Week 8: Seattle Seahawks at New Orleans Saints Picks & Predictions

[wysifield-embeddedaudio|eid="445796"|type="embeddedaudio"|viewmode="full"] The Seahawks (4-1-1) head to New Orleans in Week 8 for a matchup against the Saints (2-4), a game that's set for 10 a.m. PT on Sunday, October 30 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, with television coverage on FOX (channel 13 in Seattle). This weekend's game marks the 13th all-time regular-season meeting between the two teams, with each side winning six contests. Seattle and New Orleans have split the last two meetings, with the Seahawks losing 34-19 at New Orleans in 2010 and winning 34-7 at CenturyLink Field in 2013. Seattle has had the advantage over New Orleans in playoff games in recent seasons, winning a wild-card game in 2010 and a divisional round playoff game in 2013 on its way to Super Bowl XLVIII. Here's a look around the web at which side national analysts are predicting to win this weekend: Mike Triplett at ESPN.com has the Seahawks winning by four, 27-23, "I've got my popcorn ready. No offense is lighting it up like the Saints have been at home this year (36 points per game, Drew Brees throwing for 421 yards and nearly 4 TD passes per game). But the Seahawks' defense is, you know, the Seahawks' defense -- even if they're worn out from last week's OT slugfest against Arizona. They're allowing just 14 points per game, tied for the league lead. The injury to Saints left tackle Terron Armstead hurts (if he plays, he's still less than 100 percent with a lingering knee issue). Expect a lot of short-yardage, ball-control throws, since the Saints will have to be very patient on offense to win it." Sheil Kapadia at ESPN.com picks the Saints to upset the Seahawks, 24-20, "This is a tough spot for the Seahawks. Defensively, they had six different starters play more than 90 snaps in last week's overtime tie with the Cardinals. Now they have to make the trip across the country to face Drew Brees & Co. Offensively, the Seahawks scored just two field goals on 13 possessions last week, and Russell Wilson is dealing with a new pectoral injury to add to his existing knee and ankle issues. Plus, the team will likely be without starting left tackle Bradley Sowell. This is a game that matches strength vs. strength in the Saints' offense against the Seahawks' defense. It should be close, but New Orleans pulls the upset." Chris Burke at SI.com thinks the Seattle offense gets back on track this week and the Seahawks win, 34-26, "It’s safe to say the Seahawks will score more than six points Sunday. The Saints’ three previous home games this season (Raiders, Falcons, Giants) produced an average of 75 points, with no team scoring fewer than 34. If the Seahawks’ offense is going to find its stride, this is the week. That is, provided new left tackle George Fant—who played one year of college football as a tight end for Western Kentucky—can stymie a Cam Jordan-led pass rush. Russell Wilson still doesn’t have his usual giddy-up escaping the pocket. It would ease the burden on Wilson and Fant dramatically if the Seahawks’ defense plays as it did at Arizona, not like the week before in a loss to Atlanta. Drew Brees is every bit as capable of capitalizing on miscommunication in the secondary as Matt Ryan, although the Saints do not have any pass-catching RBs who will keep Seattle defensive coordinator Kris Richard up at night." Michael David Smith at ProFootballTalk.com also thinks the Seattle offense rebounds at New Orleans and picks the Seahawks to win 28-21, "The Seahawks’ offense hasn’t been playing well, but a meeting with the weak Saints’ defense could be just what the doctor ordered." Mike Florio at ProFootballTalk.com believes the Saints offense will outpace the Seahawks, and New Orleans will win 27-20, "Seattle’s gaudy record conceals deeper concerns about the offense, which hasn’t been the same since Russell Wilson suffered a pair of injuries. The Saints have the offense to outpace Wilson and company." Pete Prisco at CBSSports.com thinks Seattle's defense controls the pace and helps pull out a 21-14 victory, "The Seahawks are playing consecutive road games, which is tough. They didn’t look good at all on offense at Arizona last week. But that defense is special. And I think they will control the tempo, slowing Drew Brees. The Seahawks will get out with a victory."Elliot Harrison at NFL.com thinks the Seahawks will ride their defense to a 23-17 win, "This is a game the Seahawks' defense wins almost on its own. First, the unit will have to produce favorable field position for a dysfunctional offense that needs all the midfield starts it can get. Second, look for a big takeaway somewhere in the middle of this contest. I realize Seattle didn't produce onein Arizona last Sunday night, but anyone who watched that game had to come away impressed with the Seahawks' intensity on that side of the ball. Will New Orleans rookie Michael Thomas be ready for this kind of challenge? The Saints have leaned on him, as Willie Snead has been so-so of late. If not a massive disappointment, Mark Ingram and the ground game should certainly be deemed subpar. The Brandin Cooks- Richard Sherman matchup fascinates. Drew Brees and the offense will have to earn this win, should they get it, due to the fact the Seahawks have allowed the fewest 10-yard rushing plays -- and big pass plays -- in the league." Peter Schrager at FOXSports.com predicts a 31-23 Seahawks win, "Weird things can happen on Halloween in New Orleans. But if there’s ever been a place the Seattle offense can cure its ills, it’s down on the Superdome carpet in the Big Easy against that New Orleans D. Jimmy Graham used to own this building, and I think it might be just what he needs Sunday. I like Seattle. The quarterback breathes a little easier, the kicker kicks a little straighter, and the points come a little more smoothly." David Steele at Sporting News takes the Seahawks, 34-30, "Like the Cardinals, the Seahawks took a beating in their overtime tie, then had to go east. Russell Wilson is taking a beating himself, again. The Saints defense is a good one to get healthy against, though: it’s given up the most points per game and the fourth-most yards per game so far. Drew Brees is going to earn his money the rest of his contract. Vinnie Iyer at Sporting News has Seattle winning 30-21, "Jimmy Graham will be a bit fired up at the home of his former team. He, along with the rest of Seattle’s field-stretching pass-catchers with Russell Wilson, can make plenty of dents on a Big Easy defense. Drew Brees will do his best to keep up but will fall just short, as he gets little help from the run and sees most of his receiving targets get overmatched by The Legion of Boom. The ‘Hawks make a lot more noise in the Superdome." Danny O'Neil at 710Sports.com predicts a 27-20 Seattle win, "Same story, different year. The Saints enter the game with one of the league’s most explosive offenses, having passed for a league-leading 339.3 yards per game. The Seahawks have one of the league’s best defenses, having held two of their first six opponents without a touchdown. The fact that Seattle didn’t win either of those games is testament to how challenged Seattle’s offense has been. The real question about this game is whether the Seahawks can run the ball, though. The Saints have given up 11 touchdowns on the ground, most by any team in the league. Three of five writers at USA Today select the Seahawks to win. Six of eight experts at CBSSports.com are taking the Seahawks to win straight up. Eight of nine analysts at ESPN.com like the Seahawks to win this weekend.

Week 8: Seattle Seahawks at New Orleans Saints Picks & Predictions

Check out which team the national media is picking to win this weekend's game between the Seahawks and Saints.