With Deshaun Watson now firmly out for the Browns, it's the PJ Walker show again, and it should not be ignored that he has led Cleveland to consecutive wins. The problem is that the Browns largely relied on their running game in those victories, and the Seahawks are not about to let them have that kind of success Sunday. Both DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are in for Seattle, which is 4-1 ATS in its last five. Do I wish I got this under a field goal? Absolutely. If you want to wait and hope to pounce on a live line, that might be a nice strategy. But I'm taking the Seahawks here before this line moves to -4.5 or -5.

Apparently, Cleveland not taking any chances with Deshaun Watson, who has taken more punishment than Duane Bobick this season and last week was KO'd at Indy after missing previous action due to a sore shoulder. Now, Kevin Stefanski is taking the Kawhi Leonard approach and talking like they don't want to rush Deshaun back into the lineup too soon, maybe more palatable since the Brownies are 2-0 with PJ Walker at the controls of the offense the past two weeks. But there are still some limitations with Walker (no TDP and 3 picks the past two weeks), and not sure the Brownies run very well, either, vs. a Seattle D that was allowing an NFL-low 3.2 ypc into last week.

Let's break a policy and go against the team with a stellar defense and receiving more than a field goal. The Browns might have won two in a row but without much help from fill-in QB P.J. Walker. He is connecting barely on half of his throws, with three interceptions and no TDs. Cleveland cannot count too much on its rush game, given the Seahawks' formidable run defense. Seattle has covered in four of its last five outings and all three as a favorite. The Browns' scoring explosion a week ago was an anomaly. Expect them to get stuck in the teens on the scoreboard, with Seattle scoring enough to cover.

This is a line I'm simply not going to overthink. The Browns are coming off a win last week at Indianapolis, but it was far from impressive as their vaunted defense somehow allowed 38 points. While I expect the defense to rebound, I don't expect PJ Walker to consistently push the ball down the field. Seattle is relatively healthy on offense and I think they manage just enough big plays much like the Colts did last week. It's a tough spot for the Browns led by Walker and on their second of back to back road games.

Hunt has yet to eclipse 47 rushing yards in a single game this season and has been inefficient averaging a paltry 3.2 YPC. 
The Browns will be without Jerome Ford who has lead the team in carries since Nick Chubb suffered a season ending injury, however after Ford went down it was RB Pierre Strong who handled the majority of touches in Cleveland’s backfield. Hunt will face a Seattle run defense that has been excellent this year and ranks in the top 5 in nearly ever defensive rushing metric. I expect a split backfield between Hunt and Strong and it’s going to be tough sledding against an elite Seahawks run defense. 


I missed Seattle -3 as I'm presuming that's gone for good with Deshaun Watson now expected to sit out ... PJ Walker has played pretty well in his place, but I don't see him leading a win in Seattle. That vaunted Browns defense has been rocked in both road games so far.

Deshaun Watson's status is very much up in the air. Even if he plays, this is a terrible spot for the Browns having to travel to Seattle for their second straight road game. The Seahawks have allowed a total of 30 points over their last three games as their defense has gotten healthy. The offense continues to squander scoring opportunities, but has moved the ball well between the 20s and should get DK Metcalf (ribs/hip) back on the field. Lay the points before this hits 3.

This line jumped a point from the lookahead, but it's still well below where it should be. Cleveland has an elite defense but ranks 29th in yards per play on offense, and I'm not sure it matters which QB starts for them at this point. They had just 4.4 yards per play against the Colts and only gained 40+ yards on two of their 15 drives. Seattle's defense is now fourth in yards per play and elite against the run, and the Seahawks covered last week despite a -3 turnover margin. Seattle is a far better team than Cleveland, and with homefield advantage factored in, this line should be well north of 3.