Good morning, 12s.
Here's a look at what's "out there" for today - Thursday, Nov. 5 - about your Seattle Seahawks:
"Hope Is Alive And Well" For Seattle
NFL Media analyst Gil Brandt, the former vice president of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys, pinpoints six teams who sit outside the playoff picture at midseason, but in his eyes, still have a legitimate shot at making a postseason run.
The first club on Brandt's list of playoff-hopefuls is the Seahawks, a team that owns a 4-4 record as it enters its Week 9 bye. Seattle sits two games behind the Arizona Cardinals (6-2) for the NFC West lead, but Brandt sees the Seahawks challenging the Cardinals down the stretch for the division crown.
Here's what Brandt had to say about why Seattle is posed for a playoff run:
As with seemingly everything else in the NFL, a team's ability to fight its way back into playoff contention rests largely on the quarterback, and Russell Wilson gives Seattle a serious leg up. The passing offense ranks 26th, but I don't think that's necessarily reflective of Wilson, who does not throw picks at home and has the 12th-best passer rating (95.0) in the league, despite being sacked an NFL-high 31 times. A lot of that is on the offensive line, and I have faith position coach Tom Cable will get that group playing better. Jimmy Graham has picked it up of late, and of course, there's that Seattle defense, which ranks second overall and against the pass.
They might be in third place right now, but I think the Seahawks have a good shot to challenge the Arizona Cardinals for the NFC West title. Five of their last eight games will be at home, and they should be able to win most of those, if not all five. They also face an easier schedule than the Cards: the rest of Seattle's opponents (a group that includes the Browns and Ravens) have a combined record of 27-26, while the rest of Arizona's opponents (a group that includes the Packers and Bengals) have a combined record of 31-20. Finally, the Seahawks still have not played the Cardinals, and while the two teams are close, I think Seattle matches up well and is slightly better. I like the Seahawks to at least split that series.
Tweet Of The Day
Today's "Tweet of the Day" comes from us - @Seahawks, as we share behind-the-scenes photos from the club's 13-12 Week 8 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
More From Around The Web
Here at Seahawks.com, digital media reporter John Boyle hands out team honors for the first half of the season and answers questions from 12s in a bye-week Q&A.
Scott Engel at RotoExperts.com identifies a few fantasy football fill-ins for key Seahawks players on the team's bye week.
Sheil Kapadia at ESPN.com highlights the play and personality of Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril.
Dave Boling at the Tacoma News Tribune has a message for Seahawks fans questioning the play of quarterback Russell Wilson.
Stephen Cohen at SeattlePI.com reviews 12 questions on the Seahawks at midseason.
After not surrendering a single sack against the Cowboys this past Sunday, Brady Henderson at 710Sports.com says the Seahawks may have found a way to reduce the number of hits Russell Wilson is taking.
Art Thiel at SportsPressNW.com says the St. Louis Rams are the most significant trial on the Seahawks' schedule in the second half of the season.
And Rob Rang at Scout.com grades the first-half-of-the-season play from Seahawks running backs Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, and Thomas Rawls.
D*id I miss anything you think is worthy of inclusion? Let me know on Twitter *
