The Seattle Seahawks and the Cincinnati Bengals meet Sunday in NFL action from Paul Brown Stadium. Seattle is sitting at 3-1 overall and coming off an early bye week. The Seahawks last played in a win over the Giants on October 2. As for Cincinnati, they took on the Cardinals in their last game. In that one the Bengals ended up winning by two scores to move to 2-3 on the year. Check back all season long for free NFL picks at Sports Chat Place.

Seattle Seahawks 

The Seahawks opened up the year with a pretty rough loss to the Rams 30-13, but they’ve won three straight since then. First came a 37-31 overtime victory versus a pesky Lions team, then a 37-27 affair versus the Panthers. Back on October 2 in their most recent appearance, the Seahawks beat the Giants 24-3 on a Monday evening. 

In the New York matchup, the Seahawks were able to put up points in every quarter and kept the Giants in check along the way. Seattle’s Geno Smith threw for 110 yards and a score on 13-of-20 passing, and Kenneth Walker led the rush on 79 yards and a score off 17 carries. Noah Fant was the leading receiver on two catches for 63 yards. 

Seattle Seahawks Team Facts

• The Seahawks have won five of their last six Sunday games as underdogs.
• The Seahawks have covered the spread in eight of their last nine games as underdogs against AFC opponents.
• The Seahawks have won the first quarter in three of their last four games as underdogs against AFC opponents.
• The Seahawks have won the first half in each of their last seven games in October.
• The Seahawks have scored the first touchdown in four of their last five games against AFC opponents.

Cincinnati Bengals

Over on the Bengals’ side, they went just 1-3 in their first four games. The opener was a 24-3 blowout loss to the Browns, then came a 27-24 loss to the Ravens. In Week 3 Cincinnati got their first win of the year 19-16 over the Rams, but then fell again 27-3 versus the Titans to kick off October. Bengals QB Joe Burrow went 20-of-30 for 165 yards in the defeat. 

In last weekend’s matchup versus the Cardinals, the Bengals put up points in each quarter (including 10 in the first and fourth) on the way to a 34-20 win. Burrow bagged 317 yards with three touchdowns and an interception this time. Joe Mixon added 81 rushing yards off 25 carries, and Ja’Marr Chase dazzled on 192 yards, three touchdowns and 15 receptions. 

Cincinnati Bengals Team Facts

• The Bengals have won each of their last eight games at Paycor Stadium following a win.
• The road team has covered the spread in seven of the Bengals’ last eight Week 6 games.
• The Bengals have won the first half in each of their last six games at Paycor Stadium following a road win.
• The Bengals have scored the first touchdown in eight of their last nine home games.
• The Bengals have won the first quarter in each of their last six games at Paycor Stadium following a road win.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Bengals rank 1st in the NFL in punt return yards per game this season (44.0).
• The Bengals rank 31st in the NFL in yards per game this season (264.8).
• The Seahawks rank 1st in the NFL in kickoff return yards per game this season (50.5).
• The Seahawks rank 1st in the NFL in average yards per punt this season (53.5).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll stay with the Seahawks in this one. Seattle should be looking pretty good here, what with the extra week of rest and preparation. In their last on-field action the Seahawks kept the Giants in check, allowing just 248 yards (136 passing) and collecting three takeaways. Offensively the team wasn’t great overall though, posting just 13 first downs and a rough 3-of-12 rate on third-down tries. There’s plenty to improve upon here. 

As for the Bengals, they had a pretty good overall effort against a pretty bad Arizona team in their last outing. Cincinnati went just 5-of-17 on third- and fourth-down tries though, and gained a tepid 4.8 yards per play. If Seattle is indeed ready for this one I don’t think the Bengals will keep the cover pace on the scoreboard.