They’re here. They’re finally here! After 22 seasons of waiting, the beloved royal blue retro uniforms are finally making their return to action. The Seattle Seahawks will once again don their original threads as they host the visiting Cleveland Browns in a showdown between two 4-2 teams.
It’s been an interesting road to 4-2 for Cleveland. They started the season with a 24-3 beatdown of the Bengals, lost Week 2 to the Steelers because the offense couldn’t stop turning the ball over, had a similar 27-3 domination over the Titans, then got blown out 28-3 by the Ravens. But following their Week 5 bye, the Browns have been on a two-game win streak.
Cleveland handed San Francisco their first loss of the season by outlasting them 19-17 in a defensive slugfest. Then last week, they stole a win from the Indianapolis Colts in a wild 39-38 shootout. The story of the season for the Browns has been their elite defense, which was on a historic pace for allowing yards before the Colts came. Indianapolis has proven this defense can be attacked, but they should still be rather formidable.
As for the Seahawks, they took care of business last week by defeating the Cardinals 20-10, despite being -3 in turnovers. Seattle’s defense is making the case they deserve to be talked about more as one of the league’s better units, pitching a second half shutout against the Cardinals and holding Cincinnati to only 17 points at home.
The difference in this game is which offense do you trust to have better success against the good defense? For me, the answer firmly lies in who is throwing the ball.
Prediction: Seahawks over Browns 24-10
The edge at quarterback is decisively in favor of Geno Smith and the Seahawks. Browns quarterback PJ Walker has been involved in the last two wins for Cleveland, but he hasn’t exactly been the catalyst for the victories.
Smith and Seattle’s offense hasn’t looked like the well-oiled machine they were against Detroit or Carolina, and I don’t expect them to be lighting it up today either. Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is sure to make life miserable for Smith, but I do think they can make enough plays to overcome Cleveland.
As for the Browns, I predict the Seahawks are going to hone in on stopping the run, forcing Walker to beat them with his arm. Given how Seattle’s defense has been playing, and with the return of Frank Clark, I don’t think it will go too well for the XFL star.
Plus, call it a gut feeling, but the Seahawks should be playing with an emotional edge during their 90’s throwback day. The 12th Man has been waiting a long time for this, and will be fired up. It’s going to be a hostile environment for the Browns.
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