This game should be a defensive battle as both teams have stingy defenses.

With Shaun Alexander out, look for the Seahawks to run more 4 WR sets and let Matt Hasselbeck (658 yards) throw the ball all over the place.  Look for Deion Branch and Nate Burleson to be thrown to more often this week.  The Seahawks will use their passing game to open it up for the running game.  Look for Maurice Morris (66 yards) to get most of the carries, but for Mack Strong to steal a few.

The Bears still prefer to run the ball, but the Seahawks only allow 58.7 yards rushing per game.  Look for the Bears to bring Thomas Jones (181 yards) and Cedric Benson (59 yards) right at the defense to start the game.  Look for Rex Grossman to then try to stretch the field throwing deep to Muhammad (279 yards), Berrian (208 yards) and Rashied Davis (87 yards).

This should be a great football game, but I’m siding with the Bears because I think they’ll protect the football better.

Being the cover boy on John Madden’s football game is a curse that has reared it’s ugly head again.  RB Shaun Alexander has a broken bone in his foot and could miss up to a month.  Maurice Morris will take over.

The Seahawks built a 42-3 lead after three quarters and then the Giants tried to comeback during garbage time.  Matt Hasselbeck had a good game.  Hasselbeck completed 24 of 33 passes for 227 yards with 5 TDs and 3 INTs.  Shaun Alexander carried the ball 20 times for 47 yards and a TD.  Bobby Engram had 5 catches for 62 yards and a TD.  Darrell Jackson had 7 catches for 57 yards and 2 TDs.  Nate Burleson had 4 catches for 42 yards and a TD.  Deion Branch had 2 catches for 23 yards.  TE Will Heller caught 3 passes for 28 yards and a TD.

Ken Hamlin had a great game making 4 tackles and intercepting two passes that he returned 63 yards.  The Seahawks took the Giants out of their running game, holding them to 73 yards and 4.9 yards per carry.  The Giants completed 66.7% of their passes for 264 net yards thru the air, but the Seahawks intercepted 3 of their passes.

These are two teams with Super Bowl aspirations!

The Giants have an impressive offensive arsenal.  They will try out the Seahawks tough run defense (51.5 yards per game and 2.8 ypc) to set-up Eli Manning’s play-action passing attack.  RBs Tiki Barber (161 yards) and Brandon Jacobs (89 yards) form a good one-two punch that can wear out a defense.  Eli Manning is having a great start to the season averaging 309 yards passing per game.  Look for Manning to test the secondary deep with WRs Amani Toomer (17 rec, 178 yds) and Plaxico Burress (10 rec, 194 yds).  The LBs and safeties will be tested underneath in the passing game by RB Tiki Barber and TE Jeremy Shockey.

The Seahawks have been winning with defense, which is something new.  RB Shaun Alexander hasn’t been getting the running room he used to get without Steve Hutchinson around.  Look for the Seahawks to open this game throwing the ball against a Giants D that gives up 313 yards per week thru the air.  In fact, look for alot of 3 and 4 receiver sets for the Hawks this week.  WR Deion Branch will give Matt Hasselbeck another good weapon to attack the Giants with.

I look for the Seahawks to win a close game here.  The Gaints might have a let-down after their huge comeback win in Philly.

Mili’s knee is not responding to treatment so Will Heller will be the starter at tight-end.  Look for the Seahawks to employ more 3 and 4 receiver looks in the passing game.