We’re on the verge of Week 6 in the 2023 NFL season and on Sunday, the 3-1 Seattle Seahawks will be looking to keep it rolling as they visit the struggling Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) at Paul Brown Stadium. The kick-off is scheduled for 1 PM ET. Seattle actually had a bye in Week 5 but did cruise to a convincing 24-3 victory the week prior against the New York Giants. As for Cincy, they finally grabbed a win last Sunday over the Arizona Cardinals by a score of 34-20. A much-needed outcome for them. Continue reading for the Seahawks vs Bengals picks.
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The Bengals are the favorite here with -147 moneyline odds for an implied win probability of 59.51%. The Seahawks come back at +127 and have a 44.05% chance of taking this one. The spread is quite slim, with Cincinnati laying just 2.5 points. The total is set at 45. It’s been a long time since these two teams have clashed. They last met in 2019, with Hawks winning 21-20 at home. But, a lot has changed for both squads in the last four years.
Seattle didn’t start off the campaign in a great way, losing to the Los Angeles Rams at home. However, since then, Pete Carroll’s group has won three in a row, beating the Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, and Giants. Although the Seahawks aren’t thriving in any particular area, the results are there. They also have an extra week of rest heading into Sunday, which means the team should come in fresh.
The Hawks rank sixth in the NFL in points with 27.8 per game but actually rank 21st in total yards. Quarterback Geno Smith is having another good year, completing 68.3% of his passes for 846 yards, five touchdowns, and just one interception. Smith did suffer a minor injury in the Giants matchup but he’s good to go in Week 6. Out wide, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are leading the way as per usual while rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba is also doing his part, profiling to be an important piece for the WR room.
In the victory over New York, running back Kenneth Walker did a lot of the damage, registering 79 yards rushing to go along with a touchdown. Lockett had four catches while Metcalf and Smith-Njigba reeled in three apiece. The real start however was cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who had a touchdown off an interception, six tackles, and two sacks. The rookie wreaked havoc on the Saquon Barkley-less Giants offense.
The key here will be to slow down Joe Burrow and Co. He looked a lot better in Week 5 and could have his mojo back. If that is the case, the defense has to be ready. That includes Witherspoon, who will definitely be a factor come Sunday.
Like in many years past, the Bengals were seen as a Super Bowl contender before the season began with Burrow and his talented WR core. However, things haven’t exactly gone to plan. Burrow suffered a calf injury in training camp and hasn’t been at 100% since, clearly playing through pain. And even when he has suited up, it’s not the Burrow we’re used to seeing. Heading into Week 5, Burrow openly said it was a must-win game against the Cards. Needless to say, the former LSU standout showed up and showed out.
The Bengals erupted for 34 points, 14 more than their season high prior to Week 5. Burrow went 36 for 46 with 317 yards and three passing touchdowns against only one pick. Although the run game was practically non-existent, the weapons downfield saw lots of action. Ja’Marr Chase, who criticized his usage not long ago, reeled in a mind-boggling 15 catches for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Talk about a statement game. Trenton Irwin also had eight receptions while Tyler Boyd collected six catches. Everyone got in on the fun.
This Cincy offense is still one of the worst in the league due to their slow start, but they showed a lot of promise versus Arizona, even though they’re a poor opponent. It was the type of performance that gave the Bengals confidence and it’s definitely something to build on.
The Seahawks are solid against the run but tend to be poor downfield, ranking 30th in the league with 280 passing yards allowed per game. You know what that means. Chase and Co. are going to eat with lots of passes coming their way. Burrow will certainly focus on the passing game and it could be the difference in this encounter.
Cincinnati has actually won three of the last five against Seattle and their showing in Week 5 really impressed me. And as previously mentioned, I just think their pass offense will have their way on Sunday at home. Take the Bengals moneyline.
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