RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks start the second half of the NFL season with optimism about where they are headed — and an opponent that may justify their attitude.

After a 3-3 start that came amid the Percy Harvin trade and all kinds of chatter about the state of the team’s locker room, Seattle won two straight to get things back to a little more of a sense of normalcy.

Now the Seahawks face a struggling New York Giants squad that not only is riding a three-game losing streak but also must make the cross-country trip on a short week, having been blown out at home Monday night by the Indianapolis Colts.

Seattle anticipates its lineup will be fortified by the return of a number of key injured players, such as center Max Unger, left tackle Russell Okung, safety Kam Chancellor and cornerback Jeremy Lane.

“I think we’re making progress,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said this week. “We’ve survived some really hard games and we’ve won some really hard games. We’re battle-tested and we’re ready to go. The fact that we can make this turn with young guys prepared to play and with some guys coming back to their health and we will get a second wave of that as well, I’m feeling pretty good about our chances to go out and win this game this week. This week is really what’s at hand, and we’re going to focus in on that like we always do and then we will just keep cranking, see if we can keep going.”

The Seahawks must keep it going this week because it only gets harder from here.

After facing the Giants, the Seahawks will play three of the next four on the road, all against teams that are at least .500 this season and won 10 or more games last year — the Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles.

Seattle will play five of its final six games against teams from the NFC West, including two each against the Cardinals and 49ers.

The Seahawks (5-3) are two games back of the Cardinals (7-1) and a game ahead of the 49ers (4-4). And while the games may seem daunting on paper, Carroll also thinks the head-to-head matchups provide an opportunity.

“I really like the scheduling, the way it comes down like that,” Carroll said. “I think it really adds to the buildup at the finish for everybody. I think it’s cool. It also leaves everything out there as late as possible, which is great for us in our particular situation, but I think it’s good for anybody that watches the game. Since that’s happened, I think that’s an interesting way to do that. I can see why the league wanted to do that.”

First, though, the Seahawks have to take care of business against the bedraggled Giants, who come in beat up on both sides of the ball and carrying only one player who may really threaten Seattle — quarterback Eli Manning.

Manning, though, played one of the worst games of his career against Seattle last season, throwing five interceptions in a 23-0 Seahawks win at MetLife Stadium, a performance that foreshadowed Seattle’s return there two months later to win the Super Bowl.

A little deja vu would suit the Seahawks just fine.

Bookkeeping:

–On Tuesday, Seattle added tight end Tony Moeaki, a free agent who had 80 catches for 1,009 yards for Kansas City from 2010-12. He since battled injuries and was waived by the Buffalo Bills with an injury settlement in September. Moeaki, who said he is now healthy, will give Seattle another option at tight end with Zach Miller still recovering from ankle surgery.

–On Wednesday, the Seahawks picked up defensive end Demarcus Dobbs, who was waived by the 49ers the day before, and placed defensive lineman Greg Scruggs on season-ending injured reserve with a bad knee. Dobbs projects as a big contributor on special teams.

–Also, the Seahawks re-signed receiver/returner Bryan Walters on Tuesday, and he will again take over punt return duties. Walters was released Saturday when the team promoted Terrance Parks off the practice squad to add depth at safety. Parks was among the players released Tuesday to create space for the return of Walters.

NOTES: C Max Unger (foot) is expected back this week. … S Kam Chancellor (groin) was limited in practice but is expected to play. … CB Jeremy Lane (groin) is 100 percent and will return this week after missing the previous seven games. … CB Byron Maxwell (calf) might practice this week after missing four games. … OLB Bobby Wagner (toe) remains out. … Among those not practicing Wednesday were WR Doug Baldwin (groin), LB Malcolm Smith (ankle) and OL James Carpenter (ankle).