SNF Week 2: Patriots vs. Seahawks odds, preview & prediction

Two teams fresh off a double-digit victory in Week 1, the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, will face off on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC). Does either team have a significant advantage? Let’s dive in.

The Seahawks "let Russ cook" in Week 1

Seattle signal caller Russell Wilson was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week on the strength of his 322-yard, four-touchdown performance against the Falcons. His team’s 38-25 victory (and the score doesn’t tell the story of just how thoroughly the Seahawks dominated) boosted his career record to 87-41-1.

In a departure from recent history, Seattle passed nearly twice as many times as they ran last Sunday (38-20), with halfback Chris Carson receiving only six carries. However, Carson caught two touchdown passes in that game, as many as he did all of last season.

"What we’ve been doing in practice showed up," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told reporters after the game. "Russ has been extraordinary all camp. He had a great summer throwing the ball to everybody and he had perhaps his best throwing day, numbers wise, just about as you could have… Russ was in total command of the game and had a beautiful game."

New England’s shorthanded defense should be exploited

Playing the Patriots’ stoppers shouldn’t be too difficult for Wilson and company. Though New England held the Dolphins to 269 yards of offense in Week 1 (fifth-fewest in the NFL), Ryan Fitzpatrick clearly doesn’t offer the same challenge to a depleted Pats defense.

The Pats’ "ground-and-pound" approach isn’t sustainable

The Dolphins received a heavy dose of rushing plays from the Patriots in Week 1, with rejuvenated quarterback Cam Newton leading the way (15 carries). His 75 yards and two touchdowns caught the eye, but he can’t be subjected to that kind of risk every week, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels knows this.

"We try to adjust appropriately, change from week to week based on what we think gives us the best chance to have success,” he told reporters after the game.

Unfortunately for New England, Seattle allowed just 72 rushing yards to Todd Gurley and the Falcons in Week 1, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. Newton will have to force the issue at some point with Julian Edelman and the rest of the Patriots’ uninspiring receiving corps.

This trend is the Seahawks’ friend

Pete Carroll and company have rewarded their backers in their last five games as public chalk, going 3-1-1 against the spread. The Pats have struggled against good teams of late, going 0-4-1 against the spread when facing clubs with winning records.

NFL pick: Seahawks -4