In a wide-open NFC, the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys will have lofty expectations this year. Saturday’s preseason matchup gives both teams a chance to fine-tune their rosters.
The Seahawks largely sat their starters against the Minnesota Vikings last Thursday in their preseason opener but still came away with a 24-13 win, led by a steady performance from Drew Lock (191 passing yards with two touchdowns and a pick).
A similarly eye-catching quarterback outing from Will Grier (199 passing yards with two touchdown passes and an interception) kept the Cowboys afloat in Saturday’s 28-23 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now both teams have to decide whether to sprinkle in some minutes for their starters this weekend with the regular season just three weeks away.
We take a closer look at this August 19 battle in our free Cowboys vs Seahawks NFL picks and predictions.
Cowboys vs Seahawks odds
Cowboys vs Seahawks predictions
Backup quarterback play can be wildly erratic, but we’ve got two of the more stable situations here on Saturday with the Seahawks’ Drew Lock and the Cowboys’ Will Grier and Cooper Rush expected to do most of the heavy lifting.
Lock has appeared in 24 NFL games (25 TDs and 20 interceptions), and that was apparent last week as he got the upper hand on the Minnesota defense. Seattle completed 21 of its 26 passes and didn’t miss a beat when third-choice Holton Ahlers entered the game.
That bodes well for a matchup against a Dallas team likely to be without their defensive aces. Jacksonville threw for 269 yards against the Cowboys’ backups, and Seattle should have similar success, especially if rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba suits up again and other starters feature for a few series.
At this stage, it feels likely that we’ll see a combination of Grier and Rush under center for the Cowboys again this weekend, as the visitors try to limit the wear and tear for Dak Prescott. But I expect the offense to run smoothly and put up 20+ points. Rush guided Dallas to a 6-3 mark while filling in for Prescott last season, so the visitors have that solid foundation next to Grier, who completed 22 of his 31 passes against the Jaguars.
Dallas gave the keys to electric running back Deuce Vaughn at times last Saturday, and he rewarded them with some elusive runs on the way to 50 rushing yards and a touchdown, along with three catches. With a talented group of young receivers to ensure a varied gameplan, the visitors should be able to move the ball consistently.
Even in a contest that will tilt heavily towards reserves and players fighting to make the final roster, both of these teams have the tools to breeze past the total. I’m taking the Over.
My best bet: Over 40.5 (-110 at bet365)
Not intended for use in MA.Affiliate Disclosure: Covers may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site.
