Good morning, 12s.
Here's a look at what's "out there" for today - Friday, Dec. 25 - about your Seattle Seahawks (9-5), two days before the team's Week 16 matchup with the division rival St. Louis Rams (6-8) at CenturyLink Field, where kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m. PT with television coverage on FOX (channel 13 in Seattle).
The Picks Are In
Elliot Harrison at NFL.com says the Seahawks will win 23-10, "Seattle stays hot. Or at least hot enough to take care of business at home versus the Rams. Expect two more touchdowns from Doug Baldwin, who will then kick two extra points and maybe a couple of field goals. (Good grief, he is hot.) If he does score twice this week, he will keep pace with Jerry Rice, who enjoyed a five-game stretch with 12 scores in his historic 1987 season. That season saw Rice set an NFL record with 22 receiving touchdowns. Randy Moss surpassed the mark with 23 in 2007. The kicker here? Rice did it in 12 games. Long story short: Baldwin is in special company. Of course, it helps that Russell Wilson is on maybe the best five-game QB run in the history of the National Football League. He's accounted for 20 touchdowns during that time. His game-by-game passer ratings: 138.5, 147.9, 146.0, 139.6 and 128.3. That's insane. Tavon Austin is on a torrid one-game pace. If he is the dynamic playmaker that everyone on social media claimed last Thursday night, he must do it against top competition -- on the road, too. He has 161 receiving yards away from home this year."
Peter Schrager at FOXSports.com predicts a 27-13 Seattle victory, "St. Louis has won two straight, but they haven't played a team like the Seahawks. Russell Wilson's getting a ton of love and it's all deserved. Last week's win over Cleveland was a dominant one. So dominant that Cleveland only touched the ball seven times. That's unheard of. Todd Gurley's going to get his early, but this one shouldn't be much of a game."
Pete Prisco at CBSSports.com predicts a 24-13 Seahawks win, "The Rams beat the Seahawks in the opener this year, but these teams have gone in opposite directions. The Seahawks are playing great football. But I expect the Rams to show up and compete here. They will keep it closer than expected."
Don Banks at SI.com thinks the Seahawks will win, 33-17, "The Rams are feeling good about themselves with two wins in a row, but Seattle owns a five-game winning streak and has its 2013–14-style swagger back. St. Louis upset the Seahawks at home in Week 1, but nobody seems capable of beating Russell Wilson in Seattle about now. The Seahawks need to keep winning to earn the No. 5 seed that will bring a first-round playoff date at the lowly fourth-seeded NFC East champion."
ESPN.com NFL Nation reporters Sheil Kapadia (Seahawks) and Nick Wagoner (Rams) each see a Seattle victory.
Kapadia, who thinks the Seahawks win 27-10, says, "Wilson has received most of the attention, and rightfully so, but the Seahawks' defense has allowed just 15.58 points per game since Week 3, the best mark in the NFL. In the past three games, Seattle has allowed just one offensive touchdown and outscored its opponents 103-26. The Rams will need to force multiple turnovers or make a big play on special teams to keep it close."
Wagoner, who predicts a 24-10 Seattle win, writes,* "In recent years, the Rams have given the Seahawks plenty of problems when the teams have met in St. Louis. But it's been a different story in Seattle, where the Rams have been outscored by an average of 13 points per game in three losses since coach Jeff Fisher took over in 2012. Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson is on fire and should help the Seahawks extend their winning streak to six games."*
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Michael David Smith and Mike Florio at ProFootballTalk.com each pick the Seahawks to top the Rams in Week 16.
MDS, who sees a 24-21 Seahawks win, says, "The Seahawks don't have a lot to play for in the final two weeks of the season, as they're locked into a wild-card berth. But they're playing some of the best football in the league right now, and they should beat the Rams comfortably."
Florio, who thinks Seattle will win 34-20, writes, "Both teams have changed a lot since Week One, when the Rams upset Seattle. It would be a major upset if the Rams complete the sweep."
Danny O'Neil at 710Sports.com shares his picks and predictions for Week 16 and thinks the Seahawks will beat the Rams, 20-6, "Here's the customary description of this game: The Rams are a very difficult opponent for Seattle given the strength of St. Louis' defensive line. In fact, St. Louis' defense has been the most consistently effective against Seattle going back to 2012. That's all true. However, the Rams have scored three touchdowns in the five games they've played at Seattle since Pete Carroll became head coach, and St. Louis has not won in Seattle since 2004."
All four sports writers at the Seattle Times pick the Seahawks to beat the Rams, including beat reporter Bob Condotta, who sees a 24-9 Seattle victory, "The annual late-season visit by the Rams sees them again ending a disappointing season. But the Rams' defensive front always seems to give the Seahawks some issues and this will be an interesting test of Seattle's new-look running game. The Seahawks will get the job done, but there could be some tense moments early."
All 12 analysts at ESPN.com pick the Seahawks to win this week.
All eight football minds at CBSSports.com think the Seahawks will top the Rams on Sunday.
All seven NFL analysts at FOXSports.com take Seattle over St. Louis.
And all five *Around the League *writers at NFL.com like the Seahawks.
Tweet Of The Day
Today's "Tweet of the Day" comes from us - @Seahawks, as we wish all 12s a happy 'Blue Friday,' and 'Blue Christmas,' too, with Elvis Presley's song of the same name.
More From Around The Web
Here at Seahawks.com, digital media reporter John Boyle identifies three key matchups for the Seahawks against the Rams, passes along what Pete Carroll said about injuries to Doug Baldwin, Kam Chancellor, and Russell Okung, and says the Seattle offense will stay with its balanced run-pass attack despite the recent success of the aerial game under quarterback Russell Wilson.
Cornerback Richard Sherman hosted 25 local families for a holiday party at Seahawks headquarters earlier this week, passing out gifts and items of need.
At NFL.com, former NFL head coach Brian Billick takes a closer look at the historic stretches Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton are in the midst of.
And Gregg Rosenthal at NFL.com puts Seattle's Russell Wilson at No. 4 in his latest QB Index.
Richard Sherman continued a tradition he started his rookie season by providing presents and essential items for 25 families during the holidays as a part of his Blanket Coverage Foundation at VMAC.
D*id I miss anything you think is worthy of inclusion? Let me know on Twitter *