Can the Seahawks turn it around? Here's one smart guy who thinks they will

SEATTLE – Instead of a bye week, they should probably call it a wild-speculation week.

With no game to focus on, Seattle Seahawks fans have spent their time trying to figure out the One Big Question: Is this team going to pull it together in the second half and make the playoffs?

Well, one guy whose opinion is probably somewhat more valid than the average sports-talk-radio caller seems to think they’re going to be just fine. Gil Brandt, the former vice president of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys, listed the Seahawks as the “playoff bubble” team most likely to find its way into the playoffs.

“They might be in third place right now, but I think the Seahawks have a good shot to challenge the Arizona Cardinals for the NFC West title,” Brandt wrote on NFL.com. “Five of their last eight games will be at home, and they should be able to win most of those, if not all five.”

In addition to a relatively soft schedule, Brandt thinks the Seahawks will benefit from an improving offensive line; the consistency of Russell Wilson; and a second-half surge from Jimmy Graham.

The 4-4 Seahawks, of course, return to action with a crucial Sunday Night Football game against the NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals (6-2) on Nov. 15 at CenturyLink Field.