Dallas Cowboys vs. Seattle Seahawks 2018: Prediction, Betting Odds, News For NFL Week 3

Most of the NFL’s 0-2 teams will likely still be searching for their first victory after Week 3 of the 2018 season. The Seattle Seahawks are among the few winless teams that should be able to end their losing streak within the coming days. They’ll host the Dallas Cowboys Sunday afternoon in their first home game of the year.

Seattle is finally favored after opening the season with two games on the road. The point spread is down to 1.5 points, according to the latest betting odds at OddsShark. The over/under 41.5.

After losing at Denver in the season opener, Seattle came up short in Chicago on “Monday Night Football.” Dallas followed up their Week 1 loss at Carolina with a victory at home against the New York Giants. Despite defeating their divisional rivals soundly at home, the Cowboys could have trouble pulling off the minor upset when they head back on the road.

Dallas’ inability to score remains a major problem after Week 2. Winning 20-13, the Cowboys failed to score more than 20 points for a fifth consecutive game. Dallas is 24th in yards per play and 30th in total yards. Dak Prescott didn’t throw for more than 170 yards in either game, and Ezekiel Elliott failed to reach 80 rushing yards in each contest.

Even with one remaining Legion of Boom member left in the secondary, Seattle will be able to curtail Dallas’ passing attack. After throwing for a 64-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the Cowboys' Week 2 win, Prescott was held to a meager 3.87 yards per attempt. That came against a Giants’ defense that had no sacks and an ineffective pass rush. It’s going to be an ongoing story for the Cowboys, who have one of the league’s worst receiving corps and an offensive line that might be decent, but no longer one of the NFL’s best.

The Seahawks took advantage of facing Case Keenum and Mitchell Trubisky, but the defense probably performed better than expected after the departures of Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett and others. Earl Thomas is still performing like an All-Pro, recording one of the team’s three Week 1 interceptions. Linebacker Bobby Wagner is expected to return Sunday after Seattle’s defense held Chicago to 4.3 yards per play in the Pro Bowler’s absence.

The Cowboys have averaged 14.2 points in their last five road games. The Seahawks’ offense has its own issues, ranking 25th in yards per play and 27th in total offense. It wouldn’t be shocking at all to see those struggles continue against a Dallas defense that’s second in yards per play allowed.

Wilson faces some of the same challenges as Prescott. Without the injured Doug Baldwin, the quarterback doesn’t have a bonafide No.1 receiver he can rely upon. His offensive line is among the NFL’s worst, and it’s resulted in him being sacked a league-high 12 times. Wilson could become very well acquainted with defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, who has 16.5 sacks in his last 18 games.

Few quarterbacks, if any, can turn nothing into something like Wilson. He managed to throw for nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns against the Broncos in a hostile road environment. Wilson had little chance against the Bears’ pass rush Monday night. Look for him to create enough big plays for the Seahawks in Week 3 when they play in front of their home fans.

Wilson has benefited from Seattle’s home-field advantage as much as any Seahawks' player in the last several years. He’s got a career 102.2 passer rating at CenturyLink Field. Over the last three seasons, Wilson has 47 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions at home.

Seattle is 25-2 in their last 27 September home games. The Seahawks have a 40-9 record in their last 49 games as home favorites, per OddsShark, and the Cowboys are 1-5 both straight up and against the spread in their last six games as underdogs.

Expect those trends to continue Sunday afternoon.

Prediction: Seattle over Dallas, 24-13