The Seahawks must do these two things to beat the Cowboys
This is a must-win game for both the Seahawks and Cowboys to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
The Seahawks find themselves in the rare position of needing help to make the playoffs. First, they have to help themselves. Beating the Cowboys in Dallas is the first step to that goal.
So how can Seattle beat Dallas? The same way you beat any team. Score at least one more point than your opponent. That hasn’t happened the past two weeks for the Seahawks, but I have reason to believe it will in week 16. Make that two reasons.
Seahawks must contain Zeke
Ezekiel Elliot is back for the Cowboys after serving his suspension for (allegedly) being a reprehensible human being. Regardless of his status as a person, he is a heck of a football player. Elliot leads the league in rushing yards per game. In fact, he’s ten yards ahead of the number two back, Le’Veon Bell. Yes, that’s per game.
He also has fresh legs. Although as our Steve McGrain wrote, it remains to be seen if he’s in game shape. I suspect he will be, and will be as tough as ever to bring down.
A key difference between the Seahawks run defense Sunday and last week is the linebacker corps. As Steve wrote – seriously, just read his article already – K.J. Wright is healthy again. I won’t be surprised to see Seattle allow a 100 yard rusher for the third straight week (for the first time ever under Pete Carroll). I will be surprised if the Seahawks fail to come up with the key stop with the game on the line.
More from 12th Man Rising
- 4 prospects Seahawks could reach for at No. 20 in 2023 NFL Draft
- Seattle Seahawks Mock Draft: Post-first wave of free agency
- Seahawks podcast: A review of the first week of free agency
- 4 experiments the Seattle Seahawks could cut short in 2023
- 3 pros and cons of Seattle Seahawks drafting Anthony Richardson
Seahawks must protect DangeRuss
It’s no secret that the Rams turned Russell Wilson into their personal piñata last week. The bad news, the Seahawks will have the same offensive line on the field that allowed seven sacks in that game.
The good news, Dallas doesn’t have anyone on their roster like Aaron Donald or Robert Quinn. The Cowboys pass defense has improved from the season’s start, but they’re nowhere near the level of the Rams or Jaguars.
Seattle obviously cannot afford to fall behind by 13 points again. Mike Davis has to get the ball more than six times to keep the Cowboys defense honest. Wilson will have to connect with Doug Baldwin and Jimmy Graham early in the game to keep drives alive and, naturally, put points on the scoreboard. The offensive line has to do better than they did against Los Angeles, and I think they will.
Missing as many key players as they are, the Seattle defense simply isn’t the best in the league right now. If the offense does their part, this team is good enough to bring a win home from Dallas and keep their playoff hopes alive, even if only for a few hours. The Seahawks may be playing for nothing but pride now. Pride should be more than enough.