Seattle (3-3) will face off against Atlanta (4-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT, broadcasted by Fox. According to BetMGM NFL odds, the Falcons are favored by 3 points. In their historical matchups, the Seahawks hold the edge with a series record of 12-7. However, against the spread, the Seahawks are struggling at 1-4-1 while the Falcons are even at 3-3. In their last encounter, the Falcons edged out the Seahawks with a score of 27-23 on September 25, 2022, in Seattle.
Last week, the Seahawks suffered a loss to the 49ers, with a score of 36-24, whereas the Falcons secured a victory against the Panthers, winning 38-20. When it comes to offensive rankings, the Seahawks are seventh overall, with their rushing attack struggling at 29th, while they excel in pass offense at first place and rank 13th in scoring. On defense, they’re in 19th place overall, 27th against the rush, 10th in the pass, but are 25th in scoring.
The Falcons boast the eighth overall offense, ranking 21st in rushing, 6th in passing, and 11th in scoring. Their defense sits at 17th overall, struggling against the run at 25th, while performing better against the pass at 9th and 15th in scoring.
A significant point of concern for Seattle lies in their turnover differential, which stands at minus-6, as opposed to the Falcons’ neutral zero. The player to watch for the Seahawks is quarterback Geno Smith. After a challenging game against the 49ers that included two interceptions, he’ll be eager to improve, despite passing for 312 yards, marking his third game of 300 or more yards this season. However, his completion percentage of 57.7 (30 of 52) was his lowest of the year.
For Atlanta, tight end Kyle Pitts is a player to keep an eye on. He showcased his capabilities with three receptions for 70 yards against the Panthers, including a notable 52-yard catch. This performance signified Pitts’ first back-to-back games with over 55 yards since his rookie year in 2021, hinting at his potential as a game-changing playmaker.
The key matchup in this game will be the running game of the Falcons against the Seahawks’ defensive front. Atlanta features a dynamic duo in the backfield with Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. Robinson achieved 95 yards and two touchdowns in their recent game, while Allgeier contributed 105 yards and a score. They will face a Seahawks defensive unit that has been plagued by injuries and surrendered 228 rushing yards to the 49ers last week, making it three consecutive weeks of poor performances against the run. Currently, Seattle averages 144.7 rushing yards allowed per game.
In terms of injuries, the Seahawks have placed cornerback Artie Burns (toe) and safety Rayshawn Jenkins (hand) on injured reserve. Furthermore, outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (thigh) also joined the IR last week. Rookie defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (hamstring) has returned to practice after a three-game absence. Additionally, they face further challenges with cornerback Tre Brown (ankle) not returning last week and Riq Woolen (ankle) sitting out against San Francisco. Other injured players include right tackle Stone Forsythe (hand), right guard Anthony Bradford (toe), and wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (back). For the Falcons, outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter is dealing with a concussion, and they may be short-handed in their secondary due to safety Justin Simmons being hindered by a hamstring issue and safety Micah Abernathy (knee) going on IR. Inside linebacker Troy Andersen (knee) and cornerbacks Antonio Hamilton Sr. (back) and Nate Landman (calf/quad) also appear on the initial injury report.
As for the series notes, although Seattle leads the all-time series, Atlanta has secured victories in seven of their past 11 meetings, including two playoff triumphs. The most recent was during the 2016 season when Atlanta overcame Seattle 36-20 in the divisional round, propelling them towards their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
In terms of stats, after a solid start of 3-0, the Seahawks have lost three consecutive matches. Meanwhile, the Falcons have rejuvenated their season with a three-game winning streak following a 1-2 start. Atlanta’s performance marks their best six-game start since 2016, again posting a 4-2 record. Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins leads the league with three game-winning drives this season. Notably, WR Darnell Mooney has already matched his previous two seasons’ total of three touchdown receptions. Kicker Younghoe Koo has achieved an impressive milestone with 65 straight successful field goals under 40 yards. Atlanta does struggle defensively, ranking last in the league with just five sacks. Cornerback A.J. Terrell grabbed an interception during the Panthers game, marking his first since Week 17 of the 2021 season.
On the other side, Seahawks punter Michael Dickson boasts an impressive average of 48.1 yards per kick, ranking second in the history of the NFL. Wide receiver Tyler Lockett has joined an elite company by surpassing 8,000 career receiving yards, becoming the second player in Seattle’s history to do so, following Steve Largent. He is close to tying Darrell Jackson for second-most 100-yard receiving games in franchise history and aims to surpass Marshawn Lynch for third place on Seattle’s all-time touchdown list.
For fantasy enthusiasts, given Seattle’s struggles defensively against the run and their numerous injuries, Bijan Robinson may have a prime opportunity to deliver the best numbers of his career this week. Notably, he hasn’t surpassed 100 rushing yards since the fourth week of his rookie season in 2023.