Seattle Seahawks vs Cleveland Browns: Predictions and Odds (NFL Week 6)

What: Seattle Seahawks at Cleveland Browns
When: Sunday, October 13 at 1:00 pm ET
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio
How (TV): FOX

Seahawks vs Browns – Latest Point Spread

Seahawks -2, Browns +2

What a critical cross-conference matchup this one is for both the slightly favored 4-1 traveling Seattle Seahawks looking to keep their place atop the NFC West facing the 2-3 hometown Cleveland Browns, who are desperately needing a win to stay in the race for the AFC North.

The Seahawks are coming off a close and respectable win over their divisional rivals, while the Browns are on a short week after having been pummeled in front of a national audience on Monday Night Football.

Seattle needs this one to compete with the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland needs this one to stay close to the Baltimore Ravens, so let’s take a quick look at how these two teams are set up to face each other in Week 6.

Check out also: NFL Power Rankings for Week 6.

The 4-1-0 Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are doing just fine, having just squeaked by division rival Los Angeles Rams by a point on Thursday Night Football in Week 5, now riding high and ready to come into Cleveland and take care of business.

The Seahawks know that the Browns are weak against the run, so they will no doubt feature Chris Carson in their offensive attack led by Russell Wilson, who just got paid and is happy to prove he is worth all that money.

Seattle has defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and linebacker Mychal Kendricks shutting down opponents, now 4^th best against the run and ready to face Nick Chubb in his new hometown.

The 2-3-0 Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns are coming off a short week after they were manhandled by the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.

The world got to see Baker Mayfield look on helplessly while Nick Bosa planted an imaginary revenge flag as his Niners won in front of a national audience, 31-3, and now the Browns look to make up for that embarrassment at home against the surging Seahawks.

Cleveland has to stay true to its run game with Nick Chubb and keep Baker Mayfield better protected so he can release the ball quicker (and more accurately) if they expect to compete with this Seattle team that seems to outperform them on most sides of the ball.

For more on the Browns, check out also: Cleveland Browns 2019-2020 Postseason Odds

What’s at Stake for Seahawks vs Browns?

These two teams have met 18 total times (including 0 postseason games), with Cleveland winning 6 of those times and Seattle winning the other 12 games.

The last time these two teams played was in December of the 2015 season when the Seahawks easily handled the Browns by a score of 30-13.

If the Seahawks win this matchup, they’ll move to 5-1-0 and stay tied atop the NFC West with the San Francisco 49ers, who are an undefeated 4-0 going into Week 6, both teams keeping ahead of the sorta-struggling Los Angeles Rams.

But if the Browns come out winners in this one, they’ll be 3-3-0, which would keep them relevant in the AFC North story, which right now features Lamar Jackson’s RPO-happy Baltimore Ravens, whose offense seems baffling to most everybody except Cleveland.

Questions to Answer

Who’s favored to win this Week 6 Seahawks-Browns matchup?

Which team has a better offense? Defense? Special teams?

Which team’s quarterback is more likely to lead his team to victory?

We’re going to briefly compare the Seahawks and the Browns next and attempt to answer those questions and more.

Seattle Seahawks Overall Offense

• Ranked 15^th overall in 2018
• Ranked 7^th overall in 2019

Passing attack: The Seattle Seahawks have the 8^th ranked passing offense in the league right now, averaging 265.4 yards per game through the air after five weeks.

Quarterback Russell Wilson is currently ranked the T-7^th most productive passer in the league having completed 114-of-156 passes for 1,409 yards and 12 touchdowns with 0 interceptions and an impressive completion percentage of 73.1.

The Seahawks’ leading receiver after five weeks is Tyler Lockett, who is currently 13^th in the league with 30 catches for 379 yards and 3 touchdowns, while rookie deep threat playmaker D.K. Metcalf has seen his share of targets.

Rushing attack: The Seahawks’ rushing attack is ranked 12^th in the NFL after averaging 122.6 yards on the ground per game.

Chris Carson is the Seahawks’ best runner and he is currently the 9^th best in the NFL with 94 carries for 380yards and 1 rushing touchdown, averaging 4.0 yards per carry.

Seattle has scored 133 total points this season, or 26.6 per game, which is the 7^th best total in the NFL.

Seattle Offensive Injuries    

Listed as questionable for Week 6: offensive tackle Duane Brown (biceps) and guards D.J. Fluker (hamstring) and Ethan Pocic (back).

Injury notes: guard Phil Haynes (sports hernia) is listed as PUP-R, while guard Jordan Simmons (knee), running back Adam Choice (undisclosed), tight ends Ed Dickson (knee) and Justin Johnson (Achilles) and offensive tackle Demetrius Knox (knee) have been placed on injured reserve.

Cleveland Browns Overall Offense

• Ranked 13^th overall in 2018
• Ranked 23^rd overall in 2019

Passing attack: Cleveland has the 20^th best passing attack in the league right now after averaging 227.8 yards through the air each game.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield has completed 90-of-161 passes for 1,247 yards and 4 touchdowns with 8 interceptions and a completion percentage of 55.9.

The Browns’ best receiver is currently slot man Jarvis Landry, who has caught 22 passes for 403 yards with 0 touchdowns in five weeks, ranked 9^th among NFL receivers right now.

Rushing attack: Cleveland has the 17^th ranked rushing attack, so far averaging 112.4 rushing yards per game.

Nick Chubb is the Browns’ best runner and now he is the 4^th most productive in the NFL with 94 carries for 485 yards and 4 touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.

Cleveland has scored 92 points in 2019, averaging 18.4 per game, which is the 25^th highest average in the NFL right now.

Read also: Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr. 2019 Season Production

Cleveland Offensive Injuries

Listed as questionable for Week 6: offensive tackle Kendall Lamm (knee).

Injury notes: running back Kareem Hunt (suspension) is listed as OUT, while tight end David Njoku (wrist), center Lo Falemaka (shoulder), guard Drew Forbes (knee), fullback Joe Kerridge (concussion), wide receiver D.J. Montgomery (hamstring) and quarterback Drew Stanton (knee) have all been placed on injured reserve.

Offensive Advantage

Despite an (arguably) less impressive roster, the Seattle Seahawks’ offense is far more together right now than the Cleveland Browns have been, so the advantage goes to the visitors on Sunday.

Defensive Stats Comparison Seahawks vs Browns

Seattle Seahawks Overall Defense

• Ranked 16^th overall in 2018
• Ranked 14^th overall in 2019

Pass coverage: The Seahawks have the 26^th best pass defense in 2019 so far, allowing opponents to throw for 270.6 yards through the air per game.

Seattle’s defense has 3 team picks and they have 10 sacks total.

Run coverage: The Seahawks are the 4^th best NFL team against the run right now after allowing opponents to run for just 80.0 yards per game.

Seattle has allowed their opponents to score 118 total points, or 23.6 per game, which is 20^th lowest in the NFL.

Seahawks Defensive Players to Watch

The fifth best tackler in the NFL plays in Seattle, middle linebacker Bobby Wagner already has 50 total tackles (3 for a loss) plus a pass defended and a quarterback hit.

The Seahawks have a defensive end worth checking out – Rasheem Green has 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble and 8 total tackles so far this season.

Roaming the Seahawks’ secondary is strong safety Bradley McDougald, who has an interception and 3 passes defended along with a forced fumble and 24 total tackles on the year.

Seahawks Defensive Injuries

Listed as questionable for Week 6: defensive end Branden Jackson (neck).

Injury notes: defensive tackle DeMarcus Christmas (back) is listed as PUP-R, defensive tackle Jarran Reed (suspension) is listed as OUT, while defensive tackle Nazair Jones (knee), linebacker Emmanuel Ellerbee (undisclosed), cornerbacks Jeremy Boykins (undisclosed) and Kalan Reed (neck) have been placed on injured reserve.

Cleveland Browns Overall Defense

• Ranked 30^th overall in 2018
• Ranked 18^th overall in 2019

Pass coverage: The Browns’ defense is 7^th best against the pass, allowing their opponents to throw for an average of 206.4 yards per matchup.

Cleveland’s defense has 4 interceptions on opposing quarterbacks and they have 16 total sacks after five weeks.

Run coverage: The Browns are 29^th best (or 4^th worst) against a rushing attack, allowing opponents to run for an average of 150.8 yards per game.

Cleveland has allowed their opponents to score 122 total points this season, or 24.4 per matchup, which is 22^nd fewest in the NFL.

Browns Defensive Players to Watch

Arguably one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL is Joe Schobert, who has 54 tackles for the Browns (4 for loss), plus a sack, a quarterback hit, a pass defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Browns third-year defensive end Myles Garrett wants to win the MVP, and he’s off to a good start with 7.0 sacks (2^nd most in the NFL) with 15 tackles and a forced fumble (but he has committed too many unnecessary penalties so far).

With two of the Browns starting cornerbacks out with injury these last few weeks, defensive back T.J. Carrie has stepped up with an interception and 3 passes defended, plus a fumble recovery and 17 total tackles.

Browns Defensive Injuries

Listed as questionable for Week 6: cornerbacks Denzel Ward (hamstring) and Greedy Williams (hamstring).

Injury notes: linebackers Christian Kirksey (pectoral) and Willie Harvey (shoulder) have been placed on injured reserve.

Defensive Advantage

The Browns are better than the Seahawks against the pass, but Seattle is better against the run than Cleveland is, so when it comes to defensive advantage, this one is a wash.

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Punters

Seattle’s punter, Michael Dickson, is in his second NFL season, both with the Seahawks, and this year he has punted 24 times for a net average of 40.5 yards per punt, 26^th best in the NFL.

Cleveland’s punter, Jamie Gillan, aka the “Scottish Hammer,” is in his first NFL season and he has punted 27 times so far this year for a net average of 42.9 yards per punt, which is the 19^th best in the league.

Placekickers

Seattle’s placekicker Jason Myers is in his fifth NFL season, his first with the Seahawks.

Myers is 3-for-5 in 2019, his longest a 42-yarder, and he has missed no extra point attempts (16/16).

Cleveland’s placekicker, Austin Seibert, is in his first season with the Browns after beating out last year’s starter, Greg Joseph, in the preseason.

Seibert has made 8-of-8 field goals this year, his longest a 48-yarder, and he missed an extra point attempt (8/9).

Punt Returners

Seattle’s punt returner, wide receiver Tyler Lockett, is ranked 44^th in punt return average in 2019.

Lockett has returned 8 punts for 19 yards and no touchdowns, averaging 2.4 yards per return, his longest for 10 yards.

Cleveland’s punt returner is often wide receiver Jarvis Landry, who is currently ranked T-6^th in average punt return yardage.

Landry has returned 4 punts for 48 yards, averaging 12.0 yards per return, his longest for 18 yards.

Special Teams Advantage

The Browns’ placekicker may be a rookie, but he’s been perfect so far with his field goals and when you add the Scottish Hammer into the mix, the special teams’ advantage here, goes to Cleveland.

Seattle Seahawks vs Cleveland Browns – Final Game Analysis

Why Will the Seahawks Win this Game?

The Seattle Seahawks will win because they are better rested than the Browns, who are coming off a Monday Night Football west-coast drubbing and that will matter in the fourth quarter of this one.

Russell Wilson is plain and simple a better player than Baker Mayfield right now, and he will lead his Seahawks to victory on Sunday because the Browns have no clue who they are just yet and the Seahawks do.

And bottom line, Pete Carroll will simply out-head-coach Freddie Kitchens, who seems to be struggling wearing so many hats this season.

Why Will the Browns Win this Game?

The Cleveland Browns will beat the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday because their defense is better against the pass and they will shut down Russell Wilson and keep his team off the board for most of the game.

If the Browns can get more serious about tackling and covering their gaps, they can slow down the Seahawks’ run game while Cleveland’s superior passing defense neutralizes Wilson.

Cleveland has a rushing attack that can shock opponents, and Nick Chubb has to show up against the Seahawks excellent run coverage, assuming Kitchens game plans him as the main feature of the Browns’ offensive attack.

The Seahawks vs Browns Game Goes To

The Cleveland Browns, who will break a tie in the final seconds of the fourth quarter with a long Austin Seibert field goal.

John Breech of CBS Sports predicts the score as Seahawks 26, Browns 23

My prediction for the final score is Browns 24, Seahawks 21.

Seattle Seahawks vs Cleveland Browns – Odds

The latest odds for the Seahawks vs Browns are provided by 888Sport NJ, DraftKings, and Unibet NJ.

Good Luck!

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