Seattle Seahawks schedule 2020: 3 Toughest, 3 easiest games
By Samuel Teets
The Seattle Seahawks benefit from facing the AFC East and NFC East in 2020, but that doesn’t mean their schedule is a cakewalk.
The Seattle Seahawks finished the 2019 regular season with an 11-5 record. The team’s 2020 schedule involves playing the NFC East and AFC East, two of the weakest divisions in football.
A 12-4 record is within possibility for Seattle, but the team faces several hurdles this coming season. Specifically, a handful of matchups put the Seahawks at a disadvantage.
Let’s look at the toughest and easiest matchup on Seattle’s schedule for the 2020 season.
Toughest Game No. 3: Dallas Cowboys, Week 3
Dallas is one of the most hit-or-miss teams in the NFL. With respect to the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings, this third spot came down to Dallas and Philadelphia. However, the Cowboys could prove a tougher matchup because Seattle already defeated Philadelphia twice last season. In comparison, the last time the Cowboys and Seahawks met Dallas eliminated Seattle from the Wild Card Round.
The Cowboys beefed up their offense this offseason. The team added CeeDee Lamb to a receiving corps that already featured Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. Assuming Dak Prescott signs the franchise tag and reports for Dallas, he’ll join Ezekiel Elliott and one of the best offenses in the NFL. While Shaquill Griffin might cancel out one of Dallas’ wide receivers, that leaves two other playmakers matched up against the weaker corners in Seattle’s secondary.
The matchup against Dallas could turn into a shootout. While the Cowboys possess the offensive firepower to blow the game open, Seattle can respond in kind. The Seahawks can match Dallas’ running game with Chris Carson and an offensive line assembled for their run-blocking prowess. Also, the Seahawks can torch Dallas’ crippled cornerback corps.
Easiest Game No. 3: New York Giants, Week 13
While Saquon Barkley is a real problem when he’s running well, Daniel Jones looks exploitable. The young quarterback committed 23 total turnovers last season, including 11 lost fumbles. New York continued addressing its offensive line with the addition of Andrew Thomas in the draft, but that alone can’t fix Jones’ fumbling problems. He’s a turnover machine.
New York also lacks a true No. 1 receiving threat. Darius Slayton led the team in receiving yards last season, but he hardly screams Pro Bowl potential. Frankly, Barkley coming out of the backfield or Evan Engram could provide worse matchups than New York’s wide receivers. The Giants lack the weapons to take advantage of Seattle’s middle of the pack secondary.
On the other hand, New York’s defense remains vulnerable. The additions of James Bradberry, Blake Martinez and Xavier McKinney might plug some holes, but no one in New York’s secondary can run with Tyler Lockett or D.K. Metcalf. Seattle’s tight ends should also feast on New York’s linebackers, who struggle in pass coverage.