The Successes of the 2013 Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks
Image: nfl.com

For more than six years Dr. Michael Simons has overseen activities at the Yale Cardiovascular Research Center as founding director. He also serves as professor of medicine and cell biology in the Yale School of Medicine, among other appointments with the university. Away from work, Dr. Michael Simons enjoys watching the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.

Over the course of the 2013 National Football League (NFL) season, the Seattle Seahawks matched a franchise record for regular season victories. The Seahawks began the year with a convincing four-game winning streak, including a 29-3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 and a 45-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3.

After suffering a 34-28 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Seattle recorded a seven-game win streak to bring the team’s record to 11-1. The Seahawks ultimately finished the season with 13 wins, matching a franchise record set by the 2005 squad.

Unlike the 2005 team, however, the 2013 Seahawks continued to make franchise history in the postseason. Seattle opened the playoffs with 23-15 and 23-17 victories over the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers, respectively. Contesting the second Super Bowl in Seahawks franchise history, the 2013 team went one step further than the 2005 squad, routing the Denver Broncos 43-8 for the city’s first ever Super Bowl championship.

Arsenal’s Streak of 49 Unbeaten Games

Arsenal
Image: arsenal.com

Michael Simons, MD, is the founding director of the Yale Cardiovascular Research Center at Yale University. Beyond his various educational, medical, and executive responsibilities at the university, Michael Simons, MD, enjoys following Arsenal FC soccer.

Between May 2003 and October 2004, the English football club Arsenal went a record 49 consecutive top flight league games without a loss. Nottingham Forest previously held the record, having staved off defeat for 42 consecutive games from November 1977 through November 1978. The Arsenal streak spanned the second unbeaten top flight league season in football history, a feat matched only by Preston North End’s perfect 1888-1889 season. It should be noted that Arsenal’s unbeaten 2002-2003 season featured 38 victories compared to 22 for Preston North End.

Over the course of the 49-game unbeaten streak, Arsenal failed to score a goal on just four occasions. Prior to a 0-0 tie with Fulham, Arsenal had scored at least one goal on their home field for 46 straight games. The streak, which included 20 home wins, 16 road victories, and 13 draws, ended with a controversial 2-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United.

Seahawks’ Michael Bennett Plans to Start a Team Book Club

Seahawks’ Michael Bennett
Image: ew.com

The Founding Director of the Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Michael Simons received his medical training at the Yale School of Medicine, where he graduated cum laude. In his free time, Michael Simons follows professional football and is a fan of the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks are currently preparing for the season. While the rest of the team is practicing for games, one member is preparing for another activity off the football field.

Defensive end Michael Bennett has stated his intentions of forming a book club this season as a form of team bonding. Bennett has already chosen Malcolm Gladwell’s nonfiction book Outliers as the first book for his teammates to read. Bennett hopes to inspire his fellow players to get off their phones and immerse themselves in the recommended books.

This initiative is supported by the Seahawks’ vice president of player engagement, Maurice Kelly, who told ESPN that he hopes the players will take this challenge. Bennett and Kelly expect the book club to pave the way for discussions of non-football topics such as relevant social issues.