RENTON — The Seattle Seahawks resumed practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Monday, rested and rejuvenated following their Week 5 bye.
And it’s a good thing they’re refreshed. Their 2016 schedule starts for real this weekend.
The Seahawks were back at it Monday, and they said they’re ready to hit the upcoming difficult stretch of their schedule head on.
“It seems like everything’s worked out great,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said of the bye week. “Guys came back charged up like you’d think they would, ready to go. We really are hoping to take advantage of the break with some guys getting better. A lot of guys practiced today, there was a lot of spirit and guys were cranked up and ready to get going again.”
The Seahawks are in good shape from a health standpoint following the bye. Carroll said quarterback Russell Wilson, who’s been playing with a sprained right ankle and sprained left knee, “looked normal” during practice Monday. Carroll said receiver Tyler Lockett, who’s been limited because of a knee issue, is feeling a lot better. Defensive tackle Jarran Reed (hip) and running back C.J. Prosise (wrist) also could be back this week. The only players on the 53-man roster who won’t be available for certain are running back Thomas Rawls (fibula) and defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (wrist), and Jefferson is thought to be just a week away after undergoing surgery.
But Seattle needs all hands on deck as the schedule gets more challenging beginning this week.
While the Seahawks are 3-1 and sit atop the NFC West standings, they have yet to be tested by a top team. The only team Seattle has faced that has a winning record is the 3-2 Los Angeles Rams, and the Seahawks lost that encounter. The three teams Seattle beat — the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets — have a combined record of 3-12 and a combined point differential of minus-104. According to FootballOutsiders.com, the Seahawks have had the lowest strength of schedule so far this season.
That all changes beginning this week.
First up is the Atlanta Falcons, who visit CenturyLink Field on Sunday. Atlanta, coached by former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, is one of the surprise packages of the NFL season so far, as they are 4-1 and lead the NFC South. The Falcons have earned their record, too, as the past two weeks they knocked off each of the participants in last season’s Super Bowl, beating the Carolina Panthers 48-33 at home on Oct. 2, then knocking off the Denver Broncos 23-16 Sunday in Denver.
“They’re on fire,” Carroll said. “This is a high-flying team right now. They’re on it. They had to endure some issues, too. Guys were getting banged up and they overcame that.”
What’s carried the Falcons is their offense. Quarterback Matt Ryan is leading the NFL in passing yards and passer rating, while receiver Julio Jones became just the sixth player in NFL history to accumulate 300 yards receiving in a game on Oct. 3 against Carolina. Going into Monday night’s game, Atlanta led the league in both points per game (35.0) and yards per game (457.4).
“It’s a great challenge,” Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett said. “I think Matt Ryan’s a great quarterback, Julio Jones is a great receiver, and I know how Dan Quinn’s mind is. He definitely has that team being real tough. … I just think they have so many great weapons and they’re using them in a special way.”
It doesn’t get much easier for the Seahawks after that as the following week Seattle travels to face the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona may not have gotten off to the start it wants at 2-3, and the Cardinals have questions at quarterback with Carson Palmer sitting out the past week because of a concussion. But Arizona is still considered the biggest threat to the Seahawks in the NFC West race, and the Cardinals likely will view that as a must-win game for their hopes at winning the division championship.
Those two games begin a six-week stretch against opponents who have a combined record of 17-11. That includes a daunting Week 10 road game against the 4-1 New England Patriots, as well as a Week 11 home game against the surprising 3-1 Philadelphia Eagles.
Extra points
The Falcons have taken the unusual step of spending the entire week in the opposition’s city. Atlanta traveled straight to Seattle following its victory in Denver on Sunday and will spend the week practicing at the University of Washington. The decision was made to avoid having to make the long flight west twice in consecutive weeks. Has Carroll ever had his team spend a week away for a road game before? “Yeah, at bowl games,” Carroll responded. “Other than that, no. We’ve learned to travel and we’re OK about it. I think the familiarity of home and just staying here for us has worked out best over the years.”
For more on the Seattle sports scene, check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at www.heraldnet.com/tag/seattle-sidelines, or follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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