In looking at this match-up, it appears like a daunting task in a lot of ways. After all, this is a Seahawks team that is going on the road against a team that had the #1 scoring offense in the league (averaging 33.8 pts/game). Seattle was only 3-1-4 on the road this season ... and facing Matt Ryan to Julio Jones w/o Earl Thomas back there to play CF would appear to be a tall order indeed. There are a lot of reasons that I can see us losing this game. That said, I also see some indicators that give me some hope ...
Yes Atlanta was the #1 Scoring Offense ... BUT (statistically speaking), they have one of the worst defenses in the league. During the regular season, they gave up an average of 25.4 pts/game (ranked #27 overall) ... and in fact AT HOME this year (incredibly enough) ... gave up an average of nearly 28 pts/game!!
In looking at their schedule, the Falcons really didn't face many teams that you can argue have BOTH a strong offense ... and strong defense. It's generally either teams with a strong offense and mediocre to poor defense ... or strong offense and mediocre to poor defense. In other words, not very many (what we could argue as) elite balanced teams on their schedule. (and yes Falcons fans, I know the same could be said of Seattle)
That's what gives me a ray of hope heading into this weekend's match-up. Thomas Rawls and the running game IMO is the biggest key to this game -- period. Finally the Thomas Rawls we've been waiting for all season long showed up last game -- the explosive, lightning quick step Thomas Rawls -- the one who looked like a viable candidate for NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year down the stretch. And finally, the offensive line looked like they may have finally started to figure some things out last game. If the Seahawks get anywhere even close to the same type of performance that they had out of Rawls and the OL this Saturday ... then naturally play action opens up ... things with Russell Wilson and the Read Option open up ... and I think Seattle scrapes out a win in this one.
And that's what I envision happening. Rawls and the run game star in this game ... own the time of possession clock ... and keep Matty Ice, Julio Jones, and that explosive offense on the sideline for much of this one. Though a loss is certainly very possible, I'm boldly going out on a limb and calling it (in a game in which we call for the heart paddles) ...
Seahawks 27
Falcons 24