If the Seattle Seahawks enjoyed one advantage at the start of the 2012 season that they do not enjoy now, it’s the element of surprise.
Much is expected of the 2013 Seahawks. They are the chic Super Bowl pick for many a publication and online prognosticator. This contrasts sharply to the squad that opened the 2012 season with a heart-breaking loss against division rival the Arizona Cardinals, and few, if any expectations outside of the Pacific Northwest of a playoff-bound destiny.
This year, anything less than a division-round playoff victory will be viewed as a crushing disappointment. The 12th man demands a playoff experience this January. It starts in Carolina on Sunday, September 8 at 10 a.m. local time.
To get there, the Seahawks will need to be able to take care of business in road games in addition to replicating their perfect 2012 home record. It’s no easy task, as Seattle managed only three road victories last season. Sunday’s contest against the Panthers finds Seattle on the road, on the East coast at an unfamiliar early kick-off time — three factors that have proven to be problems for recent Seahawks teams.
On their way to an 11 – 5 record last season, the Seahawks were tripped up on the road. In fact, they lost five of their first six road games, with their sole victory in that span coming against Sunday’s opponent, the Carolina Panthers. Their other two road victories were an overtime win against Chicago and the 50 – 17 blowout win against Buffalo.
To avoid last season’s fate of a Wild Card playoff berth, the Seahawks will need to improve upon 2012’s three regular season road victories. A repeat victory against the Panthers is vital to Seattle’s goal to overtake the 49ers for the NFC North division title.
The stars must come out on Sunday. The following three Seahawks must turn in dominating performances to secure a Seahawks win.
Russell Wilson
It’s no surprise that Russell Wilson, the Seahawks’ second-year quarterback, is the most important offensive player in this or any game. The offense begins with Wilson’s ability to manage the offense, effectively recognize the defensive keys and distribute the ball to the right Seahawks playmakers at the right time. Grace under pressure was his calling card last year and will be ever more important against Carolina’s athletic and aggressive front seven, led by linebacker Luke Kuechly, defensive end Charles Johnson and nose tackle Star Lotulelei, Carolina’s first-round draft pick.
Seattle cannot expect to produce only 98 yards on 35 rushing attempts, nor commit seven penalties for 65 yards — as they did the last time the two teams met — and expect to leave Carolina victorious. Wilson will need to manage the pressure better this time around to pull of the W. He did turn in a respectable 19-of-25 passes for 221 yards, which would probably suffice again this time if Wilson can get more scoring out of the offense.
Bobby Wagner
The key to stopping the Carolina Panthers last year was bottling up the talented but inconsistent Cam Newton, the Panthers’ third-year quarterback. This year will be no different. Second-year linebacker Bobby Wagner will need to be Newton’s equal as the quarterback of the Seahawks defense from the middle linebacker spot.
Newton was held to a mere 12 completions among 29 attempts for 141 yards in the previous match-up — a statistic that would bode well for a Seattle victory again if duplicated. The Seahawks managed four sacks last time around. Three of which came from Bruce Irvin (2) and Chris Clemons (1). Neither will play in this rematch. Wagner was the only other Seahawk that was able to corral Newton behind the line of scrimmage.
Red Bryant
The Seahawks’ defensive line leader, Red Bryant, had a relatively quiet training camp and preseason. The biggest and best news about Bryant heading in to this game is that he will emerge on the sideline healthy and ready to go, unlike so many other Seahawks linemen, including Irvin, Clemons, Jesse Williams (IR), Cliff Avril (hamstring), Jordan Hill (biceps), Tony McDaniel (groin), and Brandon Mebane (groin).
Bryant and the Seahawks front seven will look to pressure Newton into mistakes and force him to delay his decision-making. The defensive line will be called upon to bottle up the Panthers’ rushing attack, which will likely see a steady dose of DeAngelo Williams and Kenjon Barner, in addition to Newton’s read-option rushes and scrambles. Jonathan Stewart is on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
This game is shaping up to be another low-scoring affair like the last time the two teams met. Expect Wilson, Wagner and Bryant to play major roles in determining the outcome.
Julian Rogers is a freelance writer and communications consultant. Follow him on Twitter (@mrturophile), or connect with him on LinkedIn and Google+.
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