O’Neil: Table set for NFC West-leading Seahawks to gain full head of steam

The Seahawks survived the toughest stretch of their schedule and a rash of injuries that started in the secondary and spread to the running backs.

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Will the Seahawks thrive now that they’re getting healthier and the schedule is getting easier? Each of the Seahawks’ past five opponents had a winning record. Three of those games were on the road. Seattle won’t play a team with a winning record in any of the next four games starting with tonight’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles (3-6-1).

Can Seattle beat the teams it should?

Because they should beat the Eagles. Seattle’s secondary remains suspect, but Philadelphia has one of the least potent passing offenses in the league. They’ve committed 20 turnovers, more than all but two teams in the league, and the fact that there won’t be fans attending the Monday night game will save Carson Wentz from hearing Philly’s notoriously demanding fans explain exactly how little they think of his performance this season.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks are coming off their best overall defensive performance of the season, they’ve had 10 days since their last game and they’re getting three starters back in running back Chris Carson, center Ethan Pocic and cornerback Shaquill Griffin.

They went through the most difficult part of the schedule, a five-game stretch that began with Seattle’s defense getting dragged around the field like tin cans tied to the rear bumper of a car being driven away by newlyweds. The Cardinals racked up 37 points in an overtime game on Oct. 25. The Bills scored 44 points two weeks later, the most ever allowed by the Seahawks during Pete Carroll’s tenure. When the Rams scored on each of their first three possessions the following week to take a 10-point lead midway through the second quarter, it sure seemed like Seattle had hit a breaking point.

But then something unexpected happened. Seattle’s defense found its footing. The Rams scored on only one of their final six possessions in that game, and while Seattle couldn’t come back and win that game, the defense remained steady last week against Arizona, holding the Cardinals to a season-low in both yards and points in a 28-21 win.

Is Seattle’s defense actually getting better? We’ll see against Philadelphia. This game isn’t a test for the Seahawks so much as an opportunity to start building some momentum heading into this final month of the season. None of Seattle’s next four opponents has more than four victories. One of those opponents – the Jets – are the only winless team in the league. These next four opponents have a combined record of 11-31-1.

The table is set for Seattle to get a full head of steam entering that Week 16 game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Not only did the Rams (7-4) lose to San Francisco on Sunday with quarterback Jared Goff committing four turnovers in the first half for the second time this season, but Los Angeles still has to play Arizona twice more this season.

The Seahawks – on the other hand – have survived the toughest turns on their schedule. Now, they should be ready to thrive.

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