I'm not here to complain about how a more deserving team - two of them in fact - with shots of 10 wins may stay home. The NFL rules are what they are. We have divisions to allow for regional rivalries. With this set-up you must ensure that the best team gets a place in the playoffs. Otherwise why not just rank the teams in each conference 1-16 and award playoff spots to the top 6? So yeah, I'm not going to complain about the putrid NFC West getting playoff spot.
What I am complaining about is the possibility that the Seahawks could get that spot. Let's look at some stats objectively.
- The Seahawks are tied for the 29th toughest schedule in the NFL.
- They are 6-9 and have been outscored by 106 points. In fact only 3 teams have given up more points on the season than the Seahawks.
- They have beaten only two teams with winning records - San Diego and Chicago.
- Their leading rushed has less than 500 yards on the season.
- Their leading receiver has less than 800 yards on the season.
- Their backup QB Charlie Whitehurst is starting at QB this week because their longtime starter hurt himself running into the endzone last week.
I have no idea how the ChickenHawks (my dad's name for them, not mine and he actually LOVES the team for some reason now) have a shot at the playoffs. I think they are putrid and should be staying home. Sure Pete Carroll may have brought some energy back to the playoffs, but the best move for them would be to miss the playoffs, improve their draft position and not be fooled by unrealistic assessments of how good they are. They still have a ways to go. Both the front office and the fans need to realize this.
As a Seahawks fan I can only agree with you that missing the playoffs and the better draft position would probably be better in the long run. But then who knows. The Lions have had good draft positions year after year.
ReplyDeleteSo what is wrong with players and a team over achieving and making the most of a bad situation? New coach, high player turnover, aging QB, multiple injured WRs, should I go on?
Yeah, we'd have two wins in most other divisions, but so what.
Oh, and I am this close to tossing your Christmas gift in the fire.
-JWill
Since when did you have a fireplace? Do you wear a nice holiday sweater and drink hot cocoa by it?
ReplyDeleteFireplace has always existed. And I sit in front of it drinking beer and watch the Hawks win (sometimes) and lose (mostly). But if you bring the cocoa...
ReplyDeleteI am the biggest critic of the hawks, and yes they are shit and it is embarrasing that they have a shot at the playoffs but they are my hometown team and I would never want them to lose. I think your criticism is a little over the top, if they beat the rams (which I think is highly unlikely given the last few weeks) they will have the same record, split series and better divisional record than the rams. That makes the deserving argument moot, they would deserve the spot because they won the game that mattered. Everyone knows they are rebuilding but intentionally losing to get a draft pick? No thanks, ill take a home game and experience for some younger players instead and let's work on getting a new o line and qb for next year and we won't be having this debate again :)
ReplyDeleteI love my posts on the Seahawks - they always seem to elicit debate.
ReplyDeleteLook, I am in no way saying the Seahawks should lose on purpose. No way. My point was that I think if they were to lose it would be a blessing in disguise. They have a lot of work to do to get better. I think Hasselbeck needs to go, but I'm afraid that if they make the playoffs someone in the front office will talk themselves into another few years rather than realizing what they have and moving in a different direction.
As for my criticism - again, I'm not saying that at 7-9 they don't deserve to get in. You're right - they would own the tiebreakers and have the same record as the Rams. Under the current NFL rules they would be a playoff team. I am not bitching about that because it's the rule. I'm just tired of their tired act and don't want them in the playoffs. I don't see much of value to the team right now and think the Rams are better. So I am asking the Rams to win and the Seahawks to play to their talent level.