No team has less to prove than the Seattle Seahawks, while few have more to prove to a skeptical fan base than the Dallas Cowboys. Seattle is the reigning Super Bowl champion and looks good early, riding a 3-1 record and a share of the NFC West lead into Week 6 against Dallas. The Cowboys are 4-1 and playing inspired football on both sides of the ball, but are not yet a serious contender in the eyes of many.
Cowboys vs. Seahawks 2014 picks and predictions: Seattle heavy favorite in front of home crowd
If there is one place where is virtually impossible for a road team to win, it’s Seattle. Dallas will try anyway with a potent offense and surprising defense.
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Dallas is in the midst of a four-game winning streak after dropping the season-opener to the 49ers at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys, long known for being a pass-heavy offense, have finally found balance. Dallas is second in the league in rushing yards per game with 160, led by DeMarco Murray. Murray is leading the NFL with 670 rushing yards while averaging 5.2 yards per carry and five touchdowns. Defensively, the Cowboys are eighth in the league, allowing only 20.2 points. The unit is greatly improved despite losing DeMarcus Ware to free agency and Sean Lee for the season in OTAs with a knee injury.
The Seahawks are well-established as the best defense in the NFL. Surprisingly though, Seattle is actually allowing 0.2 points per game more the the Cowboys this season. The offense has carried the day for the Seahawks, led by the dual-threat Russell Wilson along with the power of Marshawn Lynch and speed of Percy Harvin. Lynch has absolutely torched Dallas in their last two meetings, averaging 128.5 yards and a touchdown per contest. Defensively, Tony Romo will have to avoid Richard Sherman even more than usual. Sherman has nine interceptions in his last 14 home games.
Over at USA Today, everybody is siding with the home team except Jarrett Bell, who believes Dallas will seize the opportunity to turn heads. The CBS Sports crew is unanimously picking the Seahawks to improve to 4-1, although half of the experts think the Cowboys will cover the 8.5-point spread. Over at ESPN.com, the Seahawks earned a clean sweep from the 13 analysts.
From the great men of SB Nation comes another decisive pick for Seattle. All seven men are going with Seattle to win, putting Dallas in the clear role of major underdog.
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