Seahawks Vs. Cardinals 2012: Field Gulls Reacts

The Seahawks lost a tough one. But Field Gulls expects games like these moving forward. Not so much the losing part, but the gritty, defensive-minded matchup. Field Gulls sees the NFC West turning into a division where everybody beats up on everybody instead of one or two teams beating up on the others.

The 49ers sport arguably the best defense in the NFL. The Rams have an up-and-coming defensive unit, proven by them stifling an explosive Lions' offense on Sunday. And the Seahawks saw first-hand how good the Cardinals' defensive unit can be.

So moving forward, Field Gulls sees a need for improvement in a few offensive areas in order for the Seahawks to continue to play against these formidable defensive units.

First and foremost, the offensive line needs to improve its protection of quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson is already rookie but he's a short one at that. Standing 5-foot-11, Wilson needs lanes to see downfield, a la Drew Brees. Wilson needs that same type of protection and the Seahawks were unable to do that in allowing three sacks, seven quarterback hits and three tackles for a loss.

Russell Wilson will need to improve in his own right down the road but it starts with his protection. Wilson looked like a rookie in his first NFL regular season start. Field Gulls can forgive him for that. But he still needs to improve.

Head over to Field Gulls for all of your Seahawks coverage in Week 1 and all season long.

Russell Okung Injury: Major Knee Injury Avoided, According To Report

Seattle Seahawks left tackle Russell Okung has reportedly dodged a bullet with the knee injury he suffered in Sunday's loss to the Arizona Cardinals, according Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.

La Canfora is reporting that Okung's ailment is merely a bone bruise with no ligament damage, which should be music to Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson's ears. While injuries of this nature can be quite painful, it appears likely that Okung will be ready to protect to rookie signal caller's blindside from DeMarcus Ware next weekend against the Dallas Cowboys at home.

Okung went down on Seattle's final drive of the game against Arizona and didn't return after limping off the field.

Frank Omiyale is expected to start for the Seahawks if Okung is somehow unable to go, as the eight-year journeyman is listed as the primary backup for both tackle positions.

For more Okung injury updates and continued coverage of Seahawks football, head on over to Field Gulls.

Seahawks Injury Update: Russell Okung Hurt Again

The Seattle Seahawks offensive line might have suffered a significant loss when tackle Russell Okung went down late in the game. Okung suffered a leg injury and limped off the field.

The Okung injury was originally believed to be an ankle issue, but has now apparently become a knee problem, according to Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times. Head coach Pete Carroll remains mum on the severity of the injury but there should be an update Monday from team headquarters in Renton, Wash.

#Seahawks OL Russell Okung injured his knee, not his ankle. No word from Pete Carroll on severity.

— Danny O'Neil (@dannyoneil) September 10, 2012

This is Okung's third significant injury in his short career. Okung had ankle injuries in 2010, then tore his pectoral muscle near the end of the 2011 season and was placed on injured reserve. Okung's backup at offensive tackle is Frank Omiyale, as he's listed as the primary backup at tackle on either side of the line. Omiyale was signed by the Seahawks this offseason after being released by the Chicago Bears.

Talk about the Okung injury with Seahawks fans by going over to Field Gulls. Hit up the SB Nation NFL hub to find all your comprehensive pro football coverage.

Seahawks Vs. Cardinals Final Score: Russell Wilson And Seattle Come Up Short, Losing 20-16

An Andre Roberts touchdown from Kevin Kolb with just under five minutes to play spoiled the Seahawks' season opener, as the Arizona Cardinals escaped with a 20-16 win Sunday in Glendale, Ariz.

The Seahawks started off their scoring with a Steven Hauschka field goal, coming off a Ryan Williams fumble in Arizona territory. The field goal was set up by a Russell Wilson 11-yard connection to Sidney Rice and a Marshawn Lynch 10-yard gain.

Seattle's defense then conceded a 75-yard drive to Arizona's John Skelton that resulted in a Jay Feely chip-shot field goal to tie the game. Arizona drove down the field again to make it 10-3, thanks to Skelton completing four passes for 50 yards and Larod Stephens-Howling punching it in from one yard out.

In the second half, Wilson lost the ball on a fumble and set up another Feely field goal, but then the Seahawks finally marched down the field thanks to a Leon Washington 83-yard kickoff return. Wilson then found Rice for a 10-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 13-10. Richard Sherman then picked off a Skelton throw to set up Hauschka for a 47-yard field goal to tie the game at 13.

In the fourth, it was Washington with another huge play, returning a punt for 52 yards, and then Hauschka put the Seahawks in front 16-13 with a 39-yard field goal. But after Skelton got hurt, Kevin Kolb marched Arizona back down the field on an 80-yard drive, finding Andre Roberts to give Arizona the lead, 20-16. Wilson then drove Seattle back into the Arizona red zone and had multiple chances to capitalize, but came up short on all occasions, throwing five incompletions in the red zone as Seattle's receivers dropped multiple passes.

Talk about the result with Seahawks fans by going to Field Gulls, and talk about the result with Cardinals fans by going to Revenge of the Birds. Hit up the SB Nation NFL hub for more comprehensive pro football coverage.

Seahawks Vs. Cardinals Score: 3rd Quarter Update

The Seattle Seahawks found themselves an offense. Well, maybe not, but they found a defense and special teams that made things easy on the offense and that helped get them back even with the Arizona Cardinals, 13-13, at the end of the third quarter. A Cardinals field goal early in the quarter put them up 13-3, but the Seahawks ran off 10 unanswered points and are now all even.

After the Cardinals' field goal, Leon Washington had a big 83-yard return that gave the Seahawks great field position at the 24. Four plays later, they were at the 10 -- and that's when Russell Wilson found Sidney Rice in the endzone for his first career touchdown pass.

Things got even better for Seattle when Richard Sherman intercepted Arizona's very first play of the next drive. That set up a Steven Hauschka 47-yard field goal attempt, which he drilled to tie the game at 13 apiece.

The Seahawks still have some work to do offensively, but their defense is finding a groove. Heading into the final 15 minutes, they are even during a road game. Things could be worse.

Head over to Field Gulls for all of your Seahawks coverage in Week 1 and all season long.

Seahawks Vs. Cardinals Score: Halftime Update

The Seattle Seahawks' early dominance faded quickly and as they head to the locker room at halftime, they find themselves trailing the Arizona Cardinals 10-3. The Seahawks struck first, picking up a field goal and they also had another field goal blocked, but the offense has been M.I.A. ever since, while the Cardinals started to find a groove late in the half.

Seattle's first drive went 45 yards, but the field goal attempt at the end of it was blocked. A Brandon Mebane fumble recovery got the ball back, though, and set Steven Hauschka up for another field goal try, which he nailed.

But after both teams struggled to look like professional football teams for a while, it was all Cardinals. They drove 75 yards on 13 plays to get to the Seahawks' three late in the first quarter and while they couldn't punch it in, they did tie it with a field goal.

Arizona's next drive saw them go 58 yards, the last one coming on a Larod Stephens-Howling touchdown plunge that put them up 10-3. All the while, the Seakhawks' offense failed to impress.

Pete Carroll is doing his best to protect his rookie quarterback Russell Wilson, who has been okay in his first game. Before an interception on a late heave before halftime, he was 6-10 for 59 yards, but he hasn't been many opportunities to throw downfield. Marshawn Lynch has done the bulk of the offensive work, carrying 10 times for 40 yards.

The Seahawks are going to have to find a way to slow down John Skelton, who is 11-17 for 124 yards and began to find holes in the Seattle defense late. He hasn't been able to get Larry Fitzgerald involved as the Seahawks have limited him to two catches, but Early Doucet and Andre Roberts each have three receptions.

Head over to Field of Gulls for everything Seahawks as they try to start off the season with a win.

Seahawks Vs. Cardinals Score: 1st Quarter Update

After 15 minutes, the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals are right where they started the game -- tied. The Seahawks had the better of the early play, but some miscues limited them to just a field goal. The Cardinals answered that with one of their own late in the quarter to tie the game at 3-3.

The Seahawks looked good early on, driving down and getting into field goal range, but they came up empty. The Cardinals just barely got a hand to Steven Hauschka's kick and, as a result, it came up short.

Hauschka got another attempt minutes later after Brandon Mebane jumped on a Ryan Williams fumble and got Seattle the ball in Arizona territory. The Seahawks couldn't convert it into six, but they did get Hauschka another field goal try, which he nailed to go up 3-0.

Arizona finally mustered some offense on their final play of the quarter and, on the back of John Skelton, they drove right down the field. The Cardinals got the ball inside the 10 and, with the way they were moving it, a touchdown seemed inevitable. But the Seahawks' defense came up big with their backs up against their own goal line. Arizona had to settle for a field goal and the game was tied.

There was some concern about how the rookie Russell Wilson would look in his first game, but he hasn't gotten many opportunities to shine or fall. He's attempted just four passes, completing two of them for 10 yards. Marshawn Lynch is off to a good start with 17 yards on four carries and the defense has done well to limit Larry Fitzgerald to just one catch for three yards.

Head over to Field Gulls for more on the Seahawks here in Week 1 and all season long.

Seahawks Vs. Cardinals Injury Report: Seattle, Arizona Inactive Lists

The Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals are set to face off at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. at 1:25 PT.

Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is active and will be the starter after entering today's contest as a game-time decision. A complete list of inactives for Seattle is below.

• Wide receiver Golden Tate
• Running back Kregg Lumpkin
• Cornerback Byron Maxwell
• Defensive lineman Greg Scruggs
• Guard John Moffitt
• Guard James Carpenter
• Defensive lineman Jaye Howard

Meanwhile, Cardinals beat writer Kent Somers tweeted out a list of inactives for Arizona.

Cardinals inactives: Lindley, Byrd, Toler, Powell, Westerman, Kelemete, Ohrnberger

— Kent Somers (@kentsomers) September 9, 2012

Been a mistake on inactives: Ohrnberger is active, McQuistan is not. Makes more sense since Ohrnberger is the backup C/G. #azcards

— Kent Somers (@kentsomers) September 9, 2012

Braylon Edwards will replace the injured Golden Tate as the other starting wide receiver alongside Sidney Rice for the Seahawks.

For more Seahawks coverage, check out Field Gulls. For more Cardinals action, check out Revenge of the Birds.

NFL Odds: Seahawks Favored Vs. Cardinals

The Seattle Seahawks' trip to Phoenix to take on the Arizona Cardinals looks to be one of the closest matchups of the NFL's opening weekend, at least according to Las Vegas, where books are giving the Seahawks a slight edge over Arizona.

In an early NFC West matchup, the meeting opened with the Cardinals as early one-point favorites, but as the game kicks off, the Seahawks are favored by three points at Bovada, Sportsbook.com and TopBet. Seattle claims a slightly smaller edge at 5Dimes, where they're playing at a 2.5-point advantage for the 1:15 p.m. game kickoff.

Much of the lead up to the season opening meeting has focused on the Seahawks, who will start rookie quarterback Russell Wilson. Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch's availability also likely played with the line on the game. According to multiple reports, Lynch will be available on the day, but his touches will be limited as he deals with back spasms.

For more Seahawks coverage, check out Field Gulls. For more Cardinals action, check out Revenge of the Birds.

Seahawks Vs. Cardinals Injury Report: Marshawn Lynch Expected To Play

With a rookie quarterback in Russell Wilson getting his first start, the Seattle Seahawks will look for balance from their running game, and the news early Sunday is that running back Marshawn Lynch will be available during the Seahawks opening game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Concerns had lingered about Lynch's back spasms along with the NFL's decision making in regards to Lynch's offseason DUI arrest — for which Lynch will not be suspended until the legal case has run its course, according to CBS Sports.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is also reporting that the Seahawks will be mindful of the touches they give their running back on Sunday against the Cardinals, as workload with back problems can be a major concern.

Last season, Lynch rushed for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns on 285 carries. The sixth-year running back also contributed 212 yards receiving and scored a touchdown through the air in 2011.

For more Seattle Seahawks coverage, check out Field Gulls.

Seahawks Vs. Cardinals: Game Time, TV Schedule, Injury Updates And More

The Seattle Seahawks will open their 2012 season on the road when they travel to Arizona to face the Cardinals.

Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson will make his first regular season start for the Seahawks. Wilson completed 63.5 percent of his passes during the preseason and will now attempt to carry that success into the regular season. The rookie from Wisconsin beat out Matt Flynn for the starting job during training camp.

Whether or not Wilson will be able to hand the ball off to Marshawn Lynch remains unknown. Lynch, who is dealing with back spasms, is listed as questionable for the season opener. He did, however, participate in practice on both Thursday and Friday.

While it's still unknown if Lynch will play, Seattle will for sure be without Golden Tate, Greg Scruggs and James Carpenter. All three players were listed as "Out" on Friday's injury report. With Tate out, Braylon Edwards will start at wide receiver for the Seahawks.

Sunday's game is scheduled to begin at 1:25 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on FOX. Seattle enters the game as 1-point underdogs, according to OddsShark.com.

For more on the Seahawks, head over to Field Gulls. For more on the league in general, please make sure to head over to SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.

Seahawks Vs. Cardinals: Gametime, TV Schedule, Radio Info

The Seattle Seahawks open the 2012 NFL season on the road, facing off against the Arizona Cardinals. They may be missing the talents of Marshawn Lynch, but there's a lot of potential in a connection between rookie quarterback Russell Wilson and veteran wide receiver Braylon Edwards. Wilson will be aided by a limited playbook designed to make the most of his first start while minimizing mistakes. The matchup is a tight one, with most oddsmakers favoring Seattle by three points.

Game Time: 1:25 p.m. PT
Television Coverage: FOX
Radio Coverage: 710 AM ESPN Seattle and 97.3 KIRO FM

Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage of Seattle vs. Arizona from Week 1. For all things Seahawks, check out Field Gulls. For perspective from the Arizona Cardinals side, check out Revenge of the Birds. SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub is your source for coverage of all 32 teams from across the league, and don't miss SB Nation on YouTube:

Seahawks Vs. Cardinals: Pete Carroll Announces Braylon Edward Will Start Week One

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll announced Friday afternoon that Braylon Edwards will start at wide receiver Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, according to ESPN's Liz Matthews.

Carroll called Edwards' play "a great surprise for us" after the 29-year-old receiver hauled in three catches for 83 yards and one touchdown this preseason.

Edwards is replacing Golden Tate in the starting lineup with Tate's knee causing him to miss at least one game. If Edwards shows some early chemistry with rookie quarterback Russell Wilson though, the job could be his to keep as the Seahawks are sorely lacking a vertical threat.

Edwards is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career after he only caught 15 passes for 181 yards in nine games with the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers eventually released the up-and-down wide receiver after he re-injured his knee and required a second surgery.

For more information on Seattle Seahawks football and all your up to the minute coverage, head on over to Field Gulls.

Seahawks Injury Report: Marshawn Lynch Questionable For Week 1

The Seattle Seahawks do not yet know if Marshawn Lynch will be available for Week 1 of the NFL regular season when they take on the Arizona Cardinals. Lynch continues to remain questionable on the injury report despite working out two days in a row. Lynch was limited yesterday and participated in the workout session today.

Leon Washington and Robert Turbin are next in line on the depth chart at running back. Lynch hasn't played since the second preseason game.

There are other Seahawks with injuries worth mentioning (hat-tip to Curtis Crabtree for compiling them). Backup quarterback Matt Flynn was limited by a sore elbow but should be able to play if needed on Sunday. Wide receiver Golden Tate and defensive end Greg Scruggs aren't playing, nor is offensive guard James Carpenter. Seahawkscoach Pete Carroll indicated that Tate could play next week. Cornerback Byron Maxwell is a game-time decision.

Talk about Lynch with Seahawks fans by heading on over to Field Gulls. Hit up the SB Nation NFL hub for more comprehensive pro football coverage.

Super Serious Seahawks Stories: Richard Sherman Almost Moonwalks Out of A Job

It's rarely reported, but one simple misunderstanding nearly sabotaged Richard Sherman's budding career.

NFL Odds, Seahawks Vs. Cardinals: Seattle Holds Slight Edge

As the Seattle Seahawks prepare to head south to take on the Arizona Cardinals, betters around the globe prepare for their first weekend of NFL action, hoping to score it big.

This matchup is being viewed as a tight one by the oddsmakers as the spread opened up at 1 with the Cardinals as the favorites. It has moved slightly, with most betting sites now picking the Seahawks as the favorites, with the spread pushed back to around 2.5 or 3.

The over/under sits around 41 points, with the folks over at oddsshark placing a 68 percent chance that the Seahawks will cover.

For more discussion and analysis of the Seattle Seahawks, make sure that you check out Field Gulls. Cardinals fan? We have you covered over at Revenge of the Birds. For more on the league in general, please make sure to head over to SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.

Seahawks Vs. Cardinals: Russell Wilson Gets Limited Playbook For First Start

The Seattle Seahawks plan to streamline their playbook this week to specific plays geared toward the Arizona Cardinals, something that should help rookie quarterback Russell Wilson in his first-ever NFL start, according to a report in The News Tribune.

Without the entire playbook at his disposal, Wilson should benefit, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said.

"Obviously he doesn't have the whole playbook at his disposal," Bevell told The News Tribune. "There's specific things that we're trying to do this week. So in how we handle them in kind of dialed down a little bit. There's some little more specific things for him.

"I definitely think it helps. He can't get just any call out of the playbook. Now these are the selected ones that we've said we've liked to go with. And they're all plays that he can execute, and all plays that we've done at some point somehow during the preseason, because we need to put him in a position to be successful."

For more on the Cardinals, head over to Revenge of the Birds. For more on the Seahawks, check out Field Gulls.

NFL Power Rankings: Thoughts On Seahawks Vary

Entering their Week 1 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, thoughts on just how good the Seattle Seahawks will be this season vary depending on who you ask. With Week 1 power rankings out from most major media outlets, the Seahawks are ranked as low as 20th and as high as 12th by CBSSports, ESPN, NFL.com and Sports Illustrated.

The Seahawks are ranked the highest by Sports Illustrated, which places them as the league's 12th-best team, just below the Denver Broncos and one spot ahead of the Detroit Lions.

"Preseason results can be entirely meaningless, but I don't think that's the case with Seattle's 4-0 August," SI's Don Banks wrote. "The Seahawks created some good mojo in their favor last month and there will be a carryover effect. Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson makes the offense much more explosive, and Seattle's talented young defense is ready to emerge as one of the best in the league at taking the ball away."

Seattle's lowest ranking comes from CBSSports.com and ESPN, both of which put the Seahawks at No. 20.

"They will start rookie Russell Wilson, which could be a boom-or-bust move," Pete Prisco of CBSSports wrote. "If it hits, they will push for the division title."

Lastly, NFL.com ranks the Seahawks as the league's 15th-best team, one-spot below the Cincinnati Bengals and right above the Dallas Cowboys.

For more on the Seahawks, make sure to check out Field Gulls.

Why Russell Wilson's Attitude & Work Ethic Will Aid Him In Arizona

NFL Picks Week 1: Seahawks Vs. Cardinals

The Seattle Seahawks are getting ready for their Week 1 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, and NFL experts are liking Seattle's chances in their season-opening matchup.

CBS Sports football experts have a lot of hope in the Seahawks as all but two experts selected Seattle. Only one of those was an actual person, as Pete Prisco and the prediction machine took the Cards here.

Over at ESPN, 13 of their 14 NFL experts selected the Cardinals to win this matchup. The lone Arizona holdout was Ron Jaworski.

Over at Walter Football, the Cardinals are the predicted winners by the score of 17-16, though 77 percent of Vegas bets have been on Seattle so far in this game.

For more in depth discussion and top notch analysis of the Arizona Cardinals make sure that you check out Revenge of the Birds. Seahawks fan? Don't worry, we've got you covered over at Field Gulls. For more on the league in general, please make your way over to SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.

Week 1 NFL Odds: Seahawks Vs. Cardinals

The Seattle Seahawks are listed as 3-point underdogs for their season-opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, according to OddsShark. The line opened with Pete Carroll's squad favored by a point, but a banged up backfield and the team announcing a rookie quarterback as their starter might have caused the shift. The over/under for the game is set at 40.5.

The Seahawks will begin the 2012 season with rookie signal-caller Russell Wilson under center. The team signed Matt Flynn to a three-year, $10 million guaranteed deal this offseason and expected him to battle Tavaris Jackson for the starting job, but the emergence of Wilson in the preseason has pushed Flynn to a backup role.

Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch could miss Sunday's game with back spasms, which would be a massive blow to a team who led all NFL teams in rushing yards during the preseason. Rookie Robert Turbin could see the bulk of the action in Lynch's stead.

The Cardinals had a bit of a quarterback controversy of their own, as they were the last team to make an announcement on their starting quarterback for the season opener. John Skelton had a rough preseason, completing 50 percent of his passes, but nudged out Kevin Kolb for the starting job.

For more on the Seattle Seahawks, join the discussion over at Field Gulls. You can also check out everything we have to offer at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Golden Tate Injury: Seahawks WR's Status Still Uncertain

With Golden Tate potentially missing Sunday's season opener against the Arizona Cardinals because of a knee injury, it will be Braylon Edwards stepping into the starting role for the Seattle Seahawks. Pete Carroll told the Seattle media that Tate suffered a right knee sprain last Thursday in the Seahawks 21-3 victory over the Oakland Raiders.

Carroll said WR Golden Tate has a sprained knee from the Oakland game. WR Braylon Edwards will work at his spot if he can't go.

— Curtis Crabtree (@Curtis_Crabtree) September 5, 2012

The Seattle Times reports that Tate could be out for around two weeks.

Entering his third season with Seattle, Tate has 56 receptions for 609 yards. In 2011, he caught 35 balls for 382 yards and three touchdowns.

Edwards, in his eighth season out of Michigan, could use the opportunity presented by Tate's injury. He's coming off perhaps the worst season of his career. In his first season with the San Francisco 49ers, Edwards only had 15 receptions for 181 yards while playing in nine games.

Check out Field Gulls for more on the Seahawks or take a peek at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Kellen Winslow Fails Physical, Not Signed By Patriots

The Seattle Seahawks might not have been wrong to waive Kellen Winslow, because it looks as if the New England Patriots don't like what they see either. Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com reports that Patriots have signed a tight end to their roster, but it's Michael Hoomanawanui, who used to play under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

What was the big problem? Mary Paoletti of CSN New England informs us via sources that Winslow failed his physical because of issues with his knee. The knee issues are probably a part of the reason the Seahawks parted ways with Winslow last weekend.

The Seahawks let go of Winslow despite talk Seattle was going to incorporate him heavily into their two tight end sets on offense. It looks as if Zach Miller will have to be the primary option, with Evan Moore and Anthony McCoy likely to jostle for position as well.

Talk about Winslow with Patriots fans at Pats Pulpit, and with Seahawks fans at Field Gulls.

Marshawn Lynch Injury: Seahawks RB Day-To-Day

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is unofficially listed as day-to-day for the Week 1 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, coach Pete Carroll told the media on Wednesday. He added that Lynch, who is suffering from back spasms, participated in the Seahawks' morning walkthrough but a decision about playing on Sunday won't be made until later this week.

However, Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said that he's prepping his Cardinals for Lynch.

Per The News Tribune:

"I expect him to play," Whisenhunt said, when asked if he was preparing for Seattle's offense any different because Lynch's back spasms might keep him out of the game. "It's not affecting our preparation. We're preparing that he's going to play."

Lynch has been dealing with back spasms throughout the preseason. Leon Washington and Robert Turbin are the likely candidates to take Lynch's snaps if he is sidelined.

Check out Field Gulls for more on the Seattle Seahawks or head over to SB Nation's NFL hub.

J.R. Sweezy To Start At RG For Seahawks

Rookie J.R. Sweezy will get the start at right guard for the Seattle Seahawks, head coach Pete Carroll told the media on Wednesday.

"J.R. earned it. He did it the old fashioned way," Carroll said. "Right now it's a pretty good unit on the right side."

— Curtis Crabtree (@Curtis_Crabtree) September 5, 2012

The context of the "old fashioned way" Carroll describes is a story in itself. Sweezy, a seventh round draft pick out of North Carolina State, was converted from a defensive lineman to an offensive lineman by offensive line coach Tom Cable. At 6'5, 298 pounds, Sweezy's defensive background and skill set bring something new to the Seahawks offensive line that will be charged with protecting rookie quarterback Russell Wilson against the Arizona Cardinals defense in Week 1.

The decision to start the rookie might have been a long time coming. When asked on Twitter in August if there was one surprise player in camp going under the radar, Carroll listed Sweezy.

Check out Field Gulls for more on the Seattle Seahawks or check out SB Nation's NFL hub.

NFL Power Rankings: NFP Has Seattle At #18 In NFL

The Seattle Seahawks are starting to become a most interesting pick around the league to make noise this season. But to start off the year they are still ranked below many other teams in the general NFL power rankings.

The Seahawks manage to get an 18th ranking at the National Football Post, as teams are looking to see what Russell Wilson is capable of. That isn't quite so bad compared to some of the other teams in the NFC West: The Arizona Cardinals are 27th due to their lack of stability at the quarterback position. The St. Louis Rams are even worse, stuck at 29th despite the arrival of new head coach Jeff Fisher.

If the Seahawks are expected to win the division though, they have a tall task ahead of them. Standing on top of the NFC West is the San Francisco 49ers, and the initial power rankings of NFP have them ranked 6th overall. It'll take some monumental efforts to displace them.

Talk about the power rankings for the Seahawks by heading on over to Field Gulls. Hit up the SB Nation NFL hub for more coverage of pro football.

Seahawks Vs. Cardinals: Ken Whisenhunt On Gameplanning For Russell Wilson

With the start of the Seattle Seahawks season just days away, final preparations for their matchup with the Arizona Cardinals are taking shape. But the same is true for their opponent, as the Cards are looking to hold down the fort at University of Phoenix Stadium come Sunday.

Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt knows he will have his hands full come Sunday, and went on the radio with XTRA Sports in Phoenix with Bickley and MJ to discuss how his team is preparing, as well as how he is getting ready for the challenges presented by Russell Wilson and the rest of Pete Carroll's squad.

Here is what coach Whisenhunt had to say about the Seahawks' young quarterback:

What kind of challenges does Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson present as you get ready for Week 1?:

"In evaluating him coming out, he's a very productive college quarterback that you can see has the ability to make some plays. I think the thing that you have to be aware of with him, he's thrown the ball very well in the preseason, but he's also made a lot of plays with his feet. It's going to require, much like when we faced Cam Newton last year, we've got to be disciplined in our pass lanes, we've got to make sure we protect against that and we've got to be good in coverage. ... It'll be an interesting matchup."

If Wilson is truly cut from the same cloth as Cam Newton or a young Michael Vick, the Cardinals defense will be in for a long day. Should be interesting to see how Wilson handles his first regular season start under center.

For more on the Seattle Seahawks, please check out Field Gulls. For more on the NFL in general, make sure that you make your way over to SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.

Seahawks Picked To Finish 2nd In NFC West By CBS' Clark Judge

The years of the NFC West putting a .500 team in the playoffs came to a crashing halt after the San Francisco 49ers' 2011-12 campaign, and now it's anyone's guess who will take the division title in 2012-13.

CBS Sports' Clark Judge is one of those people making the guesses, and sees the Seattle Seahawks finishing in second place in the division behind the 49ers once again.

Judge is basis his analysis on the roster, to which the Seahawks are good but not great. Here is some commentary from Judge:

Nothing against Russell Wilson, but the odds are against you, young man.

The odds are against the rest of the division, too, for one simple reason: Nobody has the players San Francisco does. I'll make the argument that nobody in this division has the quarterback, either. Yeah, I know, Sam Bradford could be special, but Alex Smith was vastly better last year -- and he should be vastly better this season than the Alex Smith of 2011.

Having a rookie quarterback, no matter the rookie, will always leave some doubt. They are, after all, an unknown commodity. Nothing changed much for San Francisco during the offseason, and after being oh so close last year will be even hungrier to make it to the Super Bowl this year.

Bottom line: This is the 49ers' division to win. They have the talent. They have the coaching. And they have the motivation. Neither Smith nor the defense kept these guys from last year's Super Bowls. Two muffed punts did. The 49ers are determined to prove that what you saw last year is what you'll get again.

With the success of the team balancing on the fulcrum of a rookie QB, it's hard to say they are favorites to win a division. Nevertheless, the Seahawks could be the exception.

For more in depth discussion and top notch analysis of the Seattle Seahawks, make sure to check out Field Gulls. For more on the league in general, please head on over to SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.

Kellen Winslow Gets Physical For Patriots In Preparation To Sign, Per Report

It appears that tight end Kellen Winslow was not out of a job for long. He is getting a physical from the New England Patriots on Wednesday, signaling a likely signing according to CSN New England's Mary Paoletti on Twitter.

Nothing is official, though the Patriots will likely place Visanthe Shiancoe on injured reserve, which means that they are still looking for depth at tight end behind Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski.

Winslow, a nine-year veteran out of the University of Miami, was acquired by the Seahawks this offseason via a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (which, as it turns out, ends up costing the Seahawks nothing, as the compensation was dependent upon Winslow making the roster). However, it did not work out after he refused a pay restructure. He has 437 career catches for 4,836 yards and 23 touchdowns.

For more on the Seattle Seahawks, make sure to check out Field Gulls. For more on the Patriots, head over to Pats Pulpit. For more on the NFL in general, please check out SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.

Seahawks Injury Report: Marshawn Lynch, Golden Tate Out Of Practice

The Seattle Seahawks are just days away from their season-opening game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, and two of their most important offensive stars have not been at practice.

Marshawn Lynch, Seattle's feature back, has been struggling with back spasms for most of the preseason. His status is not clear for Week 1, and Robert Turbin may be asked to bear Lynch's heavy workload. Lynch carried the ball 285 times while rushing for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2011, his best season as a pro.

The Seahawks are certain to be without one of their top playmakers on the outside, as Golden Tate has not been practicing after suffering a right knee injury in the final preseason game against the Oakland Raiders. Tate is expected to miss two weeks.

It's not all bad news this week on the injury front, as last year's first-round pick, guard James Carpenter, has returned to practice after missing 10 months with an ACL injury. Carpenter started the first nine games as a rookie in 2011 before suffering the severe setback.

For more on the Seahawks, be sure to check out Field Gulls and stick with SB Nation Seattle.

NFL Schedule 2012, Week 1: Seahawks Visit Cardinals, Giants Host Cowboys

The 2012 NFL schedule kicks off this week, and the Seahawks will start their campaign at the same place they ended 2011. Seattle will visit the Arizona Cardinals in a battle of division rivals at 1:25 p.m. PT on Sunday.

Football fans don't have to wait until Sunday for their first taste of regular-season action, as the Dallas Cowboys take a trip to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Giants Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. on NBC. The defending Super Bowl Champion Giants defeated the Cowboys in both match-ups last season.

Sunday's headlining games include a meeting between two Super Bowl contenders, the 49ers and Packers. The night game showcases star quarterback Peyton Manning's debut with the Broncos, as Denver hosts the Steelers.

Monday night will feature a double-header, with the Bengals at the Ravens at 7:00 p.m. ET followed by the Chargers at Raiders at 10:15 p.m.

Head to SI.com for a complete Week 1 NFL schedule.

For more on the Seahawks, check out Field Gulls and stick with SB Nation Seattle.

Seahawks 8th In NFL Salary Cap Room, Per Report

The Seattle Seahawks are eighth in the NFL considering available salary cap space, according to a breakdown by Pro Football Talk. The team has $13.2 million to spend after accounting for their 51 highest-paid players on the current roster.

Pro Football Talk will throw out a final salary cap ranking when the season officially begins. That will be based upon the full 53-man rosters along with injured reserve lists that will be more set in stone by that time.

For perspective, the Jacksonville Jaguars come in first on the list with $28.7 million in wiggle room. They are followed in order by the Chiefs ($26.6 million), Eagles ($20.2 million), Titans ($17 million) and Bengals ($15.2 million).

At the other side of the spectrum, the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions each have the least bit of spending money with only $2.3 million left in cap space. Up in spending with those teams are the Falcons, who have $3.4 million in cap space, the 49ers ($3.5 million) and the Giants ($3.6 million).

Check out Field Gulls for more on the Seattle Seahawks or take a look at SB Nation's NFL hub.

NFL Odds: Seahawks Favored Vs. Cardinals

The Seattle Seahawks are favored on the road in their season-opening game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Marshawn Lynch Injury: Seahawks Still Uncertain If Feature Back Will Play, Per Report

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is uncertain to play against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday due to back spasms. Lynch has struggled through the preseason with back spasms.

The result of losing the 5'11, 215-pound back puts more pressure on rookie quarterback Russell Wilson, and it bumps veteran back Leon Washington and rookie Robert Turbin up the depth chart. Washington had 53 carries for 248 yards with Seattle last season in a reserve role, and the Seahawks took Turbin in the fourth round to add depth to the running back position.

In a similar build to Lynch, the 5'10, 222-pound Turbin could have the most to gain if Lynch is out. He was taken out of Utah State with the idea he'd give coach Pete Carroll a similarly-styled back when Lynch is off the field. Turbin showed promise with 14 carries for 93 yards in Seattle's preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 24.

Check out Field Gulls for more on the Seattle Seahawks or hit up SB Nation's NFL hub.

Seahawks Picked To Finish 8-8 By Sports Illustrated

The Seattle Seahawks begin the 2012 NFL regular season when they take on the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium at 1:25 p.m. PT Sunday. The Seahawks are expected to improve on their 7-9 record of last year, with an established defense and a revamped offense headed by rookie QB Russell Wilson.

Chris Burke of SI.com took a look at the Seahawks schedule and offered up this prediction:

Predicted record: 8-8. The Seahawks might be one of the NFC's big sleeper teams, and people are rushing to the bandwagon after seeing what Wilson did in the preseason. Seattle's hopes for a return to the postseason may live or die based on its performance in a brutal October. The Seahawks open that month at Carolina, return home to host New England, then hit the road to play San Francisco and Detroit. An 0-4 stretch would effectively end the season for the Seahawks; 2-2 or better would let them dream big.

That four-game stretch in October will tell a lot about the Seahawks and whether or not they can contend for the playoffs. An 8-8 record will most likely not get it done in a tough NFC, so Pete Carroll's squad will have to pull off some unexpected wins if they want to return to the postseason.

For more on the Seahawks, check out Field Gulls and stick with SB Nation Seattle.

Kellen Winslow Trade Costs Seahawks Nothing After All

The Seattle Seahawks will not have to give up a draft pick to the Buccaneers for TE Kellen Winslow.

Golden Tate Injury: Seahawks Receiver Out 'At Least 2 Weeks,' Per Report

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate, who suffered an injury to his right knee in the final preseason game against the Oakland Raiders, will not be ready in time for the season opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Danny O'Neil from the Seattle Times reported Tate was not practicing Monday and has a time table for the playmaker's return:

Tate's status is uncertain, though. Coach Pete Carroll did not answer questions after practice, and NFL teams do not release injury reports until Wednesday when playing on Sunday.

However, a source indicated Friday that Tate likely would be out at least two weeks with the knee injury. Expect Braylon Edwards to get more opportunities were Tate unavailable.

Tate, a third-year player out of Notre Dame, had 35 receptions for 382 yards and three touchdowns in 2011.

For more on the Seahawks, be sure to check out Field Gulls and stick with SB Nation Seattle.

NFL Power Rankings: Seahawks 24th In Latest List

The Seattle Seahawks are ranked 24th in the latest NFL Power Rankings from SB Nation's Joel Thorman. The Seahawks had previously been 22nd in the last edition, which came after the NFL Draft.

Thorman, like most of the NFL world, has praise for Seattle's new starting quarterback:

24. Seattle Seahawks (LW: 22): Russell Wilson is dynamic. I did not expect that. Seattle will challenge San Francisco for the NFC West title.

The 49ers are listed at No. 8 in the rankings. It's interesting that Thorman thinks highly of Wilson, so much so that he decides the Seahawks can challenge for the division, but drops them to No. 24 anyway.

As he does say in the title of the piece, "Your team is probably ranked too low."

The rest of the NFC West is hanging out towards the bottom, with the St. Louis Rams checking in at No. 28 and the Arizona Cardinals at No. 31.

The Seahawks meet the Cardinals to open the regular season on Sunday afternoon in University of Phoenix Stadium.

For more on the Seahawks, check out Field Gulls and stick with SB Nation Seattle.

Seahawks Injury Update: G James Carpenter Returns To Practice

The Seattle Seahawks are preparing for their Week 1 match-up with the Arizona Cardinals, and they got some good news on the injury front Monday as G James Carpenter was taken off the physically unable to perform list and placed on the active roster.

Carpenter returned to practice for the first time in 10 months after tearing his ACL. He spoke about his return, and his move from tackle on Monday, via KJR Seattle:

"I felt great," Carpenter said. "I’ve been waiting for 10 months to be back so I’m happy."

Carpenter was a right tackle when it got injured. Now he's returning as a left guard. It's a fit that Carpenter feels fits him well.

"I’m happy playing guard. I feel like that is where I should be playing," Carpenter said.

The 2011 first-round draft pick out of Alabama started the first nine games for Seattle last season before going down with the injury.

For more on the Seahawks, head to Field Gulls and stick with SB Nation Seattle.

Seahawks' New TE Evan Moore 'Feels Like A Rookie' At First Seattle Practice

The Seattle Seahawks' newest acquisition, tight end Evan Moore, was at practice for the first time at the VMAC on Monday, and it was the end of a hectic few days for the fifth-year veteran. Moore was waived by the Cleveland Browns on Friday, but was signed by the Seahawks on Saturday before flying to Seattle on Sunday.

Moore talked with Seahawks.com about the process of starting out with a new team:

"Considering these guys all just went through camp together, I’m kind of the new guy," he said. "You almost feel like a rookie. You walk in the building and everybody’s looking at you like, ‘Who’s this guy?’

"There is a learning curve, but fortunately there’s a lot of translation between what we did in Cleveland and what we’re doing here – both in terminology and schematically, and X’s and O’s, and all that. I’m fortunate that’s the case."

The 27-year-old out of Stanford was added by the Seahawks after they waived tight end Kellen Winslow. Moore caught 34 passes for 324 yards and four touchdowns in 2011.

For more on the Seahawks, be sure to head to Field Gulls and stick with SB Nation Seattle.

Seattle Seahawks Roster 2012: Field Gulls Reacts

The Seahawks went the inexpensive route in grabbing tight end Evan Moore after the release of Kellen Winslow.

Russell Wilson Looks To Emulate Peyton Manning's Off Field Work Ethic

Seahawks Sign TE Evan Moore

After releasing tight end Kellen Winslow earlier on Saturday, the Seahawks announced the signing of tight end Evan Moore later in the day.

Moore, a veteran entering his fifth year in the NFL after going undrafted out of Stanford in the 2008 NFL Draft, was released by the Browns in final cuts on Friday. Prior to the release, Moore had spent three seasons with the team, appearing in 33 games and starting eight of them. He caught 62 career receptions with the team for 804 yards and five touchdowns.

Danny Kelly of SB Nation's Seahawks blog, Field Gulls, attributes the move to replace Winslow with Moore as one intended to not only save money but provide Seattle with a younger and possibly more athletic tight end:

Evidently, the Seahawks see Moore as a better value, as Winslow was due $3.3 million this year - a number that was set to escalate steeply next year - and the former Brown is a younger and possibly more athletic option.

For more on the Seahawks roster cuts, head over to Field Gulls and stick with this StoryStream.

NFL Cuts: Seahawks Going With Two Quarterbacks This Year

It took a while for the Seattle Seahawks to announce all the players they cut before the 6 p.m. PT deadline to reduce rosters to 53-men.

Perhaps most surprisingly, the Seahawks cut quarterback Josh Portis - meaning the team will only head into the season with rookie starter Russell Wilson and backup Matt Flynn. Much of the Seahawks preseason has been about the quarterback competition, and when Wilson was picked as the starter, the team quickly traded other backup Tarvaris Jackson.

The Seahawks also waived 2012 fifth round pick Korey Toomer. The linebacker out of Idaho was considered a very raw, yet very athletic package that the team hoped to mold into something during the preseason training camp.

The following players were flat out waived: Phillip Adams, Pierre Allen, Allen Bradford, Deon Butler, Kris Durham, Paul Fanaika, Rishaw Johnson, Jermaine Kearse, Kyle Knox, Cordarro Law, Ricardo Lockette, Sean McGrath, Kris O'Dowd, Josh Portis, DeShawn Shead, and Lavasier Tuinei.

Cooper Helfet and Vai Taua were waived due to injuries. James Carpenter has been placed on the active roster PUP list, which possibly means he is closer to returning than previously thought. Matt McCoy was placed on the injured reserve. Walter Thurmond was placed on the PUP list, while Pep Levingson was waived after reaching an injury settlement.

For more on the Seattle Seahawks roster decisions, head over to Field Gulls and join the discussion.

Seahawks Injury Update: Golden Tate, Vai Taua Hurt Vs. Raiders

An injury update on the Seattle Seahawks, in case you like to know those kinds of things.