More bad news for Seahawks
by Mark Rothstein
Thing are getting a lot colder in Seattle.
The Seahawks learned on Monday that they will be without running back Shaun Alexander for a while yet. Tests on the league MVP?s injured left foot revealed that the bone in question (the fourth metatarsal) remains cracked, even though Alexander is reportedly pain-free. The club hopes that the star tailback will be cleared for the Nov. 12 matchup at Qwest Field against the NFC West-rival St. Louis Rams.
In the meantime, the Seahawks will once again be shorthanded when they face the Oakland Raiders, also taking place in the Emerald City. The Seahawks have gone from the penthouse to the outhouse in Alexander?s absence: 1-3 straight up and a woeful 0-4 against the spread. This past week?s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs saw Seattle produce just 47 rushing yards against one of the poorest run defenses in the NFL.
Alexander?s numbers were already on the wane as the Seahawks? offensive line adjusts to the loss of guard Steve Hutchinson to the Minnesota Vikings. Backup RB Maurice Morris? 2.9 yards per carry this season matches Alexander?s performance before the foot injury. Yet Seattle still won its first three games at 2-1 ATS. Quality of opposition plays a role; the first two games were against the Detroit Lions and the Arizona Cardinals, who combined for just two victories by the halfway point of the season.
The added loss of Pro Bowl QB Matt Hasselbeck has dealt the Seahawks? offense a devastating 1-2 punch. Seneca Wallace performed admirably against the Chiefs, tossing three touchdowns with two interceptions for a respectable 76.8 QB rating despite the poor Seahawks? ground attack. But Hasselbeck is one of the best pivots in the league and an emerging star. His sprained right MCL will keep him out of the Oakland matchup; Hasselbeck is expected to miss the Rams game before returning in Week 11 against the San Francisco 49ers.
Meanwhile, the other team from the Bay Area is flying high after a 20-13 upset of the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers ? the Raiders? second surprise victory in a row after starting the 2006 campaign 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS. Oakland?s offense was putrid as usual with just 98 total yards on the day, but the defense returned two interceptions for touchdowns to steal the win. Those were two of four picks Ben Roethlisberger threw on the day in his first game back from a concussion; Wallace can and should do better when he faces the Raiders at home on Monday Night Football. Expect the line to be inflated in Oakland?s favor based on the unlikely Steelers? upset.
Article courtesy of BetUS.com.
by Mark Rothstein
Thing are getting a lot colder in Seattle.
The Seahawks learned on Monday that they will be without running back Shaun Alexander for a while yet. Tests on the league MVP?s injured left foot revealed that the bone in question (the fourth metatarsal) remains cracked, even though Alexander is reportedly pain-free. The club hopes that the star tailback will be cleared for the Nov. 12 matchup at Qwest Field against the NFC West-rival St. Louis Rams.
In the meantime, the Seahawks will once again be shorthanded when they face the Oakland Raiders, also taking place in the Emerald City. The Seahawks have gone from the penthouse to the outhouse in Alexander?s absence: 1-3 straight up and a woeful 0-4 against the spread. This past week?s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs saw Seattle produce just 47 rushing yards against one of the poorest run defenses in the NFL.
Alexander?s numbers were already on the wane as the Seahawks? offensive line adjusts to the loss of guard Steve Hutchinson to the Minnesota Vikings. Backup RB Maurice Morris? 2.9 yards per carry this season matches Alexander?s performance before the foot injury. Yet Seattle still won its first three games at 2-1 ATS. Quality of opposition plays a role; the first two games were against the Detroit Lions and the Arizona Cardinals, who combined for just two victories by the halfway point of the season.
The added loss of Pro Bowl QB Matt Hasselbeck has dealt the Seahawks? offense a devastating 1-2 punch. Seneca Wallace performed admirably against the Chiefs, tossing three touchdowns with two interceptions for a respectable 76.8 QB rating despite the poor Seahawks? ground attack. But Hasselbeck is one of the best pivots in the league and an emerging star. His sprained right MCL will keep him out of the Oakland matchup; Hasselbeck is expected to miss the Rams game before returning in Week 11 against the San Francisco 49ers.
Meanwhile, the other team from the Bay Area is flying high after a 20-13 upset of the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers ? the Raiders? second surprise victory in a row after starting the 2006 campaign 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS. Oakland?s offense was putrid as usual with just 98 total yards on the day, but the defense returned two interceptions for touchdowns to steal the win. Those were two of four picks Ben Roethlisberger threw on the day in his first game back from a concussion; Wallace can and should do better when he faces the Raiders at home on Monday Night Football. Expect the line to be inflated in Oakland?s favor based on the unlikely Steelers? upset.
Article courtesy of BetUS.com.
