Week 5 Seahawks @ Colts, Preview and Prediction

When the Seahawks and the Colts step on the field 10AM Sunday morning at Lucas Oil Stadium, both teams will be ailing from injuries to key players. While Seattle will be without 2 offensive linemen and possibly Center Max Unger and TE Zach Miller who are game-time decisions, The Colts also have an injured guard and will be without their leading rusher in Bradshaw and fullback Havili. While Seattles Injuries are more vast, I believe the Colts are more significant to the outcome of this game. Let's take a look at both sides of the ball.

Offense: In my mind what this game is going to come down to is who can establish and stick with the run game. With Bradshaw out, the Colts will be relying heavily on newly aquired Trent Richardson to carry the load. Trent has gotten off to a slow start, in his first 2 weeks as a Colt, but he is a very talented young RB with potential for a big game. I just don't think he's going to have that big game this week. Last week against the league worst Jaguars he had 20 carries for only 60 yards. If the Colts aren't able to run the ball then there is no way in my mind they win this game. In regards to the Seahawks offense, what I would love to see would be a fast start. I'd like to see Russell use his legs earlier in this game, and I'd like to see M

arshawn get the ball atleast 25 times this games. I believe Seattle is more equip to establish the run early, and that having to respect Russell's threat to run will open up some plays later in the game when we need big throws. Everyone's biggest concern is the offensive line, and if both Unger and Miller are not able to go on Sunday, then the run game becomes even more significant to me. I hope we come into this game with a better game plan on offense than we had last week. This will be another grind-it-out sort of game on offense until we can get healthy upfront.

Defense: Are we ever worried about these guys? I mean really...what a luxury it is to have a defense that you can rely on. I know that giving up over 300 yards passing for the first time in 11 games last week really pissed our secondary off. I think they are taking last week as a loss in their mind, and that they will be fired up for this game. I don't see us having a quarter like we did last week in the 2nd quarter vs. Houston where we gave up 20 points. Our defense is only getting stronger, the return of Bruce Irvin starting for the first time at LB will be something to watch out for. He will probably be a bit rusty, coming off his 4 game suspension, but he was actively training in West Virginia during his time off and from what Pete Carroll says he is in better shape that he was when he left. Remember he was nursing a hamstring thru much of training camp.Irvin will be hungry to get his first real action of the year in, and I think he could have an impact. Our defense isn't facing it's toughest task, but they are playing a very fundamentally sound team with a great QB that is smart and accurate. We will need to keep Luck from killing up with short yardage throws over the middle, but if the game comes down to Luck throwing the ball then I like our chances. I get excited when I see a team start to rely on the pass because our secondary is like a pack of hungry wolves just salivating for extra chances to pick off the ball. Don't sleep on the Colt's defense either, while they are not as complete a unit as the Seahawks they have the league leader and AFC Defensive Player of the Month in Mathis, who has 7.5 sacks thru 4 weeks. Also their LB Freeman has 3 sacks this season. They will be the ones exposing the weaknesses in our offensive line. The Colts have a few injuries on defense as well, that may present match up problems for them against our slot receivers. Overall, our defense is better, more complete, and angrier coming into this game. They have the edge in every aspect of this match up.

People who don't like the Seahawks like to ask the question " Who have you beat?" That's how I feel about the Colts. They have one win of merit and that was against a San Francisco team that had their insides gutted and handed to them the week before in Seattle. They lost at home to the Dolphins, who were also exposed last week.  I honestly don't think this game is going to be as competitive as people are making it out to be. I think the Colts are over rated, and that is without injuries to key players on both sides of the ball. Still Seattle will probably struggle to score points. I see this game being close in the first half with Seattle pulling away after half time.

My Prediction: Seahawks 24 Colts 13

GO 'HAWKS!!!