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2019 Week 8: Seahawks at Falcons Picks & Predictions

National media make their picks for Sunday's game between the Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons.

Picks-Preds-WK8

National media make their picks for Sunday's game between the Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons.

Gregg Rosenthal, NFL.com: Seattle Seahawks 29, Atlanta Falcons 21

It's remarkable that the NFL's second-most efficient passing attack is primarily built on DK Metcalf's three routes and improvisations between Russell Wilson and Tyler Lockett. It's even more remarkable that it should be plenty against a Falcons pass defense that sinks lower and plays softer by the week. This Falcons roster isn't that different or that much worse on paper than the one that made the Super Bowl, but the book is out on how to beat them, and coach Dan Quinn is out of counter moves. I'm not even sure these Seahawks are that good -- they've won once decisively, lost twice decisively and prevailed in four nail-biters. This isn't the week we're going to find out how good they are, however, whether Matt Ryan plays or not.

Brady Henderson, ESPN.com: Seahawks 31, Falcons 25

Bold prediction: Wilson will throw four touchdown passes. His 29-7 record following an in-season loss is the best by a quarterback since the 1970 merger. Now he faces a defense that ranks next-to-last in pressuring opposing QBs.

Michael David Smith, ProFootballTalk.com: Seahawks 35, Falcons 10

MDS: The Falcons' defense makes every quarterback look good, and Russell Wilson will be great in Atlanta on Sunday.

Michael Florio, ProFootballTalk.com: Seahawks 34, Falcons 16

Florio's take: A couple of years ago, the Falcons were good enough to beat the Seahawks in the playoffs. Now? Not.

Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com: Seahawks 37, Falcons 23

The Falcons will likely be without Matt Ryan in this one, which means it's Matt Schaub against Russell Wilson. Good luck with that. The Atlanta defense has been miserable and Wilson will expose a bad defense after a bad game last week against the Ravens.

Cody Benjamin, CBSSports.com: Seahawks 31, Falcons 9

Seattle isn't immune to a slip-up, but it's not happening in Atlanta. The Falcons are giving up more points than all but the Dolphins, Matt Ryan is banged up, and Russell Wilson should have a chance to pad his numbers for the MVP race. Look out, Dan Quinn.

Bleacher Report: Seahawks 34, Falcons 17

With Matt Ryan's status up in the air, most sportsbooks hadn't posted a line here at press time. But the Seattle Seahawks are likely to be favored by between a field goal and a touchdown Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, and our gang is riding with Seattle regardless.

Vinnie Iyer, SportingNews.com: Seahawks 27, Falcons 24

The Falcons are likely to play without Matt Ryan (ankle). Matt Schaub has the keys to a pretty good passing offense, and the Seahawks can be vulnerable in the middle of the field against Austin Hooper, also with no corner who can match up with Julio Jones. Seattle is coming off a rare bad home game from Russell Wilson in which it wasn't able to run on Baltimore, either. Wilson's scrambling and big-play running in this game will meet no resistance from Atlanta's defense, while Seattle's deficiencies will keep the hosts around as they try to win one for Dan Quinn at home.

More Picks From Around The Web

Ten of the ten polled so far at ESPN.com side with the Seahawks this Sunday.

Seven of seven writers at USA Today pick the Seahawks.

The Seahawks and the Falcons will meet this Sunday at Lumen Field during Week 3 of the 2022 season. Take a look back at photos from past games between the two teams.

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