NFC Game Of The Week
Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks
Browns: They don’t categorize as an “exciting team”, but their style of play is working for them and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters. Let’s look back at the game against the Cincinnati Bengals to open the regular season. When I did my picks on Monday Evening Quarterback, The Prime and The Betting Window, I was the only person who picked them because they always seem to pose as that bad matchup against Cincinnati and they always appear to give the Bengals such a tough time. They held them to a Field Goal in a week one win. In week six against the San Francisco 49ers, nobody gave the Cleveland Browns a fighting chance. This is the best team in the league they’re facing and they’ll get blown out, or, my personal favorite, this is an easy game for the opponent. Reminder, there is no such thing as an easy game in the NFL. What I like about this Cleveland team is they’re a hard hitting group and if they want to ugly up a football game, they don’t mind doing it. Do you all know how I hold Dan Quinn in high regards about being arguably the best defensive minded guy in our league? Jim Schwartz needs to be in that same conversation as well. Some guys have it as a Head Coach and some don’t, while some thrive more as coordinators and that’s exactly the case with Jim. He has this Browns defense ranked at the top of the league and it’s anchored by one guy, Myles Garrett. I followed him closely when he was playing for the Texas A&M Aggies and he’s become one of the best defensive players in the league. Just the other day in Indianapolis, he put on a show getting after the Quarterback with two sacks, he forced two fumbles and even blocked a Field Goal attempt. Myles is my favorite as we speak for Defensive Player of the Year and he also gives me J.J. Watt vibes. When you played those Texans teams, J.J. was the first guy who came up in game planning and the same is said about the Browns with Myles. They will look to continue winning with a showdown in Seattle this Sunday.
Seahawks: I’m having a tough time figuring them out if I’m being honest with you all. I never know which version of them is going to show up. Will it be the group we saw on a Monday night against the New York Giants that sacked Daniel Jones ten times? Or, is it the team we’ve seen the last two weeks struggle against the Bengals and even the Arizona Cardinals gave them a tough test but I always say divisional showdowns are always tough. There’s three things about these Seahawks that I’ve noticed. The first is Geno Smith isn’t the Geno he was last year, you know, the guy who didn’t write back after many wrote him off? He’s been good enough, but not what we saw last year. On Sunday against Arizona, he threw his fourth interception of the season and that was something he didn’t do until week nine of last year. Also by week nine last season, he had thrown 15 touchdown passes. At this moment, Geno has thrown only seven touchdown passes through the first six games of this year. Secondly, Kenneth Walker III is the real deal and the offense truly travels through him. For years, Seattle had been looking for that Running Back to replace Marshawn Lynch and now, they have him. He’s become the bell cow of this offense. In the Spring, they drafted Zach Charbonnet to help form a nice duo out the backfield. The third thing is this defense and they can bring the heat with the pass rush. They collectively rush the passer as a unit and enter this week tied for sixth in sacks in the NFL. By default, they belong in the conversation as one of the best in the conference. On Sunday, they’ll welcome the Browns to town.
Browns X-Factor: Elijah Moore– I watched him closely with the Jets and even before that in college with Ole Miss. Elijah has electric breakaway speed and he can take a short pass and turn it into a chunk play or even a touchdown. He’s a twitchy guy in space with the ball and knows how to make people miss. His speed as I just mentioned is top notch as he can breeze by anyone in his vicinity. He’s been such a nice target for this Browns offense.
Seahawks X-Factor: Boye Mafe– This is a new look Seattle defense and Boye Mafe is one of those young pieces who will only get better as the time goes along. When he was entering the draft, he was known for his ability to stop the run. Now, he’s added being a pass rusher to his arsenal. So far, Boye has recorded four sacks on the season. At 6’4, he moves with long strides and quickness and he’s been Seattle’s best edge rusher to drop back in coverage.
Final Thoughts: The Browns have been one of the bigger surprises in the league through six games. The AFC North has been interesting this year with the Steelers still playing hard for Mike Tomlin sitting at 4-2, the Ravens with a healthy Lamar Jackson are playing well, the Bengals are rounding into form and Cleveland has been able to stick around. Seattle has flown under the radar which is understandable being in the same conference as Dallas, San Francisco and Philadelphia. Entering this game, both teams have been extremely stout against the run and I expect that to continue. Deshaun Watson is out which means P.J. Walker is back as the Browns starting Quarterback. For as good as the Browns defense has been, they allowed 38 points last weekend to the Colts. They can be had and no defense is invincible. I can see Seattle’s offense hitting its stride here. Cleveland is a much different team away from home and Seattle is such a tough place for teams to travel too and win a game. I like the Seahawks here to win this contest.
Prediction: Seahawks 24, Browns 13
