Seattle Seahawks vs. Baltimore Ravens: Full Seattle Game Preview
The Seattle Seahawks have proven in their last two victories that they can beat quality opponents. Now, they'll have to prove that they can continue playing well against teams that have nothing to lose.
Seattle's Week 14 opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, certainly fit that mold.
The Ravens and Seahawks have only played each other four times in history, with the all-time series tied at 2-2. Seattle has taken the last two meetings, with its last victory against Baltimore coming at home in 2011.
These two teams could not be at more different stages at this point in the season. Seattle has hung tough to keep its playoff hopes alive, while seven of Baltimore's eight losses in 2015 have been by less than a touchdown.
But make no mistake—the Ravens would love to try and spoil the Seahawks' postseason chances, especially with their own season already all but over at 4-8.
Despite the differences in record, these two teams should prepare for a close battle on Sunday.
Continue reading to find out what to watch for this weekend.
Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
Time: 1 p.m. EST (10 a.m. local)
TV: Fox 13
Week 13 Recap
1 of 6
Week 13 saw the Seahawks quickly turn one of the week's most anticipated games into a blowout, as they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 38-7 on the road.
The victory firmly put the Seahawks in second place in the NFC West. It also helped them keep control of the NFC's sixth wild-card spot. NFL Media has a nice breakdown of the playoff picture on its site, if you're interested in taking a look.
Against the Vikings, Seattle youngsters Thomas Rawls and Tyler Lockett were both productive at their respective positions. Rawls recovered from an early fumble to gash the Vikings defense for 101 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Lockett finished with seven catches for 90 yards.
But it was quarterback Russell Wilson who truly shined for the second straight week. Wilson threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns and avoided throwing any picks. He also added 51 rushing yards and a score on the ground.
Receiver Doug Baldwin was outstanding against the Vikings as well, catching five passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns. The chemistry between Wilson and Baldwin has never been better.
The Seahawks defense was also nearly perfect in Week 13's big win, holding running back Adrian Peterson to only 18 rushing yards on the day. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was also stifled, throwing for only 118 yards and an interception.
It was the Seahawks' most important—and dominant—win of the 2015 season.
News and Notes
2 of 6
Rookies paying dividends in crunch time
A trio of Seattle Seahawks rookies are proving their worth in the regular season's most important stretch.
By now, you know about the successes of Rawls and Lockett this season (which we will get to). But defensive end Frank Clark deserves your immediate attention.
Clark's stats might not blow you away, and that's fine. But what should pique the 12th Man's interest is that his three sacks have come in two of Seattle's most important games (Pittsburgh and Minnesota).
Clark also got his hand on two of Bridgewater's passes last Sunday, knocking both of them down at the line of scrimmage. It's an encouraging ability to see a defensive end developing in the weeks leading up to a potential playoff run.
With two lesser opponents on the Seahawks' immediate schedule, Clark has a chance to feast. And, with a recent uptick in production, it's not irrational to think that he will.
As far as Seattle's other productive rookies, it's no secret that the Seahawks have heavily relied on Rawls in the last three weeks. Seattle has ridden Rawls to the tune of 391 yards on 70 carries since Week 11, a heavy—and productive—workload.
Meanwhile, Lockett is ranked seventh in the NFL in terms of all-purpose yards with 1,319 this season. Despite having only three receiving touchdowns on the year, Lockett's presence and production for the Seahawks shouldn't be underestimated.
Cary Williams released
Since the Seahawks benched free-agent cornerback Cary Williams in Week 11, Seattle's defense has been a better unit.
The team must have thought so, too, as it released Williams earlier in the week.
Seattle still ended up paying Williams the guaranteed money from his shiny new offseason contract, which John Breech of CBS Sports reported was $7 million. The addition of Williams proved to be a costly mistake for the Seahawks.
But the team's success—and a postseason run—is worth infinitely more than the $7 million owed to Williams. Not all organizations are so quick to abandon a player to whom they paid big offseason money. The Seahawks should be lauded for their no-nonsense decision-making in the case of Williams.
In his place, former practice squad player DeShawn Shead has filled in admirably. The Seahawks secondary didn't need Williams, and it's a better unit with him gone.
Injury News
3 of 6
The Seahawks enter Week 14's matchup relatively healthy, meaning there aren't any pressing, recent injuries to talk about.
That being said, let's briefly check in on a couple of Seattle's injured players we already knew about.
Marshawn Lynch rehabbing
According to head coach Pete Carroll, quoted on the team's official website, running back Marshawn Lynch is "feeling OK," but it's unclear when exactly Seattle's star runner will return.
Perhaps Lynch will be ready for the playoffs?
"I don't know that yet," Carroll said in the same piece. "So I can't tell you that."
In the meantime, Rawls has Lynch's back. And fans are probably OK with that, based on the rookie's production in place of Beast Mode so far this season.
Even so, it would be tremendous to get Lynch back for a potential postseason run. He is just another Seattle weapon for which opposing defenses must account, 100 percent healthy or not.
Jimmy Graham in good spirits
Carroll said in a press conference that tight end Jimmy Graham, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers, is recovering from a successful operation on his torn patellar tendon.
"He was uncomfortable, it was a very difficult surgery," Carroll said. "The last time we communicated his spirits were good."
It will be important for Graham to return to Seattle next season completely healthy to improve on a relatively disappointing 2015 campaign. Graham is certainly part of Seattle's long-term plans at the tight end position.
The immediate impact of Graham's injury has yet to be felt on offense, especially after a recent surge from wideouts Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett.
As defenses learn to tighten up on Seattle's receivers down the stretch, though, exactly how much the Seahawks miss Graham will be tested. The Seahawks offense will eventually find itself limited in certain ways with the veteran out.
.png?w=256)
Key Matchups
4 of 6
Frank Clark vs. Ravens offensive line
Despite being 4-8, the Ravens have only allowed 19 sacks this season, which is tied for the NFL's fourth best in that category.
This gives Clark an outstanding opportunity to continue improving his 2015 stat line against an above-average group of pass-blockers.
It's good that Clark faces a decent offensive line on a not-so-decent team this week. Seattle doesn't need its important players getting complacent in matchups with bad opponents down the stretch.
The good news for Clark: The Ravens will either start quarterback Matt Schaub or Jimmy Clausen on Sunday, according to Garrett Downing of BaltimoreRavens.com. Either way, Clark should have plenty of chances to pad his sack stats.
Don't underestimate the importance of Clark's impact on Sunday. Given time, even Schaub or Clausen can grind out an effective—or winning—performance. It will be up to Clark and the rest of Seattle's defensive line to make sure Baltimore's quarterbacks don't get that chance.
Thomas Rawls vs. Ravens defense
For a team with such a poor record, the Ravens are quite sound statistically.
Against the run this season, the Ravens are allowing 3.8 yards per carry and have only surrendered six rushing touchdowns. These numbers will be put to the test this week against the red-hot Rawls.
It wouldn't be surprising if Seattle finds itself in a close game against the Ravens. If that becomes the case, then it will be substantially more important for Rawls to grind out yardage to control the clock and, ideally, get a win.
Again, Rawls' impact this weekend shouldn't be underestimated. It may not always look like it, but much of Wilson's success in recent passing performances is directly tied to how effectively Rawls has run the football.
Matchup X-Factor: Steven Hauschka
5 of 6
It was written earlier in this piece that seven of the Ravens' eight losses have come by seven points or fewer. Looking further into that stat reveals that, in three of Baltimore's last five losses, the Ravens have lost by a field goal or less.
And that's why it's crucial for kicker Steven Hauschka and the Seahawks special teams to have a flawless day.
Hauschka and Seattle's special teams whiffed three combined extra-point attempts in Weeks 11 and 12. Luckily, those mistakes didn't cost the Seahawks wins.
But against a Ravens team that has legitimately not been blown out of any game it's played this season, making the little things—such as extra-point attempts—count will go a long way this week.
Hauschka is by all accounts a good (if not great) NFL kicker and has only missed one field goal all season. It just wouldn't be surprising if this game puts him in a spot to win, or lose, the contest based on Baltimore's knack of staying tight in games.
Prediction: Seattle Seahawks 24, Baltimore Ravens 13
6 of 6
The Seahawks will hand the Ravens their first double-digit loss of the season in Maryland on Sunday.
Wilson, Rawls and the rest of Seattle's offense comes back down to earth for the first time in three weeks, but that's not to say it won't be effective. Rawls will rush for 75 yards and a score and add another 50 receiving yards.
Baldwin continues to be Wilson's favorite target in the passing game, racking up 100 yards and a score on a Ravens pass defense that surrenders nearly 244 passing yards per game.
Baltimore has also allowed 22 touchdowns through the air while only picking off four passes this season. Look for Wilson to have yet another clean performance throwing the ball on Sunday.
As for Seattle's defense, the unit will put pressure on whomever the Ravens start at quarterback in hopes of forcing turnovers. Those hopes will come to fruition, as the Seahawks linebackers and defensive backs will be ball hawks and swipe at least one Ravens pass from the air.
Although many will see Sunday's contest as a "trap" game, Coach Carroll's Seahawks aren't known for folding in the midst of a postseason run.
Seattle has looked to be on a mission in recent weeks, and the Seahawks' conquest toward the playoffs continues with a second straight convincing win on the road.
Ethan is a Seattle Seahawks Game Day Correspondent for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @ebai_today for Seahawks coverage and musings about the NFL.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Texans Giants Football")
