NFL: Analyzing the 2012 Schedule for the Seattle Seahawks

The 2012-13 schedule for the NFL has been released.

While the official week-by-week listing won't be available until the end of the month, home and away matchups are known and ready for analysis.

Here, you will find a complete breakdown and analysis of each team's matches, including their divisional games, their home and away games and the three most exciting matchups that the 2012 schedule has thrown up.

In 2011, the Seattle Seahawks finished third in the NFC West, losing their last two to finish with a 7-9 record for the season. Their lack of a strong passing attack was nullified to some extent by the dominance of Marshawn Lynch as well as their defense, which ranked top 15 against both the pass and the run.

Will they improve on their record and challenge again in the NFC? Let's take a look.

Divisional games

Once again, we'll start with the divisional matchups for the Seahawks who play the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams all twice throughout the year.  Last year saw the Seahawks go 3-3 for their division, but they really weren't that far away from making it 4-2 or even 5-1.

Against the 49ers, they were comprehensively beaten away in round one, but went down by just two points when the two played later in the season. They wiped the floor with the hapless St. Louis Rams twice, and against the Cardinals, they won the first and lost the second by just three points.

I'm not saying that the Seahawks are going to be the NFL championship threats, nor am I saying that they will win the division. What I am stating is that they will be stronger in 2012 than they were in 2011.

Tavaris Jackson will benefit from another year in the league, and Marshawn Lynch will continue to dominate the backfield for Seattle. Add to that mix some improvements from their draft picks, and it's not unreasonable to state that the Seahawks can be a divisional threat this year.

Again, they will sweep the Rams 2-0, who won't be a threat for the next few years, or at least until the plethora of draft picks they received for Robert Griffin III start to develop.

The Seahawks will struggle to take down Arizona on the road, and they will definitely struggle to do the same against San Francisco. However, they have the ability to win against each of these teams when playing on their turf, and as a result, will finish with a 4-2 divisional record for the 2012 season.

Home games

In addition to playing three divisional matches at home, the Seattle Seahawks also welcome two teams from the NFC North, two from the AFC East and one from the NFC East.

And at first glance, it's not good. From the NFC North, the Seahawks welcome championship favorites Green Bay Packers, who will be out to avenge their disappointing end to the 2011 season. Chalk up that one as a loss.

They also play host to the Minnesota Vikings, who will be boosted by an offensive line that actually gives Christian Ponder some time to throw the football. And even with Adrian Peterson coming against them, Seattle's defense should do enough to contain the dominant running back and mediocre quarterback.

The New England Patriots also come to town in 2012, just to add to the list of teams that want revenge. Tom Brady and his merry men will have their way with the Seattle secondary, and could finish up with a basketball score.

As for the New York Jets, well it's a tough one to predict. With Peyton Manning, they're a tough team to beat. Without him however, the Jets won't be able to take down the Seahawks at home. New York was atrocious on the road last year, and will not be able to match it with an improved Seattle unit.

Rounding out the home games for the Seahawks is the Philadelphia Eagles, who will be desperate to make amends for the anti-climax that last season was.  They simply have to be better than in 2011, and Vick and his boys could do some damage in 2012. The Eagles won more games away from home than they did at home last year, and will be just too much for Seattle in this one.

So with losses to the Packers, Patriots and the Eagles, and a couple of maybes in there, it's not going to be all fun and games at home this year for Seattle. Still, their defense will keep them in games, and as a result, they will emerge with a 5-3 home record for the year.

Away games

It's not often that you can look at a home schedule and then look at an away schedule and come to the conclusion that the latter is the easier, but that's exactly what the Seattle Seahawks have in 2012.

Note though, that easier schedule doesn't necessarily mean more wins; it means that the games are easier. There is a huge difference, as we shall soon see.

As already stated, their divisional matches are likely to yield a 1-2 record, with their lone win coming over the St. Louis Rams.

They will travel to Ford Field to take on Detroit Lions in a match they will not win. So make that 1-3.

They may however, have an outside chance against the Chicago Bears, who were crippled by injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte in 2011. Their defense must step up big-time, and Jackson must have the game of his life if they are to win. I think they will be closer than most people suggest, but will fall late to the abilities of Matt Forte.

They then take on the easier half of the AFC East in the Bills and the Dolphins—the latter of which may have Peyton Manning in their lineup. Without Manning, the Dolphins will go down at home to the Seahawks, whose defense will handle the 23rd ranked passing offense.

Buffalo as well may a match with some upset potential. This was after all the side that ranked in the bottom five of the league for run defense and that is not good enough to cut it against #BeastMode. I'd say the Seahawks get up here as well.

Their final away match is a tough encounter against the Carolina Panthers, who will be a tougher side to take down at home. Cam Newton continues to be a revelation, and his deep ball could cause some havoc against Seattle. If the Seahawks can find the offense to match Cam, then they will stick with them, largely because of Carolina's miserable defense.

Still won't be enough though, and the Seahawks will end up with a 3-5 road record from 2012.

Three games to watch

No. 1 — Seattle Seahawks against Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton could give Tarvaris Jackson a footballing lesson in this one, or the Seattle defense could give the Panthers defense some helpful pointers as to how to stop the football. If I was going to take an upset for the year, this could be the one for Seattle.

No. 2 — Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals

This match was the final match of 2011, and it finished with a Cardinals victory thanks to a spectacular grab from Larry Fitzgerald late in the match. And whilst neither may have much to play for again this year, these two teams are developing a healthy divisional rivalry that will see them go hard all match.

No. 3 — New York Jets at Seattle Seahawks

It's a tough one this one, because the storyline will completely difference once we know the Peyton Manning situation and whether he ends up at the Jets. Either way, New York is a beatable team on the road, especially if you can strangle their offense like the Seahawks defense can. The only question remains as to whether Seattle's offense has enough to get over the line, but they are definitely in with a chance here.

Overall

Seattle finished with a 7-9 record in 2011, and weren't close to nabbing a wildcard spot.

In 2012, they will be stronger at home, but continue to lose the close games that ultimately, will cost them their wildcard chances in 2012. The San Francisco 49ers will win the division, and whilst making a late run, the Seahawks will end up left with nothing but a nice, middle of the range draft pick.

I say they go 8-8, with a small possibility of finishing 9-7, but they will take second spot in the NFC West.

For analysis on other NFC West teams:

Click here for San Francisco 49ers

Click here for Arizona Cardinals

Click here for St. Louis Rams

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