Cowboys vs. Seahawks 2017: Prediction, Betting Odds, Playoff Scenarios For Week 16

A year after the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks won their respective divisions, the two teams are fighting for their playoff lives against one another. They’ll meet in Week 16 of the 2017 NFL season, and the loser will be eliminated from playoff contention.

The betting odds heavily favor the Cowboys, who return home on a three-game winning streak. After suffering their second straight loss, the Seahawks quickly went from 2.5-point underdogs to five-point underdogs, per OddsShark. Sunday’s over/under is 47.

In addition to winning in both Week 16 and Week 17, the two teams will need outside help in order to reach the postseason. A win by the Saints, Panthers and Falcons over the final two weeks would eliminate the Cowboys and Seahawks in the wild-card race. All they can control is defeating the opponents on their schedule, and the winner at AT&T Stadium will at least remain in contention heading into the season finale.

Dallas can’t win the division title, which has already been clinched by the Philadelphia Eagles. Seattle needs two straight wins and two straight losses by the Los Angeles Rams to repeat as NFC West champions. The Cowboys and Seahawks are both a game behind the Atlanta Falcons for the second NFC wild-card spot.

Why is Dallas the clear betting favorite if the two teams have relatively similar resumes? The Cowboys are getting their best player back in the middle of a winning streak. There is no such help coming for the Seahawks, who haven’t looked like a playoff team with two of their most important defenders done for the year.

Seattle was embarrassed more so than any other NFL team in Week 15, getting blown out by the Rams at home, 42-7. It was the Seahawks’ fifth game since Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor suffered season-ending injuries. The Seahawks’ once-vaunted defense has allowed at least 30 points in three of those contests. The team lost all of those games.

The Cowboys are averaging 29.3 points over their last three games, and the team’s offense might look its best since Nov. 5. That’s the last time Ezekiel Elliott suited up for Dallas, rushing for 93 yards and a touchdown in a 28-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Cowboys went 3-3 during his six-game suspension.

The Seahawks have been absolutely punished by a couple of the NFL’s best running backs over the last two weeks. Leonard Fournette rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown against Seattle in Week 15. Todd Gurley was unstoppable a week ago when he totaled 180 yards from scrimmage and four scores on 7.5 yards per touch at CenturyLink Field.

Elliott is averaging 126.5 rushing yards over his last four games. Dak Prescott has performed like an All-Pro since entering the league when his star running back is in the lineup.

Russell Wilson was in the MVP conversation a few weeks ago, but he doesn’t have enough help around him to get Seattle back to the playoffs. There’s still hope for Dallas, who should have a fighting chance in Week 17.

Prediction: Dallas over Seattle, 30-20