Seahawks will beat Raiders because Chris Carson is better than Marshawn Lynch

The Seahawks play the Raiders in week six. Chris Carson is the new version of Marshawn Lynch. Carson will show why on Sunday.

The Seahawks have a new Beast Mode. That Chris Carson has not had as many memorable runs as former Seahawk Marshawn Lynch is not Carson’s fault. He hasn’t yet had the opportunities Lynch had when he played with Seattle. But give Carson the chance. He will get there.

Lynch is actually having a decent year with Oakland. Even though the Raiders are 1-4, that isn’t Lynch’s fault. Lynch averages 4.3 yards-per-rush and is on pace for a 1,000-yard rushing year. Lynch is also averaging 2.4 targets a game in the Raiders passing attack which would be the second-highest average of Lynch’s stellar career.

But the Seahawks would not give up Chris Carson for Marshawn Lynch. Not now. Lynch is 32 years old. He had some great years in Seattle. But Carson at 24 years old is the present and the future. And Carson runs a lot like a younger version of Beast Mode.

Carson may have fewer rushing yards in 2018 – so far – than does Lynch. But Carson has missed a game. Lynch averages 66 yards rushing a game. Carson averages 73 yards per. But in Carson’s last two games, he averages 109 yards. And Carson gained 116 against a good Rams defense in week five.

To help Carson the Seattle offensive line has been improving seemingly every week. With the line getting more cohesion, Carson knows where to run and what to expect. Not only can Carson run over people, he now is getting more comfortable in where he should cut while building report with Duane Brown and the rest of the unit.

Lynch still runs with power, of course. He is still a good back. But what greater motivation is there for a young player going up against the player he replaced. Lynch was gone before Carson was drafted. But Carson is really the back the Seahawks have been looking for since Lynch left.

Carson knows this last fact. So does Lynch. Lynch will want to prove to Seattle what they have been missing when the teams play in London on Sunday. Carson will want to show Lynch he is the better and newer version of Beast Mode while proving to 12s that the future is set at running back in Seattle.