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Wednesday Round-Up: Who is the Team To Beat In The Tough NFC West?

The Seahawks, Rams, Cardinals and 49ers are battling it out to win the toughest division in football, but who is the favorite after seven weeks?

2020-10-28_RoundUp

Good morning, 12s. Here's a look at what's happening today – Wednesday, Oct. 28 – for your Seattle Seahawks.

"Good Morning Football" Debates The NFC West Favorites

The NFC West is far and away the most competitive division in football. All four teams are currently above .500, with the Seahawks leading the way at 5-1. The Rams and Cardinals are 5-2, while the defending NFC West champion 49ers are 4-3. The combined 19 wins between the four teams is two more than the next best division (AFC North).

On Tuesday's "Good Morning Football," analysts Nate Burleson, Kyle Brandt and Mike Garafolo debated who should be the favorite in this loaded division. Burleson, true to form, went with his former team in Seattle. Brandt was intrigued by Arizona and Garafolo settled on San Francisco. Here's why Burleson picked the Seahawks:

"I'm going with the Seattle Seahawks," Burleson said. "I know that seems like I'm being a little bit of a homer because that's one of my former squads and they just took an 'L' and everybody's sitting back saying 'Wait a minute, they just lost to the Arizona Cardinals.' OK, it's one loss. Are we saying that one loss to the Chiefs (for an example) is going to make you look at someone differently? Or one loss to the Ravens? I don't see why one loss for Russell Wilson (should do that) when he played great in moments and played poorly in moments. The reason I wanted to say that and emphasize that is because it's rare. Russell Wilson is the definition of consistency, the model of dependability, so there's not going to be a game where he shows up and has multiple interceptions in moments that matter. I do feel like this is a team I'm going to roll with for the rest of the season.

"They've been doing this for the last few weeks without Jamal Adams. Do you guys remember Jamal Adams when he first put on that Seattle Seahawks uniform? Unbelievable game, multiple tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, forced fumbles. He was all over the field. He's been sitting on ice taking care of his body. When he gets back on the field, that's going to add a different dynamic to that defense, which also helps the offense.

"Maybe you need to taste a little of your own blood to know that the fight is real. It's better that you take this loss now rather than later in December."

Seahawks' Cornerback Duo Ranked Among League's Best

The Seahawks' defense hasn't played as well as it hoped to, though Pete Carroll believes the unit is “making a turn.” As the group continues to improve, one bright spot going forward could be in the secondary. Seattle is currently tied for third in the NFL with eight interceptions this season, and that's with star safety Jamal Adams missing three games.

In a recent ranking of the NFL’s top 10 cornerback duos, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler placed the Seahawks' pair of Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar at No. 9. Here's what Fowler had to say about the two DBs:

"Not many corners have been tested like Griffin, who has had 43 targets thrown his way as Seattle navigates wild games, injuries and shootouts each week," Fowler wrote. "He's given up 31 receptions, which is a high number, but he's also been disruptive, with two interceptions and seven pass deflections. Multiple NFL defensive coaches consider Griffin a fringe top-10 NFL cornerback due to the tools he possesses -- good size, speed and improving man coverage. The 2021 free agent will get paid.

"Dunbar was a PFF favorite last year with an 87.6 rating, second-best among cornerbacks. His ranking has dipped to 58.1 this year, but he missed two games due to injury, is acclimating to a new system after a trade from Washington, and the Seahawks have one of the league's least productive pass rushes. Dunbar still managed to get four pass deflections and an interception through his first four games this season. Once the Seahawks find their identity on defense by midseason – preferably with more of a pass rush – this duo can thrive."

Social Post Of The Day

With now less than one week until the election, head coach Pete Carroll is reminding all of us to vote next Tuesday. You can learn more about voting in the upcoming election by visiting our voter information page here.

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