Patriots-Seahawks Week 10 Predictions
BOSTON (CBS) -- The New England Patriots get back to work on Sunday night, when they welcome the Seattle Seahawks to Gillette Stadium for a prime time matchup.
It's the first time the two teams square off since New England's dramatic Super Bowl XLIX victory, and though there's no title to be claimed after this one, it's one of the Patriots' best tests throughout the season.
Read: Patriots-Seahawks Preview
Here's how the CBS Boston sports team sees Sunday night playing out:
Steve Burton, WBZ-TV Sports
If you give Bill Belichick a bye week to prepare for any team, you can't bet against him. Add in the fact the Patriots are home, Seattle is banged up, and Tom Brady is on fire, and this one should go the Patriots' way.
Patriots 28, Seahawks 17
Dan Roche, WBZ-TV Sports
Finally a good matchup (on paper) as the Pats and Seahawks meet for the first time since Super Bowl XLIX. Lots of numbers favor the Patriots in this one, as the Seahawks come in at 0-2-1 on the road and on short rest after playing at home Monday night.
The Pats are 4-0 since the return of Brady and are averaging 34 points per game. Plus, they are 12-4 following their bye week under Bill Belichick.
Seattle is banged up while the Pats are not, so the advantage goes to New England.
Patriots 34, Seahawks 21
Levan Reid, WBZ-TV Sports
As good as the Seahawks are, I just feel the NFL has put them in a tough situation after playing a Monday night game against the Bills. That was a close one, and now they have to gear up, fly across country and play Sunday night against the Pats.
New England is coming off their bye and they're rested. Plus, the Pats are healthy and we might even see Dion Lewis back on the field.
So as good as the Seahawks are, they are not this good.
Patriots 31, Seahawks 20
Adam Kaufman, 98.5 The Sports Hub/WBZ NewsRadio 1030
Looking at the second-half of the Patriots' schedule, they have two legitimate tests: At Denver in five weeks, and Sunday against Seattle in Foxboro.
Like many, I'm confident in the Pats any time Tom Brady is under center, but I can't believe Sunday's game carries a 7.5-point spread. That seems high against an elite scoring-defense, though it's worth noting the 'Hawks have given up at least 24 points three times in the last four weeks. Plus, Martellus Bennett's brother, Michael - an elite pass-rusher - is out.
New England's as healthy as it's been all season, and may even have a reinforcement in the backfield in the form of Dion Lewis, though expect his reps will be limited if he plays since he hasn't taken the field in a year because of the torn ACL.
We can go on and on and on about this meeting - the clubs' first since "Malcolm, go!" - but there's only one stat that really matters, right?
The Patriots are 12-4 under Bill Belichick after the bye week. I'll take the odds.
Patriots 24, Seahawks 21
Mike "Sarge" Riley, 98.5 The Sports Hub/WBZ NewsRadio 1030
This season, NFL teams are 11-5 when coming off their bye week. When you give Bill Belichick two weeks to prepare for a team, at home, and with the Seahawks dealing with a short week from Seattle, I like the Patriots in this one.
Patriots 27, Seahawks 19
Tune in to Sunday night's Patriots-Seahawks game on 98.5 The Sports Hub -- the flagship station of the New England Patriots. Pregame coverage begins at 5:30pm with kickoff set for 8:30pm, and following the game tune in to three hours of postgame coverage. Tune in to Patriots GameDay on WBZ-TV at 11:30am, and after the game tune in to Patriots 5th Quarter!