Herald Staff
Kickoff: 10:05 a.m.
Site: The Georgia Dome
TV/Radio: KIRO-TV (Channel 7); KIRO radio (710 AM)
Seattle: 4-8, lost 38-31 to Denver last week
Atlanta: 3-10, lost 41-14 to Oakland last week
Seattle: Mike Holmgren, 88-52 in ninth season
Atlanta: Dan Reeves, 170-138-1 in 20th season
When the Seahawks have the ball: Seattle WR Derrick Mayes vs. CB Ray Buchanan.
These two began fostering a friendship when Mayes was at Notre Dame and Buchanan was a member of the Indianapolis Colts, and they have remained close ever since.
Buchanan started a little good-natured trash-talking last week by saying the Seahawks receivers weren’t the kind you “lose sleep over.” Mayes responded with: “That’s just Ray.”
Buchanan has six interceptions this season, the second-highest total in the NFL. While he might see a lot of time against Sean Dawkins, his matchups with Mayes will also be worth watching. The Seahawks haven’t gotten Mayes as involved in the offense as they may have hoped this season.
When the Falcons have the ball: RB Jamal Anderson vs. Seattle’s run defense.
Based on recent history, Anderson is a good bet to go over 1,000 yards for the season today. He needs 179 rushing yards, a mark that two opponents (Edgerrin James and Mike Anderson) have surpassed against the Seahawks’ run defense. In fact, those two performances rank among the top four ever by Seahawks opponents.
Seattle has the lowest-ranked defense in the NFL and is on pace to give up more yards than any Seahawks defense has over the course of a season. The run defense is on pace to give up almost 2,400 yards, which would mark the most given up by Seattle since the 1981 season.
Seahawks: Doubtful: QB Brock Huard (bruised kidney). Questionable: DE Matt LaBounty (concussion).
Falcons: Questionable: T Bob Whitfield (neck). Probable: DT Ed Jasper (hand), S Johndale Carty (knee), WR Brian Finneran (back) and TE Reggie Kelly (knee).
Nov. 30, 1997. In what may go down as Everett native Chris Chandler’s final appearance against the Seahawks, the Falcons quarterback completed 15 of 23 passes for 204 yards in leading Atlanta to a 24-17 win at the Kingdome. The Falcons also got a huge boost from Byron Hanspard’s 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
The Seahawks will finish at or below .500 for the 15th time in their 25 seasons.
: Atlanta’s box score should consist mostly of one – OK, maybe, two – names: Anderson and Andersen. Running back Jamal Anderson should provide most of the offense, especially with rookie Doug Johnson making his first start at quarterback. Morten Anderson, the third-leading scorer in NFL history, might have to provide most of the points. Even though these are two of the NFL’s three worst defenses, the battle of backup quarterbacks (Johnson and Jon Kitna) probably won’t provide much offense, either.
Pick: Seahawks, 10-9.