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August 7, 2009www.rentonreporter.com8 Seahawks

wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Will the quarterback be past-his-prime Daunte Culpepper or too-young Matthew Sta� ord? Does it matter?

Johnson provides a matchup problem for the Seahawks because he’s big, but the Lions don’t have a great o� ensive line to give the quarterback time to � nd him.

Detroit doesn’t have much on defense, except ex-Seahawk Julian Peterson.

Verdict - Seahawks wins fairly easily. I’d expect the noisy crowd to make things nearly impossible for Sta� ord if he were to start. Record - 5-3

Week 10 at Arizona Cardinals� e Cardinals might � nd things a little

bit easier in their home stadium this time around.

Verdict - Arizona gets revenge with a win. Record - 5-4

Week 11 at Minnesota Vikings� e strength of the Vikings should be in

stopping the run and running with Adrian Peterson.

Quarterback remains a big question, so the team could struggle with balance again.

� e Seahawks won’t � nd much room to run with no speed threat and the Vikings stacked inside on the defensive line. Has-selbeck should be able to throw in this secondary, though.

Verdict - Peterson will likely have a big

day but the Seahawks overcome to ge the win. Record - 6-4

Week 12 at St. Louis Rams� e Rams will be better at this point in

the season, but not enough to take out the Seahawks.

Verdict - Seattle takes another from the Rams. Record - 7-4

Week 13 vs. San Francisco 49ers� is team is a bit of a wildcard. If Frank

Gore can stay healthy, Shaun Hill or Alex Smith steps up to be a starter, or Crabtree becomes an impact receiver the o� ense

could be good.� e defense, behind Patrick Willis, could

improve rapidly.Verdict - � e 49ers give the Seahawks a

scare at home, but it’s not quite enough. Record - 8-4

Week 14 at Houston Texans� e Texans’ o� ense has a chance to

be very good. Houston’s pair of 6-foot-3 receivers (Andre Johnson and Kevin Wal-ter) could pose big problems for Seattle’s smaller secondary.

Look for speedy defensive end Mario Williams to � nd Hasselbeck once or twice.

Verdict - � e matchups aren’t good for Seattle and Houston wins. Record - 8-5

Week 15 vs. Tampa Bay BuccaneersI think the loss of linebacker Derrick

Brooks will hurt this team a lot. He was the leader for a long time.

� e o� ense has good weapons with Kel-len Winslow, Antonio Bryant and Derrick Ward, but who will throw the ball?

Verdict - � e Seahawks should be able to take this one. Record - 9-5

Week 16 at Green Bay PackersWith Aaron Rodgers being a bit more

comfortable in his second full season as a starter, I expect the Packers’ passing game to be strong.

� e defense is hard to read at this point because it largely depends on how Aaron Kampman transitions from defensive end to linebacker. He has totaled 37 sacks in the past three seasons, but he will be dropping back into coverage much more.

Verdict - � e Packers hold down home-� eld advantage in a low-scoring game. Record - 9-6

Week 17 vs. Tennessee TitansBefore the the season starts, this looks

like your classic speed/� nesse team against the powerful Titans. Tennessee will once again be running a lot with speedy Chris Johnson and he� y LenDale White.

� e Titan defense makes it a long day for Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett, while Hasselbeck doesn’t have quite enough to overcome a slow running game.

Verdict - Tennessee takes the game, but don’t worry: Seattle makes the playo� s! Record - 9-7

The Seahawks o� ense runs through a play in at a spring practice. Tight end John Carlson, who led the team in receptions last season, moves in motion before the snap. ADAM MCFADDEN, Renton Reporter

Will the Seahawks return to the playoffs?[ PREDICTIONS from page 4 ]