SEATTLE, Washington (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns play the first of three games out west this season Sunday as they take on the Seahawks in a battle of 4-2 teams.
Here’s what, and who we are watching for in the great northwest.
P.J. Walker, who relieved Deshaun Watson in the first quarter of last week’s 39-38 win over the Colts and threw for 178 yards, is called upon to start his second game for the Browns in the last three weeks. Walker, out of practice squad elevations, was signed to the active 53-man roster this week. Walker will have to contend with a Seattle defense that has 23 sacks as a team with 11 different players registering at least one. Aside from the pressure, crowd noise will be a factor. Walker mentioned Friday Lumen Field is the loudest stadium he’s ever heard as a player.
Running back Jerome Ford is questionable after suffering a low-grade high ankle sprain at Indianapolis and leaving the stadium in a walking boot. Ford, who ripped off a 69-yard touchdown run, practiced Friday. Kareem Hunt and Pierre Strong would carry the bulk of the load on the ground if Ford, who averages 4.4 yards per carry, is unavailable. Hunt rushed for a pair of touchdowns last week, including the game winner with 15 seconds to play.
Tight end David Njoku could be used to provide Walker with a safe target in the passing game. Njoku has caught at least five passes in two of the past three games. Receivers Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore will also be leaned on along with Marquise Goodwin to create big plays. Goodwin has gotten some looks in the misdirection game, similar to how we’ve seen Moore used early in the season.
Despite giving up over 450 yards last week in Indianapolis, the Browns still lead the NFL in total defense with 243.0 yards per game allowed and pass defense with 149.2 yard per game allowed.
Myles Garrett is coming off a dominating performance that saw him register a pair of strip sacks, a blocked field goal and batted pass against the Colts. Garrett is third in the NFL with 7.5 sacks this season and he is up to 82 for his career, the most in league history for a player prior to their 28th birthday. Fellow defensive end Za’Darius Smith netted his first sack of the season and forced a fumble in Week 7. Smith has helped take some attention away from Garrett and generate pressure this season.
Kicker Dustin Hopkins became the first player in NFL history to make a field goal of 50 or more yards in five consecutive games with three makes – two from 54 and another from 58 – last week. Hopkins has made all seven tries from beyond 50 yards this season after entering the year with a 50% make percentage from that distance in his career.
Geno Smith is completing just under 69% of his passes this season with seven touchdowns and four interceptions for the Seahawks. Last week, Smith completed 18 of 24 passes for 219 yards with a pair of touchdowns and an interception in a 20-10 win over the Cardinals. Since 2022 Smith has an NFL-best 11 starts where he’s completed at least 70% of his passes.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker, who has 450 yards and six touchdowns to date, is coming off a season-high 105 yards last week, his sixth career game with 100 rushing yards.
Cornerback Denzel Ward grabbed his first interception of the season, and he looks to break up a pass in his seventh consecutive road game for the Browns. Ward and Cleveland’s secondary will have their hands full with Seattle’s receivers. Tyler Lockett looks for his fifth straight game against the Browns with five catches and at least 50 yards receiving while DK Metcalf, who had 69 receiving yards in a 2019 win over the Browns, has caught for at least 65 yards in three of his last four games. Rookie receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jake Bobo are both coming off solid outings in Week 7. Smith-Njigba caught his first career touchdown and a career best 63 yards while Bobo had 61 receiving yards and his second touchdown of the year.
Seattle’s linebackers make big plays and lead the Seahawks sack parade. Bobby Wagner has at least five tackles in five of six games this season and 22 of his past 23 games. Jordyn Brooks is coming off a nine-tackle – with two for a loss, a pass breakup and half sack game. Boye Mafe has a career-high four sacks to go with five tackles-for-loss this season. Mafe looks for a sack in a fifth straight game and a TFL in a sixth consecutive game. Seattle added Frank Clark, who was released earlier this month by the Broncos, and he is expected to be available Sunday.
Last week – Browns beat the Colts 39-38; Seahawks beat the Cardinals 20-10.
The last time – October 13, 2019: Seahawks 32, Browns 28
Series – Seahawks lead all-time 13-6
By the numbers – A look at how the two teams match up statistically.
Browns offense vs. Seahawks defense:
Scoring: Browns 22.3, Seahawks 19.7
Total yards: Browns 319.2, Seahawks 322.2
Passing: Browns 171.7, Seahawks 235.0
Rushing: Browns 147.5, Seahawks 87.2
Browns defense vs. Seahawks offense:
Scoring: Browns 19.2, Seahawks 24.0
Total yards: Browns 243.0, Seahawks 330.2
Passing: Browns 149.2, Seahawks 224.2
Rushing: Browns 93.8, Seahawks 106.0
Defensive stats
Sacks: Browns 19, Seahawks 23
Takeaways: Browns 8, Seahawks 7
Turnover differential: Browns -6, Seahawks +1
Projected Browns starters – Offense: WR Amari Cooper, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C Ethan Pocic, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Dawand Jones, TE David Njoku, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, QB P.J. Walker, RB Kareem Hunt, WR Elijah Moore
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, DT Jordan Elliott, DE Za’Darius Smith, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Anthony Walker, CB Denzel Ward, CB Greg Newsome II, CB Martin Emerson Jr., SS Grant Delpit, FS Juan Thornhill
Injury report – Out: QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder); Questionable: LT Jedrick Wills (foot/ankle), RB Jerome Ford (ankle), WR Marquise Goodwin (back), LB Sione Takitaki (hamstring); Expected to play: DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (ribs), RB Kareem Hunt (thigh), TE David Njoku (knee), LB Anthony Walker (shoulder), TE Harrison Bryant (hip), DE Alex Wright (concussion), LB Tony Fields (hip) WR Amari Cooper (rest/ankle)
Uniforms – Orange helmet, white jersey, brown pants
Broadcast info – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX; TV: WJW TV-8 (FOX)
Kickoff – 4:05 p.m. Lumen Field; Seattle, Washington
Prediction – Seahawks 24, Browns 16
Our prediction record – 3-3