SEATTLE — Last year's attempt at predicting the results of the Seattle Seahawks season was... miraculously right on the money. Somehow.
As we predicted, the Seahawks won nine games AND narrowly missed the playoffs. (Next week's lottery numbers will be 6, 27, 31, 38 and 49, by the way. You're welcome.)
Now it's time to completely disappoint for the 2024 season and be wrong about every game.
Week 1: vs. Denver Broncos (Sept. 8)
Game prediction: Seahawks 24, Broncos 13
It's tough to script a more ideal opening game of the season than this for the Seahawks.
The Seahawks are at home and facing a rookie quarterback in an offense many prognosticators believe will be among the league's worst this season. Only the Bengals (8.5-point favorites) have a better chance to win in Week 1, according to Vegas oddsmakers.
As such, I'm predicting the Seahawks to casually stroll to victory. A late Bo Nix passing touchdown will make the final scoreline look closer than the game flow dictated but those following along will know Seattle controlled the game from the opening kickoff.
Seahawks current win-loss record: 1-0
Week 2: at New England Patriots (Sept. 15)
Game prediction: Seahawks 27, Patriots 10
It's tough to script a more ideal second game of the season than this for the Seahawks.
Notice a trend here?
The Broncos make the Patriots look like the Greatest Show on Turf, from an offensive talent standpoint. Years of whiffing on top-end talent in the NFL draft have placed New England in a dire situation where they're hoping Drake Maye (No. 2 in this year's NFL Draft) can make something happen out of nothing. In the meantime, Jacoby Brissett is heading this bereft Patriots offense and that should be enough to give the Seahawks a healthy 2-0 start to the season.
Seahawks current win-loss record: 2-0
Week 3: vs. Miami Dolphins (Sept. 22)
Game prediction: Dolphins 28, Seahawks 17
Now we have our first real test of the Seahawks season, as they run into the Dolphins buzzsaw that set the league on fire in 2023 (29.2 points per game). It could not be a starker contrast to the Broncos and Patriots.
Even though I'm bullish on Mike Macdonald's ability to revitalize the Seahawks defense, this matchup will come a bit too early in the season for Seattle to be at its peak. Dolphins win behind a pair of Tyreek Hill touchdowns and a game-breaking run from De'Von Achane.
Seahawks current win-loss record: 2-1
Week 4: at Detroit Lions (Sept. 30)
Game prediction: Lions 24, Seahawks 13
Facing the Dolphins and Lions in back-to-back games must feel like whiplash coming off a pair of games against Nix and Brissett. With the home crowd roaring on Monday night, Dan Campbell's team beats the Seahawks in the air, on the ground, and in the trenches.
For all of their progress in the first two weeks, the Seahawks are not quite at the Lions level.
Seahawks current win-loss record: 2-2
Week 5: vs. New York Giants (Oct. 6)
Game prediction: Seahawks 21, Giants 13
While I believe the Giants have nowhere to go but up offensively (30th in points per game last season), and love the addition of Malik Nabers as a game-wrecking receiver who can stretch the defense, Macdonald's unit won't be losing sleep over its plan to stop any of the Giants skill players.
Seahawks current win-loss record: 3-2
Week 6: vs. San Francisco 49ers (Oct. 10)
Game prediction: Seahawks 21, 49ers 20
Enough chalk. Let's pick an upset, shall we? On a short week in a nationally televised game, the Seahawks will drive the length of the field, setting up a game-winning field goal as time expires to secure its first signature win of the season.
Seahawks current win-loss record: 4-2
Week 7: at Atlanta Falcons (Oct. 20)
Game prediction: Seahawks 35, Falcons 31
Fresh off a thrilling victory over the 49ers, the Seahawks have the benefit of a few extra days of rest heading into a road game in Atlanta. Those pivotal 72 hours will pay off in a barn burner, featuring nine total touchdowns as each offense effortlessly glides across the field.
The Seahawks, it turns out, just happen to have the football at the end of the game. Another Geno Smith-led comeback - he was No. 1 in the NFL in fourth quarterback comebacks last season, after all - ends with a Jaxon Smith-Njigba touchdown with 24 seconds left.
The Seahawks keep on rolling.
Seahawks current win-loss record: 5-2
Week 8: vs. Buffalo Bills (Oct. 27)
Game prediction: Bills 31, Seahawks 13
The Seahawks crash back down to the earth after beating a pair of projected playoff teams in the previous two weeks. Josh Allen leaves Seattle with a dominant performance after torching the secondary to the tune of 275 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and adding another rushing touchdown for fair measure.
Seahawks current win-loss record: 5-3
Week 9: vs. Los Angeles Rams (Nov. 3)
Game prediction: Seahawks 21, Rams 17
Seattle enters its much-earned bye week, as one of the success stories in the NFL. Under Macdonald, the Seahawks defense has jumped within the top 12 at the break and its offense has leaned on second-year wideout Smith-Njigba, who has supplanted Tyler Lockett as the team's No. 2 receiver.
Times are good in Seahawks land.
Seahawks current win-loss record: 6-3
Week 10: BYE
Seahawks current win-loss record: 6-3
Week 11: at San Francisco 49ers (Nov. 17)
Game prediction: 49ers 34, Seahawks 10
The bye week allowed the Seahawks to reset mentally and physically only for the 49ers to completely walk all over the Seahawks.
Kyle Shanahan, eager to make up for the loss earlier in the season, schemed up brilliant, walk-in touchdowns for Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle, as San Francisco kept its foot on the pedal.
Seahawks current win-loss record: 6-4
Week 12: vs. Arizona Cardinals (Nov. 24)
Game prediction: Seahawks 27, Cardinals 20
Now that the Cardinals have rebounded as one of the more exciting offenses in the league, the NFC West is a gauntlet of skilled offenses. Kyler Murray leads the Cardinals to an early 20-10 lead in the third quarter, but the Seahawks slowly chipped away at the deficit.
Even though Murray's counting stats (302 passing yards, two rushing touchdowns) look good on your fantasy team, it's the Seahawks that emerge with the victory.
Seahawks current win-loss record: 7-4
Week 13: at New York Jets (Dec. 1)
Game prediction: Jets 21, Seahawks 14
Traveling across the country and playing a football game is a thankless task. By this point in the season, many of the Seahawks are dealing with injuries, aches and bruises. Though they find a way to reach the end zone twice, Aaron Rodgers deftly keeps the Jets in control of the game.
Seahawks current win-loss record: 7-5
Week 14: at Arizona Cardinals (Dec. 8)
Game prediction: Cardinals 31, Seahawks 20
This time Murray gets the better of the Seahawks, who have now dropped two consecutive games heading into another nationally televised game with major playoff implications.
Seahawks current win-loss record: 7-6
Week 15: vs. Green Bay Packers (Dec. 15)
Game prediction: Packers 21, Seahawks 20
The Seahawks' longest losing streak of the season continues in a back-and-forth affair on Sunday Night Football. With three games remaining, Seattle is now on the bubble for a playoff spot. Panic time?
Seahawks current win-loss record: 7-7
Week 16: vs. Minnesota Vikings (Dec. 22)
Game prediction: Seahawks 24, Vikings 7
Because it's Sam Darnold.
Seahawks current win-loss record: 8-7
Week 17: at Chicago Bears (Dec. 26)
Game prediction: Seahawks 17, Bears 14
Admittedly, I don't feel good about picking the Seahawks to win on a short week where they are traveling to the Midwest.
But by late December in Chicago, this could be a hazardous game played in inches of snow and/or gusty conditions. In this scenario, I'm betting on Macdonald's defense, which has slowly gained confidence in his scheme, to thrive in a low-scoring matchup. Caleb Williams, who has been a revelation for a QB-desperate fanbase, stumbles on the last possession and throws an interception on the last drive, gifting the Seahawks a much-needed win.
Seattle enters the last week of the season with the No. 6 seed and its playoff destiny in its own hands.
Seahawks current win-loss record: 9-7
Week 18: at Los Angeles Rams (Jan. 5)
Game prediction: Seahawks 28, Rams 27
It wasn't easy, but the Seahawks thwarted the Rams in the final week of the season to clinch a postseason berth. The victory also meant Seattle swept the Rams, effectively keeping its division rivals out of the playoffs with a 9-8 record.
Bring on the playoffs.
Seahawks current win-loss record: 10-7