Preview: Seattle Seahawks vs New England Patriots
The Seattle Seahawks travel to Foxborough, Massachusetts to play the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football. The Seahawks are first in the NFC West and the Patriots lead the AFC East. Whichever team wins the game will still lead their division, but that does not minimize the importance of this matchup. This is the marquee game of the National Football League week.
Key Matchups
The Patriots short passing game versus the Seahawks third down defense
The last three weeks versus the Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills, the great Seahawks defense has allowed the opposition to pick up 32 of 52 third down attempts. That is 61.5 % of the time. In other words, not so great. The worst team on stopping opponents on third down over the entire season so far is the Cleveland Browns (who else?) at 50%. Opponents have now converted 51 of 120 third downs this year against Seattle and the Seahawks rank 26th in the league. In 2015, the Seahawks ranked fourth and in 2014, eighth. The point is, this year’s unit has been far worse on third down than in previous seasons, especially the last three weeks.
New England ranks fourth offensively in converting third downs at a 47.2% clip. Since quarterback Tom Brady returned from his four game suspension, New England has converted 29 of 52 third downs, or 55.8%.
Moreover, the Seahawks have allowed themselves to be dominated the last three games in terms of time of possession, and this was against much lesser foes than the Patriots. Much of this is simply due to the fact the defense has not forced the other team off the field when the defense has had their opportunities.
Safety Kam Chancellor returns this week after missing several games to injury. In his absence Kelcie McCray has not played badly, but he is not Chancellor. There is no fear from opposing receivers of McCray. There is of Chancellor. Maybe his return will make a big difference.
For the Seahawks to be in a position to win this game near the end, Seattle will need to reverse their latest third down trend and not allow the Patriots to control the ball for 40 minutes or more.
The Seahawks running game versus the Patriots run defense
The Seahawks have relied on an injured Russell Wilson more and more as the season has gone on this season. Wilson has been mostly effective but against the Cardinals and Saints his inability to move as he normally does affected the offense greatly. Last week against the Bills he appeared to have more mobility, but he still is not completely healthy. The hope is he is improving each week and will be able to run the offense in his more normal fashion this week.
Seattle, though, seems to have not had much faith in trying to find a consistent run game. Running back Christine Michael has average four yards a carry behind a poor offensive line, but has seen his carries diminish each week since game three. The last weeks Michael has had a total of 15 carries and only gained 41 yards. Plus, Michael may not play this week due to an injury during practice late in the week.
The starter, and the back getting the majority of the snaps this week, could be rookie C.J. Prosise. Prosise has speed and decent size but no experience. He has only run the ball nine time this season and caught eight more passes. If he starts the game will mark his first professional start and that would be in one of the most difficult places the win in the N.F.L.
Wilson, of course, will be the key in the Seahawks offense scoring enough to win. In previous years he accounted for nearly 60 yards rushing a game. This season he has been nowhere near fully healthy, but if he is to come close to being himself he could do enough on the ground to help whatever running back that is in the backfield see more open space.
Prediction
Tom Brady is 115-20 at home in his career. The Seahawks will be without defense lineman Michael Bennett. Running back Thomas Rawls is out again and possibly Michael. Even fully healthy this would be a tough matchup for Seattle on the road. The Seahawks magical ability of finishing almost every loss within seven points might be tested this week.
Patriots 34 Seahawks 17
The Seattle Seahawks travel to Foxborough, Massachusetts to play the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football. The Seahawks are first in the NFC West and the Patriots lead the AFC East. Whichever team wins the game will still lead their division, but that does not minimize the importance of this matchup. This is the marquee game of the National Football League week.
Key Matchups
The Patriots short passing game versus the Seahawks third down defense
The last three weeks versus the Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills, the great Seahawks defense has allowed the opposition to pick up 32 of 52 third down attempts. That is 61.5 % of the time. In other words, not so great. The worst team on stopping opponents on third down over the entire season so far is the Cleveland Browns (who else?) at 50%. Opponents have now converted 51 of 120 third downs this year against Seattle and the Seahawks rank 26th in the league. In 2015, the Seahawks ranked fourth and in 2014, eighth. The point is, this year’s unit has been far worse on third down than in previous seasons, especially the last three weeks.
New England ranks fourth offensively in converting third downs at a 47.2% clip. Since quarterback Tom Brady returned from his four game suspension, New England has converted 29 of 52 third downs, or 55.8%.
Moreover, the Seahawks have allowed themselves to be dominated the last three games in terms of time of possession, and this was against much lesser foes than the Patriots. Much of this is simply due to the fact the defense has not forced the other team off the field when the defense has had their opportunities.
Safety Kam Chancellor returns this week after missing several games to injury. In his absence Kelcie McCray has not played badly, but he is not Chancellor. There is no fear from opposing receivers of McCray. There is of Chancellor. Maybe his return will make a big difference.
For the Seahawks to be in a position to win this game near the end, Seattle will need to reverse their latest third down trend and not allow the Patriots to control the ball for 40 minutes or more.
The Seahawks running game versus the Patriots run defense
The Seahawks have relied on an injured Russell Wilson more and more as the season has gone on this season. Wilson has been mostly effective but against the Cardinals and Saints his inability to move as he normally does affected the offense greatly. Last week against the Bills he appeared to have more mobility, but he still is not completely healthy. The hope is he is improving each week and will be able to run the offense in his more normal fashion this week.
Seattle, though, seems to have not had much faith in trying to find a consistent run game. Running back Christine Michael has average four yards a carry behind a poor offensive line, but has seen his carries diminish each week since game three. The last weeks Michael has had a total of 15 carries and only gained 41 yards. Plus, Michael may not play this week due to an injury during practice late in the week.
The starter, and the back getting the majority of the snaps this week, could be rookie C.J. Prosise. Prosise has speed and decent size but no experience. He has only run the ball nine time this season and caught eight more passes. If he starts the game will mark his first professional start and that would be in one of the most difficult places the win in the N.F.L.
Wilson, of course, will be the key in the Seahawks offense scoring enough to win. In previous years he accounted for nearly 60 yards rushing a game. This season he has been nowhere near fully healthy, but if he is to come close to being himself he could do enough on the ground to help whatever running back that is in the backfield see more open space.
Prediction
Tom Brady is 115-20 at home in his career. The Seahawks will be without defense lineman Michael Bennett. Running back Thomas Rawls is out again and possibly Michael. Even fully healthy this would be a tough matchup for Seattle on the road. The Seahawks magical ability of finishing almost every loss within seven points might be tested this week.
Patriots 34 Seahawks 17
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