Seattle Seahawks(8-1SU,5-4ATS) @Atlanta Falcons(2-6SU,2-6ATS)
NFL Week10
Date and Time:November 10, 2013 1:00 p.m. EST.
Where:Georgia Dome, Atlanta.
TV:FOX
byWilson,Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread:Sea -5/ATL +5
Over/Under Total:44.5
I have to repeat myself from last weeks preview and pickthe Seattle Seahawks might be the worst 8-1 team in the NFL! Okay, it is hard to be 8-1 in this league and not be good at something, so Ill back off the Hawks a little here and agree they do know how to win games given the opportunity. The Seahawks have been peppered all season with injuries to key personnel including the O-line, WR Percy Harvin (who won’t be back this week), and now they are without WR Sidney Rice for the rest of the season, but I expect the Hawks to actually be a better football team late in the season and be a serious threat for a Super Bowl run come playoff time, but they better fix their run defense soon!
The Atlanta Falcons have had their one-time bright future turn dark throughout the first 8 games of this season as they boast an unimpressive record of 2-6. Falcons QB Matt Ryan connected with WR Tony Gonzalez to close the gap just before the half but it was really the only highlight offensively as the Falcons dropped their 6thcontest of the year to the Carolina Panthers 34-10 last week. Come on Man! to borrow from ESPNsMike & MikeShow,but it is tough to watch, especially these two teams who have a lot of talent but sputter offensively nearly every week. Matt Ryan can be electric; in fact, he just broke Steve Bartkowskis franchise completions record with his 1,872ndcompletion last week to WR Harry Douglas for a 32-yard hookup. However, if youre betting on these two teams to light up the scoreboard you might want to tune into the Patriots or Eagles or any other teams besides these two as it will be a defensive showdown in this contest.
The Falcons defense stepped up last week against the Panthers QB Cam Newton as they held him to just 22 yards rushing which is fantastic but they didnt stop the rest of the Panthers attack from putting up 34 points. Meanwhile, Seattle laid dormant last week on offense until the second half against the winless Tampa Bay Bucs. The Seahawks set a franchise record for farthest comeback as they rallied late and sent the game to overtime; Seattle erased a 21 point deficit to tie the game at 24 before winning by a FG 27-24 to remain atop the NFC West at 8-1.
Russell Wilson once again led his team down the stretch by being nearly perfect after throwing two INTs early in the contest. But the MVP of the Hawks home game vs. the Bucs was no doubt the bruising raw power of Seattle RB Marshawn Lynch. Lynch carried the ball with his traditional hard-nose running for over 100 yards. Lynchs success on the ground helped some timely down field passes open up for Wilson and the receiving corp. Former UW Husky Jermaine Kearse pulled in a Wilson TD pass as did Doug Baldwin to even up the score at 24. Then Steven Hauschka kicked a 27-yard FG to win it in OT. The Hawks may not be pretty but they get the win most of the time.
Defensively, the Hawks are continuing to get it done in crunch time. However, the Seahawks have dropped a bit in their defensive approach especially against the run. Tampa Bay ran all over the Hawks in the first half. But like all good teamsthey find a way to get it donewhether its Beast Mode or a late FG, the Seattle Seahawks can flat out finish games.
Atlanta will have to count on QB Matt Ryan this weekend to lead the Falcons at home. Ryan has thrown at least one TD pass in all 8 games this season and 14 games in a row dating back to last season. If Ryan brings his A game along with future HOF Tony Gonzalez the Falcons might be able to compete with the unpredictable Seahawks. Atlantas defensive secondary is young and strong behind the talented play of another former Husky in Desmond Trufant who had 4 tackles and an INT last week against the Panthers. Will the Falcons be able to hand Seattle just their 2ndloss on the season or will the Hawks continue to set records with a victory to go 9-1 for the first time in franchise history? My money is on Seattle again! But this week they dont cover the points. Take the Falcons plus the points. Luck to ya.
WilsonsPick to Cover the Point Spread:I’m betting the Atlanta Falcons plus the points. Luck to ya
