After two weeks of action, the NFL betting season is in full swing. In NFL Week 3, there are many great matchups offering intriguing online sports betting opportunities. When browsing NFL betting lines via your preferred sportsbook casino, it helps to have access to as much information as you can. In this NFL game preview, we look at one of the best football matchups of the week, with the Dallas Cowboys taking on the Seattle Seahawks.
What To Look For
In what could be a potential playoff matchup, the Cowboys head to CenturyLink Field in Seattle to take on the Seahawks in Week 3. Although without the trademark “12th man” of the crowd being allowed in due to COVID-19 restrictions, Seattle’s traditional home-field advantage may not have much of an impact.
Both quarterbacks enter the game on fire, playing their best. Dak Prescott of the Cowboys, and Russell Wilson of the Seahawks both appear headed for an MVP-caliber season. Of course it is early, but NFL betting odds suggest it could happen for either one.
Each team comes into the game with a roster full of superstars on both sides of the ball. Both head coaches also have plenty of experience in the NFL, and plenty of success too. Pete Carroll helped lead his Seahawks to a Super Bowl title in 2014, while Mike McCarthy helped lead the Packers to a Super Bowl title in 2011.
This year, both the Cowboys and Seahawks feel they have a good chance to get back to the Super Bowl. A victory for either team could go a long way toward making that eventual goal possible. The game on Sunday should be a fun one to watch!
Key Players To Watch
Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott, Quarterback
The Cowboys may be regretting not signing their quarterback to a long-term extension prior to this season. Why? Because the Pro Bowl quarterback’s price tag seems to go up each time he pulls on the helmet as his stellar play is moving Prescott up the list of NFL signal callers.
Last week against the Atlanta Falcons, Prescott set an NFL record for being the first player to ever pass for 400 yards and rush for three touchdowns in a single game. After a strong Week 1 and Week 2 performance, Prescott is third in the NFL in total passing yards with 716.
Against the Seahawks, Dak should have plenty of passing opportunities. While the Seahawks have some defensive playmakers, they have struggled to stop the pass so far this season. The Seahawks are last in the league, allowing the most passing yards as a team per game after two weeks.
Ezekiel Elliott, Running Back
In back-to-back weeks, Ezekiel Elliott has received exactly 22 carries each game. Yet to go over 100 yards rushing on the season, expect the Cowboys to continue feeding Zeke.
Against the Seahawks, gaining yards on the ground will prove to be more difficult. Two weeks in, the Seahawks are second-best in the league, allowing just 69.5 rushing yards as a team per game.
The score will largely dictate how much the Cowboys stick with Zeke and the ground game. If they get ahead early on, look for Elliott to soak up the carries. However, if the Seahawks get out to a strong, early lead, the carries for Elliott may fade quickly.
Seattle Seahawks
Russell Wilson, Quarterback
As one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Russell Wilson has an incredible ability to boost the performance of those around him. His ability to lead a group of players is second to none. It’s no surprise that he is still at the top of his game, his ninth year in the league.
Leading the NFL in completion percentage, passing touchdowns, and QB rating, Wilson seems primed for an MVP year. A great factor in MVP voting is whether or not your team is in the playoffs. At 2-0, the Seahawks are off to a great start.
The Cowboys have struggled to pressure the opposing quarterback, so expect Wilson to light up their passing defense in Week 3. With plenty of talent at his disposal, Russ could have a big day.
D.K. Metcalf, Wide Receiver
One of the most impressive rookie campaigns last season belonged to D.K. Metcalf. After 900 yards and seven touchdowns, the freakish wide receiver is back to show he’s even better than last year.
Standing at 6’4, and weighing 229 pounds, Metcalf ran a blistering 4.33 40 yard dash at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine. Since coming into the league, he has used that insane combination of size and speed to dominate defenders.
Last week against the New England Patriots, we saw one of the best cornerbacks in the league in Stephon Gilmore get absolutely burned by Metcalf as he caught a touchdown pass. From the looks of things, nobody can cover Metcalf. Expect the Cowboys to struggle on Sunday as well.
Where Do They Stand?
Through two weeks of the young NFL season, a lot has happened. Dallas has had a couple of tough matchups against the Los Angeles Rams and the Atlanta Falcons, going 1-1. With two games played across the league, the Cowboys are tied with Washington for first place in the NFC East division. Another win could start creating some separation in the division.
Looking at the Seattle Seahawks, they are off to a hot start. The NFC West division this season appears tough to compete in. At 2-0, the Seahawks are stuck in a three-way tie for first place with two other teams in their division. They will have to win if they have any chance of staying in first place for another week.
Past Historical Matchups Between the Cowboys and Seahawks
These two franchises have both enjoyed some recent success, enough to get them to the postseason in recent years. The last time the Cowboys played in the playoffs was in the 2018-2019 NFL season. Meanwhile, the Seahawks have reached the postseason each year that Russell Wilson has been in the league, except for the 2017 season.
The Cowboys have faced the Seahawks a total of 20 times in their existence. Dallas leads the all-time series 11-9.
The most recent time they faced off, was in the Wild Card Playoff game in January of 2019. In that game, the Dallas Cowboys had home-field advantage and eked out a victory over the Seattle Seahawks, kicking them out of the playoffs. You can bet Russell Wilson and company are eager to show the Cowboys who the better team is this time around.
NFL Betting Picks and Predictions
An early peek at NFL odds suggest the Seahawks as favorites to beat the Cowboys. Being that they’re 2-0 and at home, that makes sense. A closer look at the players within the game, and you’ll see that Russell Wilson is playing like there’s no tomorrow. Expect that to continue against the Cowboys’ lackluster passing defense.
The Cowboys have plenty of offensive firepower, but the Seahawks are on a roll. Seattle is very well-coached and they are likely bitter about being kicked out of the playoffs by Dallas in 2019. We think the Seahawks will win a close one over the Cowboys on Sunday.
Our final score prediction: Seahawks Win 30-27
