Seahawks Notebook

Herald Staff

Kickoff: 1:05 p.m. today

Site: Husky Stadium

TV/Radio: KIRO-TV (Channel 7); KIRO radio (710 AM)

Oakland: 11-3, beat the New York Jets 31-7 last weekend

Seattle: 5-9, lost to Denver 31-24 last weekend

Oakland: Jon Gruden, 27-19 in third season

Seattle: Mike Holmgren, 89-53 in ninth season

When the Seahawks have the ball: Seattle C Robbie Tobeck vs. Oakland’s defensive tackles.

In Darrell Russell and Grady Jackson, the Raiders may have the finest interior defensive line in the game. So this will be a good test for Tobeck, who will split time at center with Chris Gray.

With guard Pete Kendall’s future in Seattle in doubt because he will be a free agent this offseason, the development of Tobeck could help the Seahawks dictate which direction to go.

When the Raiders have the ball: WR Tim Brown vs. CB Shawn Springs.

This matchup has been building for four years. Brown has been a Seahawk-killer during his career, catching 91 passes for 1,399 yards and 13 touchdowns in 23 career meetings. He is far and away the Raiders’ leading receiver this season, so Springs and the Seahawks could do themselves a favor by containing him today.

Raiders: Doubtful – RB Napoleon Kaufman (knee) and RB Jon Ritchie (knee). Questionable – CB Darrien Gordon (toe), DT Grady Jackson (shoulder), S Eric Johnson (shoulder), RB Randy Jordan (toe).

Seahawks: Out – DE Lamar King (shoulder). Questionable – S Jay Bellamy (back), QB Brock Huard (bruised kidney).

Oct. 22, 2000: The Raiders knocked out two Seattle quarterbacks and scored the final 31 points of the game in an easy victory at Network Associates Coliseum earlier this season. The 31-3 loss marked the Seahawks’ worst beating since 1997.

Mike Holmgren is 6-3 all-time against his former assistants, including two losses against Oakland’s Jon Gruden.

The Raiders’ running game was simply too much for Seattle in the last meeting, which has often been the case this season. And Oakland also completed timely passes when needed.

In fact, there were a lot of things about the Oct. 22 game that went the Raiders’ way. Seattle has improved since then, and might get a break if the weather conditions continue to be cold and rainy. The Seahawks might also benefit from the fact that two of Oakland’s offensive threats – running back Napoleon Kaufman and fullback Jon Ritchie – are expected to miss the game because of injuries.

But Rich Gannon, Tyrone Wheatley, Tim Brown and the Raiders’ defense should be enough to give Seattle its first 10-loss season in six years.

Pick: Raiders, 34-27.