Nov 29, 2023
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So, two teams that played last Thursday while the rest of us stuffed our faces have another Thursday work day. Week 13 begins with the 6-5 Seattle Seahawks visiting the 8-3 Dallas Cowboys in Arlington.
Seattle’s lost three of its last four, the latest of 31-13 home humbling at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. Seattle ended with just 220 yards of offense.
Dallas, meanwhile, drilled the visiting Washington Commanders, 45-10, using a 25-point final quarter to end matters.
Dallas is a solid, 9½-point favorite (total at 47½), according to NFL odds.
Moneyline is Cowboys -450, Seahawks at +340.
Dallas is leading the all-time series (including postseason), 11-10.
A Failed Statement
There was a chance to prove they were legitimate, but the Seattle Seahawks did not comply
Seattle was just a game behind the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West when the teams met in the Pacific Northwest last week. However, the Seahawks went quietly, another bird done in by the holiday.
Quarterback Geno Smith (2,584 yards, 12 touchdowns, eight interceptions) has not been nearly as effective in recent games (three touchdown passes in last four with a pair of sub-200-yard games). Smith needs to find a way against the vaunted defense of the Cowboys, especially if leading rusher Kenneth Walker III (613 tads, six touchdowns) is out again.
What was once a dominant defense enters with some issues, having surrendered 111 points in its last four.
That’s the Point(s)
The Dallas Cowboys have eclipsed the Miami Dolphins as the highest-scoring outfit (31½ points per game) in the league. They’re also averaging 41 points at home, where they have won 13 games in a row.
Add a defensive unit which holds the other guys to 16.8 points/game (fourth in NFL), and you get a team playing as well as any in the league. Whether the Cowboys prosper in the playoffs is the elephant in the room.
Quarterback Dak Prescott (2,935 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, six interceptions) is enjoying the best season of his career, with a completion rate of 70 percent.
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (78 receptions, 1,066 yards, six touchdowns) leads an array of receivers who can get downfield in a hurry.
Cornerback DaRon Bland is having a monster season in Dallas (seven interceptions, five touchdowns), taking a pick to the house in the last two games.
Dallas to Dominate?
Dallas is 17-4 (+425) to win the NFC, while the Seahawks are 28-1 (+2800), as per NFL conference odds.
Though the Seattle Seahawks are a desperate team, they’re not scoring at a level needed to compete with the elite.
Dallas (stop us if you’ve seen this before) is a team no one wants to oppose (at least until the playoffs). Expect Prescott to have another big game in this one.
Take the Over to cash in this game.