Holmgren announced before the 2008 season that he wouldn't be back to coach the Seahawks in 2009, but Seattle was favored to win its fifth NFC West title in a row last year and send Holmgren out in style.

Instead, Seattle plummeted to 4-12 as injuries devastated the team, especially at receiver. QB Matt Hasselbeck also succumbed to injuries and was terrible when he did play, leading to thoughts the team would grab Mark Sanchez in the 2009 draft. Instead Seattle opted for Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry to help fix a defense that was nearly as bad as the 30th-ranked offense.

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The good news for Hasselbeck and that offense is that the QB has reached the Pro Bowl in the past three odd-numbered years. And if that back problem is healed, maybe he'll make it four if helped by the additions of WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Edgerrin James, who will spell Julius Jones. Maybe if WRs Deion Branch and Nate Burleson stay healthy this year, the offense will return to a top-10 unit.

But already the offensive line, which was awful last year, is having injury issues. Center Chris Spencer will miss at least a month with a torn thigh muscle, meaning he's out for the first two regular-season games minimum. Perhaps of greater concern is tackle Walter Jones, a nine-time Pro Bowler.  The 35-year-old had his second knee surgery in eight months recently and is likely out at least six weeks – with some reports speculating it could be a season-ending injury. And finally, starting left guard Mike Wahle was released at the start of training camp after the two-time Pro Bowler failed a physical after shoulder surgery.

Does this all sound like déjà vu?

The strength of the defense will definitely be at linebacker despite the trade of Julian Peterson, the team's only Pro Bowler in 2008, to Detroit for defensive end Cory Redding. The starters will be Lofa Tatupu, Leroy Hill and the rookie Curry. It's a nice place to start.

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Here is the Seahawks' 2009 schedule, and we'll break it down after:
Sept. 13 vs. St. Louis Rams, 4:15 p.m.
Sept. 20 at San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m.
Sept. 27 vs. Chicago Bears, 4:05 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m.
Oct. 11 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 4:15 p.m.
Oct. 18 vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m.
Week 7: Bye
Nov. 1 at Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m.
Nov. 8 vs. Detroit Lions, 4:05 p.m.
Nov. 15 at Arizona Cardinals, 4:15 p.m.
Nov. 22 at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m.
Nov. 29 at St. Louis Rams, 1 p.m.
Dec. 6 vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:15 p.m.
Dec. 13 at Houston Texans, 1 p.m.
Dec. 20 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:15 p.m.
Dec. 27 at Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m.
Jan. 3 vs. Tennessee Titans, 4:15 p.m.

Strength of schedule: 24th (opponents combined to go 117-139, .457, in 2008)
Projected record: 7-9
Bodog over/under total: 8
Bodog odds to win NFC West: 7/4
Bodog odds to win NFC: 18/1
Bodog odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: 40/1

So will this team return to the top of the division? Doubt it. Losing Jones and Spencer almost assures a 1-2 start in September. An opening-week road loss in Buffalo seemed to wreck Seattle's karma last year, but the Seahawks get a layup this time with a home game against the awful Rams. In fact, the Seahawks have the benefit of two games against St. Louis and one against 0-16 Detroit. That better be three wins. Don't rule out a win at San Francisco in Week 2, as Seattle has won five of six there, including last year.

Frankly, we might really know if this team is back in that Oct. 18 game against defending division champ Arizona. The Cards swept this series in 2008, but a Seattle win there heading into the bye could do wonders.

Seattle needs to be over .500 come that bye week, because the second half of the schedule is much tougher, starting with four of the team's first five games coming on the road following the off week. The Dec. 13 visit to Houston is Seattle's first to that city since 1994. And it might be a little chilly for that late December game at Lambeau Field.

Overall, the Seahawks are scheduled for six games at 10 a.m. Pacific time, which you know has to affect the players. On the bright side, the team doesn't have to travel all the way to the East Coast this year. And the franchise won't have to worry about any prime-time games for the first time since 1983 – unless the late-season flexible-scheduling changes that. It’s only the sixth time overall that Seattle didn't get a prime-time game.

New Seattle coach Jim Mora turned a 5-11 Falcons team into a division winner in his first season there. That won't happen in the Pacific Northwest.

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Edgerrin James is Seattle’s latest aging star running back, less than a year and half after Shaun Alexander was booted out of town.

The league’s leading active rusher signed a one-year contract with the Seahawks on Tuesday night. The team is hopeful he can help revive a rushing offense that has been generally quiet since 2006, when Alexander was the NFL MVP and Seattle was in its only Super Bowl.

The Chiefs have also added two new blockers leading up to this week's game.

Andy Alleman and Ikechuku Ndukwe were in uniform and sweating through Tuesday’s morning practice, just a day after the Chiefs sent Miami an undisclosed 2010 draft pick for them.

Todd Haley said he expects them both to compete for starting positions and to play Saturday against Seattle.

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The Seahawks go into this one listed as 3-point home favorites.

Matt Hasselbeck saw limited action for Seattle in his first game back following an injury-riddled 2008-09 season. Hasselbeck threw just five passes for 27 yards in a 20-14 win at San Diego.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught one pass for five yards. The Seahawks found out this week that offensive lineman Walter Jones may miss the entire 2009-10 season after having his second knee surgery in eight months.

Orton tossed three interceptions in his first game with Denver, finishing with 89 yards on 9-of-16 passing in a 17-16 loss to San Francisco.

Chris Simms had a much better night, throwing for 142 yards and two touchdowns on 11-of-17 passing.

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This is the first chance for Seahawk fans to see T.J. Houshmandzadah in game action. Again, as a starter, he won’t be seeing much action, so tune in early.

Now if you are a Chargers fan who lives in San Diego, you will be out of luck altogether. The Chargers say their exhibition opener against the Seahawks will be blacked out on local TV.

The game will be blacked out within a 75-mile radius of the stadium.

That is really too bad considering running back LaDainian Tomlinson has said he wants to play this preseason for the first time since the 2005 campaign.

Seahawks head coach Jim Mora hasn't yet decided how much he will play recently signed LB Aaron Curry in the team's preseason opener.

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New offensive coordinator Greg Knapp needs to change the pass-first mentality the Seahawks had under Mike Holmgren for 11 seasons as he installs a pounding running game. It would help to find a blocker to replace FB Leonard Weaver, who signed with Philadelphia.

Matt Hasselbeck, who turns 34 in September, must prove his back really is as healthy as he says while coming off his worst season since he became Seattle’s starter in 2001.

Rookies report to camp July 30, with veterans reporting July 31. The first day of camp is July 31.

The Seahawks are listed at +4500 to win the Super Bowl this season.

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Even if Arizona is locked in at No. 4 at game time, this is a team that has lost four of its last five games in rather ugly fashion, none uglier than last week’s 47-7 thrashing at the hands of the Patriots. A stronger effort is required this week to set the tone for the playoffs.

Seattle might have spoiler intentions, but the Seahawks had their moment in the sun (or at least, in the snow) last week with a win at home over the Jets (-3.5). Get NFL betting in the Bodog Sportsbook.

Matt Hasselbeck will likely miss his eighth game Sunday for the Seahawks, who are coming off a big win at St. Louis, snapping a six-game losing streak.

The Seahawks have lost five straight at home since a 37-13 win over the Rams on Sept. 21 – their lone home win this season.

The Jets are going for their sixth straight victory against Seattle, where they haven't played since a 41-3 win on Aug. 31, 1997.

This week the Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks, another club that does not exactly light it up on offense. The Seahawks are ranked 25th in the NFL in total points and a large part of that is not having Matt Hasselbeck under center.

Hasselbeck has now missed six games this season with a bad back and will not practice on Wednesday.
The Rams are 1-5 ATS in their last six games overall, while the Seahawks are 1-4 ATS in their last five games on turf. We have all your NFL football odds in the Bodog Sportsbook.

The 5-point favored Patriots are now tied with Miami for second place in the AFC East, trailing the New York Jets by one game in the division and Indianapolis and Baltimore by a game each in the race for the AFC's wild card spots.

The defensive unit has struggled the past few weeks, as New England has given up an average of 31.7 points in the last three games, losing two of them.

Seattle has already lost five in a row for the first time since 2000, and it hasn't lost six straight since 1994. They are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six home games. NFL odds? We've got 'em!

Now they have to try and bounce back from a tough loss to Dallas on Sunday. The good news is they will be lining up against a very weak Seattle Seahawks team that has little to play for other than pride.

Clinton Portis, the NFL’s No. 2 rusher with 1,063 yards, is getting better every day and should get a lot more touches than he did against the Cowboys. That is good news since the Redskins will be going up against a rush defense that is only ranked No. 21 in the NFL.

Seattle, who has lost six of their last seven games, now have to change their focus from winning the division to playing spoiler. Get your NFL picks in the Bodog Sportsbook.