Seattle Seahawks Face Critical Week 11 Battle With Kansas City Chiefs
Nearly a month ago, the Seattle Seahawks found themselves at the unfathomable record of 3-3. The defending champions had matched their total losses of their Super Bowl campaign in just their sixth game of the season and surprisingly dealt Percy Harvin away to the New York Jets just a few days before they faced the St. Louis Rams. On top of that, injuries and talks of trouble inside the locker room continued to mount.
But talks of a troubled locker room were fabricated — Harvin incidents aside — and the Hawks continued to believe in each other. I discussed how vital the next four games were for the Hawks, and nearly a month later, Seattle finds themselves at 6-3 with the crucial fourth game against the 6-3 Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Most people are referring to the Seahawks’ remaining schedule as a gauntlet. After the game against the Chiefs, the Hawks have two games remaining against the 5-4 San Francisco 49ers and the NFL-leading 8-1 Arizona Cardinals, with a game on the road against the 7-2 Philadelphia Eagles before they close out at home against the 3-6 Rams. It is the most difficult stretch for any team in the NFL.
The Chiefs, however, are in similar territory as the Seahawks. Like Seattle, Kansas City got off to a rocky start, but they have reeled off four victories in a row and now find themselves at 6-3 with a tough schedule of their own.
Both teams certainly face a gauntlet, but if you ask me, this is a game that will, for better or for worse, position the teams for the gauntlet that lies ahead. This is as close as the NFL can get to an actual MLB style consolation game with the present playoff structure. For whatever reason, 7-3 seems a thousand miles ahead of 6-4. Both teams know this, and both teams will do whatever it takes to win.
But only one will likely be the victor, because a tie is a rare event and one best left avoided. The Seahawks must find a way to march into Arrowhead, one of the most difficult environments to play in, and come out with a “W.” They must force the Chiefs, a team that doesn’t turnover the ball very often, to cough it up. Marshawn Lynch must get his touches, and Russell Wilson has to be at his best.
It’s easier said than done, but impossible? No. Come Sunday, the Hawks need to leave at 7-3 because the NFC West-leading Cardinals, who will either be 9-1 or 8-2, must deal with the Clink the following week, where you can be sure that the 12th Man will make it as difficult as they possibly can for Arizona.
Tyson Sweet is a sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @The12thDude, like him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google!
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