Still think Seattle isn't a very good team on the road?

             Once again the Seattle Seahawks find themselves in position for what many consider to be the game of the week. There has been a lot of talk this week leading up to the game about the two second year stud quarterbacks: Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson. All the talk about those two is well deserved because they may be the two best young quarterbacks in the NFL today. Others, however, have spent some time talking about how the Colts’ will win this game because Seattle is not a very good team on the road. If you are a fan of the Indianapolis Colts, or just someone who is hoping for the Seattle Seahawks to lose because it will benefit your team, or any other reason at all; I am here to tell you that if you are still hanging on to the presumption that Seattle is not a very good road team, well, that simply just is not true. Seattle has won five of their last six road games, with their one loss in that stretch coming against the Atlanta Falcons in the last 30 seconds of the divisional round playoff game last season. I challenge you to check and see which other teams lost in Atlanta last year too. Additionally, Seattle had their backs against the wall last week against a very tough Houston Texans team, and they were able to rise up and overcome by not allowing a single score to the Texans’ in the second half. That should scare you.

Photo: Patric Schneider

If it doesn’t, then you are either in denial or simply not paying attention. If you want to look at the first half of the season last year before the playbook became open to Russell Wilson, or the recent years before that, then knock yourself out. Those games mean nothing to the present.

            Still not buying in to the fact that Seattle has overcome their road woes? Well, I decided to compare Seattle to another team that is widely regarded as one of the better teams in the league, yet I never seem to hear much chatter about how bad they are on the road. The team I am referring to was a playoff team last year, and there is a good possibility that they will return to the playoffs this season as well. Over the past six road games dating back to last season around the same time that Seattle opened up the playbook for Russell Wilson, this team has won a total of ONE single game. They are the exact opposite of what the Hawks’ have been able to accomplish. The team I am referring to is none other than the Green Bay Packers. In that span they have lost to the 49ers twice, with one of those losses coming in the divisional round of the playoffs last season. The other losses were in the regular season against the Seahawks (granted it was possibly the worst officiated game ever), the Colts, and most recently the Bengals. Their one victory came against the Houston Texans. On the other hand, Seattle beat the Texans, Panthers, Bears, Bills, and the Redskins in the NFC Wild Card playoff game last season. If you are still not buying in then please tell me why Seattle is a bad road team and Green Bay is not. If I have changed your thought to the fact that Green Bay is bad on the road, then still tell me why Seattle is, because I don’t see it.

            I do agree with everyone else that Seattle has a big advantage when playing at home. The 12’s are amazing. And I do think that road games are always tougher, regardless of whichever team we’re talking about. Denver has been another amazing team this season, but I guarantee you that a game against the Dallas Cowboys would be easier at home than it will be on the road this Sunday. Do I still believe the Broncos will win? Sure I do, but it will be more of a challenge.

            If the game against the Colts were at the CLink this Sunday then I would feel better about a victory this weekend, despite our current offensive line situation. But it is not. The Colts are a strong team, and what Andrew Luck has done with them has been nothing short of fantastic. Without Luck, no way they make the playoffs last season. I do not think Russell Wilson will be in constant danger like he was against the Texans’ defensive pressure, but he will be pressured. Then again, Seattle is just now getting Irvin back and our pressure should just now start to reach its full potential… yeah, Andrew Luck could be in for a long day. Seattle over Indy here, there, everywhere; it doesn’t matter. If Seattle were to lose tomorrow, however, I promise you it is not because they are a bad road team. It will simply because they were challenged on the road against a good Indianapolis Colts team.

Go Hawks!