The Richard Sherman-Julio Jones matchup is the one everyone will be keeping an eye on. (We hope Kris Richard learned a lesson from last time.)
Gene Steratore, who tries not to get in the way, will ref the game. He was the ref for the excellent Seahawks-Patriots game earlier this season.
Jones will be curious to find out how Steratore’s crew plans to call the game.
C.J. Prosise is unlikely to return or this game.
Will the Seahawks use Jimmy Graham in the red zone more in this game?
A year ago at this time, the Seahawks were getting ready for a wild-card playoff game against an NFC North team they had helped build. They ended up escaping frigid Minnesota with a lucky win over the Vikings and Teddy Bridgewater, the quarterback Seattle enabled Minnesota to draft in 2014.
Now, here the Hawks are in the wild-card round again, about to face another NFC North team, and personnel ties loom large yet again.
As the Hawks prepare to host the Detroit Lions in the first playoff game between the teams, two of the big storylines involve Golden Tate and Cliff Avril going against their former teams. But the personnel links are deeper than that.
Since coming to Seattle in 2010, John Schneider has done more business with Detroit than with any other team. Of his 42 trades, seven have been with the Lions. And two of them helped create the Legion of Boom.
Five things the Seahawks need to change vs. Detroit and beyond, per Dave Boling.
A detailed look at the matchup, which seems to favor the Seahawks unless Detroit wins big on special teams.
A look at the key figures for the Lions.
Russell Wilson says he is feeling fast and might get rid of the knee brace.
Tony McDaniel won’t play due to a concussion suffered vs. the 49ers.
The Legion of Boom has spearheaded one of the great defenses in NFL history, but it’s fair to wonder how much longer the trio of Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor will remain together.
The crew has turned into the Legion of Drama over the past year. Last season, Chancellor created a big stir with a holdout that messed up the defense, and Thomas played tentatively for half the season as he returned from a bad shoulder injury.
The drama has continued this year, with Thomas injured again and talking retirement, Chancellor missing more time with injuries and Sherman sounding off every week about something.
Jon Ryan is off the injury report, meaning he figures to play vs. Arizona.
Michael Bennett and Seattle’s pass rush could have a good day vs. Arizona.
The Seahawks are aiming for the fourth perfect home season in their history.
What has happened to the Cardinals this season?
Bennett was fined for his “three pumps” dance.
Pete Carroll was surprised Richard Sherman showed no contrition publicly about his outburst last week.
What’s up with Sherman? Plus other Week 16 questions.
Cliff Avril made the Pro Bowl for the first time, alongside Bobby Wagner, Michael Bennett and Richard Sherman.
Sherman’s sideline rant from the last game is still a big topic, which Sherman doesn’t like.
Darrell Bevell said he and Sherman have talked and are in “a good place.”
Earl Thomas reiterates he has not ruled out retirement.
Pete Carroll has never been much of a disciplinarian. He’s a free spirit who encourages the same in his players.
It’s partly why his team is always at the top of the league in penalties. It’s also why his players feel free to express themselves — even if they make Carroll look like a fool.
They certainly did Thursday night in a division-clinching 24-3 win over the Rams.
The Hawks committed 13 penalties — 10 of them mental errors that reflected that well-documented lack of discipline. And Richard Sherman went off on his coaches again.
If the Seahawks had been playing almost anyone other than the Rams and rookie QB Jared Goff, Seattle might have lost that game.
The Seahawks are NFC West champs, but are they good enough to be any more than that?
It was a night of redemption for Russell Wilson.
Michael Bennett felt fine after wrenching his neck on a hellish hit.
Jon Ryan was taken to the hospital after suffering a concussion during a crazy run off a fake punt.
Bennett and the defensive line had a feeding frenzy against rookie QB Jared Goff.
The Seahawks are confident they will not repeat the disaster in Green Bay. Said Doug Baldwin: “It’s easier for us to get past, because we know that’s not normal.”
John Fassel and the Rams are trying to regroup after Jeff Fisher was fired.
Pete Carroll repeats the obvious: No, he is not interested in coaching the Rams.
Richard Sherman calls Thursday games a “poopfest” — and his graphic point is valid.
The Hawks are mostly healthy (not counting Earl Thomas, of course).
Don’t believe an emotional tweet: Earl Thomas is not going to retire.
The 27-year-old All-Pro safety was just upset about the broken leg that ended his season.
“When you get injured, it becomes very emotional,” said Kam Chancellor, who provided the friendly fire that sidelined Thomas during Seattle’s 40-7 win over Carolina. “Sometimes you say things you might not mean. Sometimes you say things you might mean. It’s one of those things you just have to let him sit back and breathe, let him sit back and go through his process.”
CHAWK TALK: Everything being said about the Seahawks 