The Pete Carroll era begins in Seattle after he left a very successful college coaching career at Southern Cal for another shot at the NFL. Carroll has some unfinished business following his first stint as a pro football head coach with the New York Jets and New England Patriots, posting a 33-31 record in four seasons between the teams and a winning record against the NFL line. The guy who immediately followed him in New England just happened to be former Jets defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, who went on to win three Super Bowls with the Patriots. This time around, Carroll inherits a squad that has a unique blend of youth and experience. Five years removed from their one and only Super Bowl appearance, the Seahawks still have veteran QB Matt Hasselbeck leading the offense designed by new offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates, who has been working hard to develop 2009 free-agent WR signee T.J. Houshmandzadeh and former USC great Mike Williams as his top targets.
Odds to win NFC West Division: +300
Odds to win the NFC Conference: 25/1
Seattle Seahawks Odds to win Super Bowl XLV: 60/1
Regular Season Wins Total Line: 7.5
*all odds quoted from Bodog*
Here’s what this year’s schedule looks like for the Seahawks:
Week 1 Sunday, September 12, 2010 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Analysis: Carroll makes his Seattle debut against the team he worked for as defensive coordinator during the 1995-96 seasons before he coached the Patriots.
Week 2 Sunday, September 19, 2010 @ Denver Broncos
Analysis: The Seahawks were blessed with the 30th toughest schedule according to their opponents’ 2009 cumulative records, and their next two road games back this up.
Week 3 Sunday, September 26, 2010 vs. San Diego Chargers
Analysis: Seattle hosts perhaps its most difficult opponent of the season in the Chargers, who were 7-1 on the road last season.
Week 4 Sunday, October 3, 2010 @ St. Louis Rams
Analysis: The Seahawks looked unstoppable in winning their first meeting with the Rams 28-0 last year, but then again 12 other teams probably felt the same way.
Week 5 — BYE WEEK —
Week 6 Sunday, October 17, 2010 @ Chicago Bears
Analysis: Seattle played well against the Bears without Hasselbeck in last year’s meeting, although Jay Cutler won the game on a 36-yard touchdown pass to Devin Hester in the final minutes.
Week 7 Sunday, October 24, 2010 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Analysis: Retired Arizona QB Kurt Warner averaged more than 300 yards passing per game in helping the Cardinals win two meetings with the Seahawks last year, but what will Matt Leinart do against his former coach?
Week 8 Sunday, October 31, 2010 @ Oakland Raiders
Analysis: Carroll’s team makes its first of two trips to the Bay Area in the next seven weeks while Oakland will be coming off back-to-back road games. A perfect NFL picks ats spot to play on the Raiders.
Week 9 Sunday, November 7, 2010 vs. New York Giants
Analysis: The Giants visit Seattle in between two meetings with NFC East rival Dallas and a bye week.
Week 10 Sunday, November 14, 2010 @ Arizona Cardinals
Analysis: The Seahawks start their only stretch of consecutive road games over a period of two weeks when they play the Cardinals for the second time in a month.
Week 11 Sunday, November 21, 2010 @ New Orleans Saints
Analysis: The Saints will be coming off their bye week and play four of their next five games on the road after hosting Seattle.
Week 12 Sunday, November 28, 2010 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Analysis: The Chiefs visit Seattle before playing two straight games against divisional foes Denver and San Diego.
Week 13 Sunday, December 5, 2010 vs. Carolina Panthers
Analysis: The Panthers finish a tough part of their schedule where they play their third road game in four weeks against the Seahawks.
Week 14 Sunday, December 12, 2010 @ San Francisco 49ers
Analysis: The 49ers play their only home game in five weeks against Seattle following trips to Arizona and Green Bay and before heading to San Diego and St. Louis.
Week 15 Sunday, December 19, 2010 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Analysis: The Falcons will be playing their third road game in a row before finishing the regular season at home against New Orleans and Carolina.
Week 16 Sunday, December 26, 2010 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Analysis: The Bucs were just 1-7 at home last year but have another winnable game here against the Seahawks after hosting the Lions the week before.
Week 17 Sunday, January 2, 2011 vs. St. Louis Rams
Analysis: Seattle should be able to wrap up the regular season with a home victory against the Rams, otherwise Carroll might find himself on the hot seat after his first year with the team.
