Seahawks versus Redskins predictions from the 12th Man Rising staff

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 06: Quarterbacks Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins and Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks meet at midfield after the Seahawks defeated the Redskins 27-17 at FedExField on October 6, 2014 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 06: Quarterbacks Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins and Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks meet at midfield after the Seahawks defeated the Redskins 27-17 at FedExField on October 6, 2014 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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The Seahawks face off against the Redskins at CenturyLink Field today. Read on for our brilliant predictions on the outcome of the game.

Well, mostly brilliant. We’ll likely all be wildly off and the Seahawks game will either be a 48-42 offensive barnburner like last week, or a 9-6 defensive battle. Enough speculation; on to the predictions!

First up is a gentleman who truly does have one of the best brains, Steve McGrain. He uses it to write about the Seahawks, and uses it well. Steve?

I am intrigued to see how Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson performs with Redskins cornerback Josh Norman on the opposing side. Furthermore, the defense is without safety Earl Thomas, probably Jeremy Lane, and possibly Sheldon Richardson. Against Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, who can air it out with the best of them, that isn’t the best news. Above all else, a Seahawks game is won in the trenches. With Washington’s injuries up front, this is in favor of Seattle, amazingly.

As much as I believe this feels like a trap game with NFC West foe Arizona up next, Seattle wins this one. Seattle 28, Washington13.

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On to co-expert Todd Vandenberg, who struggles with words and fielding punts in the wind.

The Seahawks win today despite the absence of their co-MVP, Earl Thomas. Thomas may be nearly irreplaceable, but his backup Bradley McDougald is pretty close to a true replacement for Thomas. He’s much closer than Austin Davis is for the other co-MVP, Russell Wilson. The defense gave up roughly one touchdown more when missed time Thomas last year. Happily the depth is much better this season. The Legion of Boom will be ready for Kirk Cousins. On the offensive side, new left tackle Duane Brown is sure to help both the running game and Wilson’s pass protection.

It won’t be as easy as it should be, but as usual, I see the Seahawks putting it away in the fourth quarter. Seattle 33, Washington 20.

We close this edition of our roundtable with the debonair co-expert, Lee Vowell.

The Seahawks need this win. The schedule gets much tougher in December. Plus, Washington is really banged up. Lose at home on Sunday and Seattle is in big trouble. That may sound like hyperbole but the Rams aren’t going away.

I think Seattle generates a run game and limits Kirk Cousins. Seattle 28, Washington 20.

Related Story: Seahawks - Redskins: how to watch and more

Our predictions average out to Seahawks 30, Redskins 18. The median though is Seattle 28, Washington 20. Which means Lee would win our intra-office no-prize, which this week is an imaginary team-building exercise led by Percy Harvin. Go Lee!