SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 02: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks runs out of the pocket during the first quarter of the game against the Oakland Raiders at CenturyLink Field on November 2, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Russell Wilson and the 'Hawks offense will face a run of defensive-driven teams over the final seven weeks. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

I’ve been referring to the Seahawks’ second-half schedule as The Gauntlet for the entire season. Why? Because that is exactly what it is. After the New York Giants game Sunday, the Seahawks will play six playoff-caliber teams in seven weeks, four of them on the road. And the one game that is not versus a team slated for the playoffs? The 3-5, but tough, St. Louis Rams who beat Seattle just three weeks ago.

The exact schedule looks like this (current opp. record):

Week 11: @ Kansas City (5-3)

Week 12: vs. Arizona (7-1)

Week 13 [Thu]: @ San Francisco (4-4)

Week 14: @ Philadelphia (6-2)

Week 15: vs. San Francisco (4-4)

Week 16: @ Arizona (7-1)

Week 17: vs. St. Louis (3-5)

That’s a combined current record of 36-20, a .642 winning percentage, and on the road that jumps to 22-10, a winning percentage of .688. Of course, the 49ers haven’t been the same team as a year ago but that’s reflected in their .500 record, and perhaps the Seahawks are catching a bit of a break with the Eagles having lost Nick Foles for up to two months.

The Niners, though, expect to be closer to full strength on defense as Aldon Smith comes off suspension next week and both Navarro Bowman and Patrick Willis are expected to return in the next few weeks, too. They’re not going to get worse adding that kind of talent, despite their issues being mostly on the offensive side of the ball.

The Seahawks’ schedule up to now hasn’t exactly been easy, however. Thus far, Seattle has played Green Bay (now 5-3), San Diego (5-4), Denver (6-2), Washington (3-6), Dallas (6-3), St. Louis (3-5, Carolina (3-5-1) and Oakland (0-8). The Rams may be the best 3-5 team in the league and the Panthers at home always are a tough matchup. The Hawks caught the Chargers during their hot streak, too. The winless Raiders hurt the strength of schedule for the first half, dropping to .449. Without the Raiders it’s .525.

If the Super Bowl champions are to get a shot to repeat, they’re going to have to earn it against one of the toughest schedules in football, and perhaps the most difficult over the final seven weeks.

The good news is, the Cardinals have a similar remaining schedule, though San Francisco has it a bit easier. They get New Orleans on the road this week, followed by the Giants on the road, the Redskins at home, then Seattle at home, at Oakland, and home for San Diego and Arizona.

The Cardinals have the Rams Sunday, then host the 6-2 Detroit Lions before heading to Seattle and Atlanta. They then host the Chiefs, hit St. Louis on the road before hosting the Seahawks Week 16. Arizona finishes the year in San Francisco. For the Seahawks’ sake, it’d be ideal if the 49ers were fighting for their playoff lives that week. As easy as it is to wish losses upon them, an eliminated San Francisco team probably doesn’t beat Arizona Week 17, giving the Cardinals a shot to lock up the division and/or home field advantage, if they haven’t already by that point.

For the record, here is where each remaining Seahawks opponent ranks in key categories:

Weeks 10-17

Tm Rush O YPC Pass O YPA Scoring O Sacks All. Rush Def YPCA Pass Def YPAA Scoring D Sacks T/O NYG 16 24 16 21 19 15 22 21 28 30 24 23 19 @KC 6 7 29 26 12 17 19 29 1 10 2 3 22 AZ 28 30 14 22 13 6 3 4 32 16 6 30 2 @SF 10 18 21 12 23 30 5 10 3 3 15 25 8 @PHI 8 14 5 19 4 3 20 13 22 15 14 9 30 SF 10 18 21 12 23 30 5 10 3 3 15 25 8 @AZ 28 30 14 22 13 6 3 4 32 16 6 30 2 STL 22 22 25 23 28 7 30 27 8 27 27 23 23

– Jason A. Churchill, 1090 The Fan

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