Playoffs! Are You Kidding Me?!

I've always said that you can't help who you play and you should never apologize for it. But even I have to admit that the 'Hawks 2010 schedule looks softer than The Admiral's pillow. And you all know how much she loves her damn pillow.

I'm not complaining, mind you. In fact I've looked at the schedule and as silly as it sounds I see 10 wins. Yep T-E-N. Which means playoffs. That's right...I SAID PLAYOFFS!!!!

After the last 2 years, saying that there are 10 wins (9 at the worst) on the schedule makes my brain hurt. There's a side of me that says that no matter what I see on the schedule, we can't win more than 6 games this year. So I'm curious to hear what your expectations are? In the meantime here's what I see.

Wk 1 (9/12) - VS. 49ers - To get where I think they can go this year the Hawks have to split with most of the NFC West and sweep the Rams. Not impossible. The job starts in week 1 against SF. Alex Smith will be the opposing QB. Matt will want revenge for the back injury last year. New coach. New atmosphere. New vibe to the team. But most importantly the game is at home. I've got this as a win.

Wk 2 (9/19) - @ Denver - Here's what the Bronco's are bringing to the table in Week 2. No Brandon Marshall. No Sheffler. No Dumervil. A dinged up Moreno. A dinged up Buckhalter. No Lendale White. Lastly...an idiot for a Head Coach. Hawks go 2 - 0.

Wk 3 (9/26) - VS. San Diego - I've got this as a loss for Seattle but I'm going to tell you why they could win this game. Defensively we won't have to worry about Vincent Jackson (even if he isn't holding out) because he'll be suspended for this game. Merriman may still be holding out at this point. And there's no guarantee that the rookie RB out of Fresno is going to strike fear in the hearts of our D. Seattle could win this one and it wouldn't really surprise me. Still, for the sake of this post, let's call it a loss.

Wk 4 (10/3) - @ St. Louis - Win. Nuff Said

Wk 5 10/10 - Bye

Wk 6 (10/17) - @ Chicago - I'm calling this a win. Some non Hawk fans (and probably even some Hawk fans will think I'm crazy. They'll have 2 weeks to prepare, and the game will mean something because they'll be 3 - 1 at the time (possibly even 4 - 0). The guys on last years team will remember how the refs swindled the game away from them and will want payback. And then there's Cutler. In his 3 years as a Pro, he's compiled 58 Int's. I'm not sayin...I'm just sayin.

Wk 7 (10/24) - VS. Arizona - The Hawks have to split with the NFC West. Matt Leinart should still be under center at this point. In fact this may be his make or break game. The 12th Man will break him. Period. For the record this puts the Home Town 53 at 5 - 1.

Wk 8 (10/31) - @ Oakland - I know its Halloween and all but it's time to break out the old Raider Buster t-shirts. Welcome to 6 - 1 Hawks fans!

Wk 9 (11/7) - VS. NYG - I'm pretty "bullish" on the G-Men this year so I'm having a tough time calling this one a win. They are a big physical team and the biggest thing we have going for us is that the game is here in Seattle. We had to get our 2nd loss eventually and this is the beginning of what could be a tough 3 game stretch.

Wk 10 (11/14) - @ Zona - I called for a split so I'm going to give this game to the Cards. But I'm not impressed with what they have going on down there and this is a very winnable game.

Wk 11 (11/21) - @ N'Oleans - In my minds eye, I see this game resembling the one they played in Houston last year. Realistically I think its a loss for Seattle. But...but...but...what if the Saints were looking ahead to their Turkey Day game in Dallas? What if we went into this game thinking its the S-Bowl Champs and we need to make a statement. It could happen. I don't think it will but...

Wk 12 (11/28) - VS. Kansas City - If you're coming off of a 3 game skid and you need to get healthy quick...give the Chiefs a call and ask them to come visit. This is a game that is more than just winnable. This is a game that we should make a statement to the rest of the league with. If you're keeping count with me this would put the Hawks at 7 - 5.

Wk 13 (12/5) - VS. Carolina - The last time either of these teams were close to greatness was 2005. I was at that game and they made the Panther's look silly, and made Jake Delhomme look like, well, Jake Delhomme. Since then, Carolina has moved forward to the Matt Moore era. But let's be honest people. HE COULDN'T BEAT OUT DELHOMME. Whatever! Leave this one to the fans guys. We'll welcome Matt or Jimmy, or whoever it is that is under center that game.

Wk 14 (12/12) - @ 49ers - At this point we're 8 - 4 and headed to the Bay area in what could end up being a Sunday Night Flex game. Right now it's scheduled for 1:05 but it could be for 1st place in the NFC West so they may move us to prime time. I think we will win this game but since I called for a split I'm going to give it to the Niners and say we're 8 - 5 because I don't think its going to matter.

Wk 15 (12/19) - VS. Atlanta - The Falcons will have to travel across the country and face THE LOUDEST CROWD IN THE NFL PERIOD. I think this is a win. But I'm going to tally it as the 6th loss because I think it makes the drama for the final 2 weeks that much more interesting. Also I believe that this is a game that the Falcons will have to win if they want to make the playoffs. Simply put. They will need this game more than we will.

Wk 16 (12/26) - @ Tampa - I like Tampa a lot. I've never lived there and Seattle will always be #1 but my dad grew up in Florida and this was his team. If you have parents that are football fans you'll know that their team is your team no matter how much you love another. So long as they aren't playing Seattle that is. The Admiral gives excellent b-day gifts but last years gift was the Hawk/Buc game and watching us lose was torture. This year we get payback!

Wk 17 (1/2) - VS. St. Louis - Last game of the year. It could be for the division. But here's the good news. Zona plays the Niners this week. We play the Rams. At home. The first formula for making the playoffs is easy. Win Your Division. And according to my math, a win this week against the lowly "lambs" will put us at 10 - 6.

These are just my thoughts. What do you guys think?