Despite COVID-19 putting a halt to all major sporting events around the country, the NFL is continuing to plow on as scheduled, hoping they will be able to operate on time when the season rolls around.
They managed to hold the NFL draft virtually, and have now released the 2020 NFL schedule as well – a schedule that certainly could face some changes, depending on the response of COVID-19 during the summer, and the effectiveness of each state’s stay at home orders.
Regardless, the Seahawks have a new slate of 16 games to look forward to starting in September, and here are three key storylines for fans to look out for as the season draws closer.
Seahawks host Tom Brady-less Patriots in home opener
The Seahawks will hit the road in Week 1 to face the Falcons in Atlanta, their first of four 10:00 a.m. kickoffs this season.
After that, they’ll head home to host the New England Patriots, who will be without Tom Brady for the first time since the 2000 season.
Bill Belichick is still in the fold, but it is unclear who will be under center for the Patriots in the post-Brady era, now that he has signed with Tampa Bay for at least one more season.
Whether it’s Jarrett Stidham or another acquisition – such as Cam Newton or Jameis Winston – New England will face Seattle’s rebuilt defense that includes Quinton Dunbar, Quandre Diggs and Shaquill Griffin in the secondary as well as Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright and newcomer Jordyn Brooks at linebacker.
Whether Seattle’s defensive line looks different by then remains to be seen, but seeing New England without Brady will be must-watch TV across the NFL.
Seahawks host both New York teams in early December
The Seahawks have plenty of trips out east this year, but they won’t be making it to the Big Apple in 2020.
Instead, both the Giants and the Jets will be headed out to the Pacific Northwest, facing the Seahawks in back-to-back weeks on 12/6 and 12/13, respectively.
The Jets last played in Seattle in 2012, a game the Seahawks won 28-7. The last time these two teams played each other was in 2016, when Seattle went on the road and won 27-17, giving them an 11-8 lead in the series.
It will also be a homecoming for tackle George Fant, who signed a three-year deal with New York early in the offseason after spending his entire NFL career up to that point with the Seahawks.
The Giants were in Seattle more recently, getting beat 38-17 back in 2014. Seattle was there in 2017, earning a 24-7 victory.
Seahawks play San Francisco to finish regular season…..again
This time, however, the game will be played in Santa Clara as opposed to the friendly confines of CenturyLink Field (although who knows if/when fans will be in the seats).
Last year, the Seahawks had their two regular season matchups with San Francisco late in the year, and they were each incredibly hard-fought battles. Seattle won on the road in Week 10, 27-24, after going into overtime in a thrilling contest.
San Francisco evened things up with a win in Seattle in Week 17, 26-21, which happened thanks to a drive that fell just short of the end zone in the closing seconds.
This year, Seattle will host San Francisco in Week 8 on November 1, before seeing them on the road in the regular-season finale, a game that could once again have massive playoff implications if the two teams play as well as they did last year.
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