Good afternoon, 12s.
Here's a look at what's "out there" for today - Friday, Oct. 30 - about your Seattle Seahawks (3-4) two days before the team's Week 8 road matchup with the Dallas Cowboys (2-4). Kickoff is set for Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1:25 p.m. PT with television coverage on FOX (channel 13 in Seattle).
The Picks Are In
ESPN NFL Nation reporters Sheil Kapadia (Seahawks) and Todd Archer (Cowboys) each see Seattle taking home a win this Sunday.
Kapadia, who predicts a 24-13 Seahawks win, says, "The Seahawks will have all 22 projected starters from the preseason available as they look to improve to 4-4 on the season and go into the bye at .500. Even though the defense has had its fair share of ups and downs, the Seahawks are limiting opponents to 4.97 yards per play, fourth best in the league. The offense will have to avoid negative plays, but Seattle will harass Matt Cassel and come out of this one with a double-digit victory."
Archer, who predicts a 24-20 victory for Seattle, says, "It looks like Dez Bryant will be back after missing five games with a broken right foot. Cassel should be more comfortable in his second game as the Cowboys' starter. Dallas finally got its running game going last week with Darren McFadden rushing for 152 yards. Things are looking up for the Cowboys, who have lost four straight. But this is the Seahawks, the two-time defending NFC champions. While they might not be as good as those Seahawks right now, they provide matchup problems for the Cowboys' offense. The Cowboys will be in this one because Seattle's offense isn't explosive, but in it and winning it are two different things."
Elliot Harrison at NFL.com predicts a 26-14 Seahawks win, "While not the sultry NFC matchup it could be, Seahawks at Cowboys looks at least a little shinier with an unwrapped Dez Bryant. The star wideout is ditching the walking boot to suit up against the "Legion of Boom." It will be interesting to see if Richard Sherman shadows Bryant or sticks to his left corner spot, per usual. Trust that Dallas offensive coordinator Scott Linehan will move Bryant around to create opportunities. The issue is the distributor. Can Matt Cassel make plays on a Seattle defense that dominated Beats by Dre, I mean, Colin Kaepernick last week? While aware that the Cowboys won this matchup in Seattle last season, Tony Romo and DeMarco Murray were integral to that victory. Romo is sidelined, while Murray is in Philadelphia watching Ryan Mathews make more explosive runs."
Pete Prisco at CBSSports.com picks the Seahawks to win by a touchdown, 21-14, "The Cowboys are spiraling downward without Tony Romo. He won't be back here, so that's a problem. The Seahawks are playing consecutive road games, but they will have had 10 days off. They seemed to get right at San Francisco last week. They do so here, too. It's a close one."
Don Banks at SI.com likes the Seahawks to win, 23-13, "Dallas beat Seattle in Week 6 on the road last season, but that's a footnote that matters not. The Cowboys perhaps get Dez Bryant back and that should help quarterback MattCassel's play-making options, but Seattle's defense should still be able to frustrate Dallas and carry the Seahawks back to the .500 mark as they hit their Week 9 bye."
Peter Schrager at FOXSports.com sees the Seahawks winning late, 30-24.
All 12 NFL experts at ESPN.com are taking Seattle over Dallas.
Seven of eight NFL analysts at CBSSports.com select the Seahawks to win in Week 8.
All five writers from NFL.com's *Around the League *staff pick the Seahawks to win this week.
And all four Seahawks writers at the Seattle Times explain why they like the Seahawks to win this weekend.
Tweet Of The Day
Today's "Tweet of the Day" comes from us - @Seahawks, as we celebrate #TGIBF (Thank Goodness It's Blue Friday) with the 12s.
More From Around The Web
Here at Seahawks.com, digital media reporter John Boyle highlights the passionate play of free safety Earl Thomas and takes a closer look at Cowboys starting quarterback Matt Cassel, who played under Pete Carroll at USC.
Here's four things we learned from Russell Wilson's Thursday press conference, where the Seahawks quarterback talked about wide receiver Paul Richardson's return to practice, his NFL-high sack rate, and more.
Five Seahawks who missed last week's win over the San Francisco 49ers to injury were full participants in practice yesterday.
Wide receiver B.J. Daniels was signed to the Seahawks' practice squad yesterday, with the team releasing linebacker Tyrell Adams.
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman writes about the team's mentality moving forward in a blog post on his personal website.
Rob Rang at Scout.com answers five Seahawks-Cowboys related questions ahead of Sunday's game at Dallas. KD Drummond at Scout.com previews this week's matchup from a Cowboys perspective.
Jayson Jenks at the Seattle Times highlights the sure-handed play of wide receiver Doug Baldwin and explains why the Seahawks running game is going back to its roots.
Bob Condotta at the Seattle Times says Dallas' Greg Hardy could pose pass-rushing problems for the Seahawks offensive line.
Sheil Kapadia at ESPN.com notes five things he'll be watching this Sunday at Dallas, and shares Russell Wilson's weekly routine that helps keep him feeling good physically.
Jean-Jacques Taylor at ESPN.com says stopping Russell Wilson's running will be key for Dallas' hopes at defeating the Seahawks.
Gregg Rosenthal at NFL.com ranks Seattle's Russell Wilson at No. 6 in his weekly QB Index.
And Josh Kerns at MyNorthwest.com gets to know the four-legged defender of the Seahawks' practice fields.
D*id I miss anything you think is worthy of inclusion? Let me know on Twitter *
