JIM MOORE

Jim Moore Predicts: Seahawks will handle 8-3 Vikings in MNF rematch

Nov 30, 2019, 2:21 AM

Seahawks CB Shaquill Griffin...

Shaquill Griffin and the Seahawks beat the Vikings 21-7 on a Monday night in 2018. (AP)

(AP)

The Seahawks are 9-2 and have a sparkling record in primetime games, particularly ones played on Monday night. Kirk Cousins typically struggles against winning teams, and I’m also thinking: “Didn’t we see these two teams play in primetime last year, and didn’t the Seahawks win 21-7?”

The 6: Seahawks’ unlikely heroes and a real championship opportunity

I mention all of these things because I’m surprised that the Seahawks are favored by only three points in another Monday night matchup against the Vikings at CenturyLink Field. I don’t think much has changed from last year. At 8-3, the Vikings are certainly capable of beating the Seahawks, especially with offensive weapons such as Dalvin Cook, Stefon Diggs and the expected return of Adam Thielen.

You can’t dismiss Cousins, either. He leads the NFL with a passer rating of 114.8, and don’t forget that two years ago he led the Redskins to a 17-14 victory in Seattle after engineering a four-play, game-winning drive in the last two minutes.

Defensively the Vikings offer concerns as well with a a pass rush featuring a combined 15.5 sacks from Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen. And their coach, Mike Zimmer, is one of the NFL’s best. For whatever this is worth, since becoming Minnesota’s head coach six years ago, the Vikings have had the best record against the spread according to the RJ Bell Dream Podcast.

But I’m also seeing a Vikings team that has beaten only one opponent with a winning record – that’s Oakland, and the Raiders are barely a winning team at 6-5. They did have a nice Sunday night win at Dallas earlier this month, but that victory doesn’t look as great as it did at the time with the Cowboys sporting a 6-6 record now after being handled by the Bills on Thanksgiving Day.

The last time we saw the Vikings – two weeks ago before their bye – they had to fight off a last-second challenge by the struggling Broncos. Denver was inside the Minnesota 10-yard line looking for the game-winning TD before a pass fell incomplete on the last play of the game.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks have been soaring as you know. Their only two losses came to two of the best teams in the league, the 10-2 Saints and 9-2 Ravens. Seattle has also defeated the 10-1 49ers and now features an improving defense. It still isn’t close to being as good as the Seattle offense, but at least it’s heading in the right direction and is expected to get Jadeveon Clowney back this week. After torturing the 49ers all night long, Clowney missed the Eagles’ game with a hip injury.

In a weird way, you have to wonder a little bit about the Seahawks at home. Typically they have a huge advantage over visiting teams at CenturyLink Field, but they’re only 3-2 at home. All three of their victories could have been losses – they beat the Bengals and Rams by one point and needed overtime to beat the Bucs.

Expect a return to the norm against the Vikings. If things fall the right way with a Ravens’ victory over San Francisco on Sunday, the Seahawks could come out of Monday night’s game in first place in the NFC West.

Prediction: Seahawks 27, Vikings 17.

Follow 710 ESPN Seattle’s Jim Moore on Twitter.

More Seahawks coverage

Seahawks to wear Action Green — with a twist — on Monday Night Football
Shaquill Griffin happy to see brother Shaquem ‘do what does’
Wyman: Diggs already important to Seahawks’ D
Clayton: New Seahawks standouts to sort through

Jim Moore

Seahawks Russell Wilson...

Jim Moore

Moore’s 10 Seahawks Takeaways: We’re seeing the downsides to ‘Let Russ Cook’

Jim Moore shares what stands out to him at the midway point for the Seahawks, including five reasons he's still not fully on board with letting Russell Wilson cook.

4 years ago

WSU Jayden de Laura...

Jim Moore

Moore: WSU’s future looks bright after QB Jayden de Laura’s stellar debut

After watching true freshman Jayden de Laura lead WSU to a 38-28 win over Oregon State, Jim Moore writes that he was dazzled, seeing a combination of Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray.

4 years ago

Seahawks Russell Wilson...

Jim Moore

Moore Predicts: Most factors favor Seahawks, but Bills will win in Buffalo

The Bills' biggest weakness is something Jim Moore doesn't see the Seahawks taking advantage of, predicting Seattle's second loss of the season on Sunday.

4 years ago

WSU Nick Rolovich...

Jim Moore

Moore: As WSU’s Rolovich era begins, it’s nice to be all-in on Cougs again

As WSU prepares for its Pac-12 opener Saturday, Jim Moore is plenty excited about the first new Cougs football coach since Mike Leach in 2012. That's because of how Leach conducted himself during his time in Pullman.

4 years ago

Seahawks Ryan Neal Bobby Wagner...

Jim Moore

Moore’s 10 Seahawks Takeaways: How do they keep finding diamonds in the rough for the secondary?

On Sunday, D.J. Reed joined Ryan Neal as a reserve defensive back to make an unexpected impact for the Seahawks this year. Jim Moore on that and more in his weekly takeaways post.

4 years ago

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson...

Jim Moore

Moore Predicts: Seahawks to win battle of hurt teams behind big game from Wilson

The Seahawks and 49ers enter Week 8 banged up, but Jim Moore thinks Seattle has the advantage and Russell Wilson will beat the 49ers' depleted secondary.

4 years ago

Jim Moore Predicts: Seahawks will handle 8-3 Vikings in MNF rematch