Does Seattle get enough respect?

Question

I'm by no means a Seahawks fan, and I'll be the first to point out their soft schedules and weak division over the years, but I think people either severely overrate or underrate them.

I recently signed up for a pro-pick'em league, and when making my picks for this week, I saw that they were the underdogs against the Bills.... seriously? The Bills?

Now I realize that many people are overrating the Bills this year (soft schedule, overachieved last year), but this is essentially the same team that ranked in the bottom 5 in practically every offensive AND defensive categories last year. Seattle meanwhile has consistently been a good team, and hasn't lost many notable players from last year.

I'll be the first to point out that if Seattle were in a different division (NFC East for instance), they'd struggle to break .500, but seeing them get disrespected like this is ridiculous - this team has been practically unbeatable at home for the past 3 or 4 years, and I think they'd be competitive with any NFC team, and could even give the "Big 3" AFC teams (Colts, Pats, Bolts) a run for their money.

Is there something I'm overlooking here? Do you think Seattle has been dealt an unfair hand yet again?

Answer 1

seahawks are overrated there division is soft they don't play well on the road and they have no running game. rams or cards win the west with ease

Answer 2

I admit it... I'm a homer and this has been going on for years.  It's a long trail of disrespect and/or a team either playing well below expectations or well-above (i.e. the Dave Kreig era).

One thing to consider on that Buffalo line... my team is horrible when having to travel east.  The game is 10 a.m. PST so I can understand a little bit about how hard it is for the guys to get up for the game... they're used to going to War in the afternoon... not right after coffee!!!

So maybe the bookies are looking at the early start and the Hawks history as a factor.  Recall during the Superbowl run they got stomped by Jaxonville in a similar set up to start the season.

Yes, I think the 'experts' are correct to point out that there are serious question marks at RB and WR... but how the Hawks can be collectively overlooked on the Defensive side of the ball simply escapes me.  

Answer 3

I think they're put at about where they should be.  I think people recognize that in that division they will be a powerhouse and a perennial division winner, but to go past that, they are usually overlooked.  And for good reason; they made a Super Bowl, but they never play that well against the best teams.  So they're recognized as pretty good, but not a Super Bowl contender.

As far as beating the Bills is concerned, I'm not sure where that's coming from.  I think the Bills are supposed to be good this year, but I don't think they'll beat Seattle.

Answer 4

Seattle doesn't get enough respect, and after their MVP running back quit on them last year things went down hill.

Hasselbeck is coming off an injury so you don't know what you'll get there.

The only thing you may be overlooking is Seattle's travel schedule. I read somewhere that they will travel over 34,000 miles this season, and that has got to take its toll on your body you know with the time zones and such. That's a ton of traveling considering the Browns will travel about 6,000 miles this year and the Steelers about 6,500 miles.

EDIT: Well thought SMARTA$$. I never really paid much attention until I read what I read, but it does put them at a disadvantage when you have to rest and travel you don't get any real practice.

Answer 5

I'm a lifelong Seattle Area resident and a fan of all the Seattle sports teams. Seattle teams never seem to get much national attention. We are geographically separated from the rest of the country. The Portland trailblazers are the only major sports team within 200 miles, go past them, and you have to go almost 1000 miles to Sacramento or San Fransisco to find another pro team. Some east coast teams have several teams within 100 miles. Therefore Seattle is all but forgotten about on the national sports scene. This also explains why Seattle teams consistently travel more miles. Someone mentioned the distance the Seahawks will travel this year, this is nothing new. Its pretty much automatic that the Seahawks, and Mariners will travel more miles than any other team in their respective sports leagues, simply because of geographical location.

As for the Seahawks weak division, or weak schedules, I simply disagree. Just because the other teams in your division are weak doesn't make it easier to win games. They have 6 games per year against "weak" division opponents, but the sheer fact that division rivalries are always hard-fought games nearly cancels out the weakness of the opponents. Plus, almost every division has 1, or 2 "weak" teams, so all the powerhouse teams have some "easy" games.

As far as the line, that has nothing to do with legitimate analysis of talent, it has to do with the adrenalin and stupidity level of the fans for each team. Most of the betting occurs from fans of that team who are so biased that they overlook the facts and bet for their own team. Simply put, unless the line is at least 7 points, I don't think it means much.  

Answer 6

I agree. I'm not a Hawks fan myself, but I chuckle at all of the people picking the Cardinals to win that division.

No they won't.

Seahawks by default. They are a legit 9-10 win team.  

Answer 7

Well, history has shown that Seattle doesn't play that well when traveling to the East Coast. Is the line set yet, because if it's only by 3 points or less, then the Bills are favored just because they're the home team.

Hope this helps.

Cheers!