NFC Divisional Match-Up: Seattle Seahawks vs New Orleans Saints

Saints travel to Seattle for a big game. Photo credit NFL 

by Nathaniel Herrick

Now it's time to weed out the best and worst teams of the remaining NFC contenders. Starting off the divisional weekend is the New Orleans Saints going on the road to Seattle Seahawks home field.
 

The last time these teams met, it wasn't even close, with the Seahawks winning 34-7 in New Orleans, but this the playoffs, and that's where the Saints have the advantage. It would be foolish to count Russell Wilson and the Seahawks out of this game though, they have a 5-1 record against the NFC South in the last two years, their loss coming to the Falcons last year.

Let's compare these teams and see who has the advantage on paper;

Both teams boasted a Top-5 defense this year, with the Saints giving up an average of 305.7 YPG and the Seahawks giving up a league leading average of 273.6 YPG, so the defenses could be a major factor in who will win, look for Richard Sherman to be all over the field this week, making life difficult for Brees & Co.

Advantage: Seahawks

Now here's where the two teams vary, although the Seahawks rank 4th in the league in rushing yards per game with 136.8 YPG, the Saints offense is putting up an average of 399.4 YPG, so if the defenses don't show up, and it comes down to who can score more, look for the Saints to pull off the upset with the help of Jimmy Graham. 

Advantage: Saints

But what could be the deciding factor is home-field advantage, and the fact that the Saint's have been horrendous on the road this year,  with the Seahawks finishing the season 7-1 at home, and the Saints were 3-5 but picked up a win last week in a bitter cold Philadelphia, but I don't expect that to happen again, especially against a team that's probably, if not the most complete team in the NFL right now.

Advantage: Seahawks 

So I believe, on paper, the Seahawks will pull this one out but like I've said, it's playoff football and anything can happen so tune in on Saturday at 4:15 PM ET on Fox to see for yourself.

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