Cleveland Browns vs. Seattle Seahawks: Preview and Prediction
Back-to-back down-to-the-wire wins have the Cleveland Browns riding high into a Week 8 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.
Somehow, someway Cleveland has scratched and clawed its way to 4-2, riding a dominant defense and an better than expected run game of late. With Deshaun Watson already ruled out for the team's first of two west coast trips, it's on veteran back-up P.J. Walker to once again try and keep the train on the tracks and the team's win streak alive.
Can Walker pull yet another rabbit out of a hat against a team with a similar identity to the Browns, likely without running back Jerome Ford as well?
Here are the Week 8 predictions from our staff:
Anthony Moeglin: Browns 16, Seahawks 14
PJ Walker has another trick up his sleeve on Sunday in Seattle. This one is going to be a slugfest. The Browns' defense will correct a lot of their mistakes from Indianapolis and hold the Seahawk offense down. A late Geno Smith touchdown to DK Metcalf will give the Seahawks a 14-13 lead. Walker will move the Browns into plus territory for Dustin Hopkins to bury a game-winner. The Browns will come home on a three-game win streak!
Anthony Poisal: Seahawks 20, Browns 17
How long will the winning magic with P.J. Walker last? The two game-winning drives he's led have added some sunshine to an otherwise gloomy situation in the QB room, but he still has yet to throw a touchdown this season, and the Browns are averaging a paltry 4.7 yards per play with him under center. It'll be another tall challenge for him to improve and stack another win against a respectable Seahawks defense.
Brendan Gulick: Seahawks 24, Browns 16
I’m equally in awe of what Dustin Hopkins has put together the last few weeks as I am with Myles Garrett’s incredibly memorable performance against the Colts. Unfortunately, I’m not quite as high on the Browns’ offense without more dynamic quarterback play.
Seattle’s defense is cruising right now and the Browns have had a knack for coming up with clutch plays the last couple weeks. I sincerely hope it continues. But I think Bobby Wagner, Dre’Mont Jones and the Seahawk defense are ultimately too much for the Browns to handle. I love their scheme and they’re playing really well right now. A late score seals the win for Seattle and the Browns take a long flight home off a disappointing loss.
Spencer German: Seahawks 17, Browns 16
No Watson once again for Cleveland isn't ideal, but the Browns have been here before. Seattle offense is respectable, boasting some firepower with Kenneth Walker III, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Still, they haven't seen a defense quite like Cleveland's. At the same time, the Browns offense is carrying the second lowest EPA per play (-0.170). Can the Browns really win another game with this inefficient offense, riding the back of their defense? We'll find out, but the added impact of a west coast trip leads me to believe this is where the Browns magical run ends. The Seahawks win a rock fight.
