Predictions Summary Projections by Position Projection Team Boxes

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Prediction: DAL 16, SEA 34 (Line: SEA by 8)

The 4-1 Cowboys are on a four game winning steak that included road wins over the 1-4 Titans and the 1-3 Rams. The3-1 Seahawks are 2-0 at home and have lost just once there in the last three seasons.

This is clearly the toughest matchup of the season for the Cowboys and on the other side are home games against the Giants and Redskins which are far more important. It is entirely conceivable that the Cowboys could lose here and then win the next four to have a 8-2 record before it all falls apart in the annual December Crumble which involves almost all road games this year.

QUARTERBACK : Tony Romo stepped up the production in recent weeks with home games against soft secondaries. He’s thrown a score in every week and multiple touchdowns in the last three games. His two previous road games held him to no more than 217 passing yards.

RUNNING BACK : Currently DeMarco Murray is a runaway train but no one knows where the tracks run out. He is on a pace to tie the NFL record 416 carries in one season which will never happen to an injury prone back who has never carried the ball more than 217 times in a season and that was with two missed games.

The Cowboys said they were going to scale back his workload last week and he ran for a personal record 31 times instead. Joseph Randle has worked his way back into being the #2 and would get the work that Murray does not. But so far resting him is just a myth regardless of the seeming collision course that is charted. Murray has topped 100 rushing yards in all five games this season. That’s hard to resist. It has been so far.

WIDE RECEIVER : He only has one game where he exceeded 100 yards but Dez Bryant scored in each of the last four games and averages 75 yards. Terrance Williams scored in all but week two though he has yet to break 80 yards in any game. They are the only receivers who have a touchdown for the Cowboys including tight ends. That will be a problem against a good secondary that can handle nothing more than the two starting wideouts. Say like Seattle.

TIGHT END : Jason Witten is very consistent but that is when he turns in about four catches for 50 yards and no touchdowns in every week. He’s a marginal bye week filler by this point and looks like age has finally tracked him down.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: What is interesting here is that the Seahawks are rock solid against the run and no one has gained more than 37 rushing yards on them regardless where the game was played. Murray’s streak is likely over. They have allowed more passing stats this year than normal but have faced Rodgers, Rivers and Manning along the way. Terrance Williams draws Richard Sherman and that should be enough to quiet him. Bryant is literally the only other Cowboy receiver with any success this year and there fore becomes the main focus of everyone not named Sherman.

The Seahawks are actually weaker on tight ends and allowed five scores to the position. But Witten has been far from reliable this year. As with any week – if you are in Seattle it is a risk to start anyone.

The Seahawks remain tied with the Cardinals in the NFC West and as a quirk of scheduling, they play in St. Louis next week but then no divisional games until five of the last six. That’ll make the end of the year for all the marbles. This week is the only home game between week three and week nine.

QUARTERBACK : Russell Wilson never has a monster game because he never needs one. But he has scored exactly two passing touchdowns in every game this year and moderate yardage. He’s the perfect bye week filler since he is so consistent.

RUNNING BACK : Marshawn Lynch continues to score in every game and surprisingly the last three all contained receiving touchdowns. He is a lock for around 120 total yards and a score in most weeks and scored twice in each home game so far this year. Robert Turbin actually started last week but he’s nothing but a relief player. Lynch is a dual threat this year and one of the elite backs.

WIDE RECEIVER : Doug Baldwin is a starter but has yet to top 56 yards in a game or score. Percy Harvin only totaled 34 yards last week but had three touchdowns called back on unrelated penalties. His production has been too low to merit fantasy consideration even if he flashy touchdowns keep getting called back. So far the leading scorer among receivers is Marshawn Lynch. None of these guys do much more than 40 yards a game with the rare touchdown.

TIGHT END : No fantasy value. No touchdowns. Lots of blocking.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Seahawks at home almost defy analysis – they are going to do what they want every week. The Cowboys defense feasted on mostly home games and weaker opponents. Wilson and Lynch are starters this week – Lynch every week of course – and Harvin is a upside play over due for a touchdown that sticks. The Cowboys seemed great against the run until Arian Foster dropped 157 yards and two scores on them in Dallas last week. The Cowboys are the weakest team versus tight end and Luke Wilson is warming up.

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