The Seattle Seahawks begin their new era without quarterback Russell Wilson. They had a taste of it last season. Wilson missed three games due to dislocating the middle finger on his throwing hand. They went 1-2 over three game span. Now, they get the full course in 2022. Can a Wilson-less Seahawks squad win at least six games?
The Seahawks’ win total is set at 5.5, which is significantly lower than their 2021 line of 10 wins. That decrease is largely in response to their trade of Wilson to the Denver Broncos for quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant, defensive end Shelby Harris, and draft picks.
Also, Seattle chose to not address the quarterback position during the NFL Draft or through free agency. They seem content with starting the season with either Lock or veteran Geno Smith behind center. That’s not the greatest QB room to have for a team still trying to be competitive.
Why The Seahawks Fall Short of Six Wins
Quarterback impacts victory more than any other position in football. The Seattle Seahawks do not currently have a QB with a winning track record. Neither Drew Lock nor Geno Smith has a winning record as a starting QB in his career. Lock had 21 starts in his three-season tenure with the Broncos, and the team went 8-13 in those games. Meanwhile, Smith has a 13-21 record as a starting QB over his eight-season career; including 1-2 as a Seahawks starter.
Seattle will also have to face their division rivals twice. Once again, the NFC West looks like a difficult division to navigate through. The Arizona Cardinals, the Los Angeles Rams, and the San Francisco 49ers all made the playoffs last season with the latter two making the NFC Championship game.
Additionally, they’ll host a motivated Wilson and the Broncos Week 1. Plus, they face other 2021 playoff teams in the Kansas City Chiefs (Away), Las Vegas Raiders (Home), and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Germany).
Last season, the Seahawks went 3-6 against eventual playoff teams. Wilson started in 8 of those 9 games with the one game he didn’t being an overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It is really hard to see how a team that struggled to beat playoff teams last year with Wilson can beat similar opponents in 2022 without him. However…
Why The Seahawks Achieve Six Wins
According to Sharp Football Analysis, Seattle has the 10th toughest schedule. With that in mind, six wins is a reachable benchmark. The Seahawks face rebuilding teams in the New York Jets, the Atlanta Falcons, the New York Giants and the Detroit Lions. Plus, they have a matchup with the Carolina Panthers who have a complex QB carousel at the moment. Those are all winnable games.
Also, the Seahawks have good track record in NFC West games under Pete Carroll. Under Carroll’s 12-season reign, Seattle has won at least three divisional games each season. That includes 2010 and 2011 seasons where Matthew Hasselbeck, Tavaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst all registered starts.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks still have solid offensive talent to support their rough QB situation. Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf are still exceptional receivers. Plus, they used a second round pick on former Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III and will pair him with Rashaad Penny, who had 671 rushing yards and six TDs in their final five games of last season.
Suggestion: Seahawks Under 5.5 Wins +120 (DK)
Six wins is a low benchmark. The Seahawks have the supporting cast needed to reach that goal. However, it’s hard to get past the glaring hole at quarterback. Pete Carroll’s “run first” mentality may have worked a decade ago. However, unless Penny or Walker III have Jonathan Taylor level impact, the team’s success will come down to either Lock or Smith. That’s not a great proposition.
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