that from this team. I really don't think we'll ever be as good as we were at the end of last year again. That was a special team and a special experience.

Doesn't mean we can't still win it all, I still think we're the favorite to, in fact we can win several, but we're gonna have to fight for 'em now, there are a few teams in the league as good as we are now.

I wish that I would have posted this.

We're 3-2, a .600 team. We are in third place in a 4 team division. ......... by being a realist, I'm preparing myself for the worst while still hoping and rooting for the best.

Properly tortured we can get statistics to say whatever we wish.

You are of course are correct that some of the numbers and the eye test last weekend suggest concern. But, but, but...context, context, context....the schedule has been tough, Dallas played well, poor game plan,...ect

We can both hold title to being realists and have different perspectives. I see a team that is very talented, well coached, with great leadership, having recent experiences that place it in a unique position to overcome adversity and transition after setbacks.

Preparing for the worst? Rarely? I have no fear in giving my hopes to this team. We are all Seahawks fans. What's not to enjoy?

[RiverDog]

I really don't consider a won/loss record a statistic any more than one would consider a final score of a game as being a stat. It's not a stat, it's an end result.

[Zorn76]

The bottom line is, we are going to be fine.

This team has the wherewithal and moxie to get this going in the right direction. Losing to Dallas is a bitter pill, especially at home, but at least they were a team that was on a roll coming in, not limping around at 1-4 or 2-3. Not sure how this season will end up for them, but they were playing well.

Naturally, we should be able to beat anybody at The Clink, and we usually do. Now on the road for two, which may help the team's collective focus anyway. Get these next 2 - one at a time - and we're right back in the thick of it. AZ is not going to sustain their pace, though they have a couple of good wins (SF, SD). The 49ers are still a tough bunch and playing hard for Harbaugh, no matter what else is or isn't really going on there.

The Seahawks are a solid team still. Injuries are part of the deal. For as poorly as we played in the two losses, we still put ourselves in a position to win. These were not blowouts, folks. Guys fight hard, and I expect that to continue. I focus on the bigger picture, and our team has earned the benefit of the doubt after all they've accomplished the last 2 years.

[Long Time Fan]

The bottom line is, we are going to be fine.

+

[HumanCockroach]

The bottom line is, we are going to be fine.

This team has the wherewithal and moxie to get this going in the right direction. Losing to Dallas is a bitter pill, especially at home, but at least they were a team that was on a roll coming in, not limping around at 1-4 or 2-3. Not sure how this season will end up for them, but they were playing well.

Naturally, we should be able to beat anybody at The Clink, and we usually do. Now on the road for two, which may help the team's collective focus anyway. Get these next 2 - one at a time - and we're right back in the thick of it. AZ is not going to sustain their pace, though they have a couple of good wins (SF, SD). The 49ers are still a tough bunch and playing hard for Harbaugh, no matter what else is or isn't really going on there.

The Seahawks are a solid team still. Injuries are part of the deal. For as poorly as we played in the two losses, we still put ourselves in a position to win. These were not blowouts, folks. Guys fight hard, and I expect that to continue. I focus on the bigger picture, and our team has earned the benefit of the doubt after all they've accomplished the last 2 years.

Yes sir, especially the first line. Nervous nellies were rampant last season as well, nothing new to see here.