The Seattle Seahawks are getting hot at the right time. With the playoffs just around the corner, the Hawks have reeled off four consecutive victories. Overall, Seattle has won six of the team’s last seven games.

Pete Carroll’s team has been especially impressive during the last two contests. The Seahawks have outscored opponents 73-13 over the last eight quarters.

Next up for Seattle is the 3-10 Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland, a team that has scored the third fewest points in the league, will try for an upset on the road. By comparison, the Browns have scored 240 points this season. Seattle has scored 340.

Despite the team’s record, the Browns’ offense has been respectable at times this season. This has mainly been thanks to the presence of quarterback Josh McCown, wide receiver Travis Benjamin and tight end Gary Barnidge. However, a lack of consistent running game and a faulty defense have doomed Cleveland.

Isaiah Crowell (eight starts) and Duke Johnson (five) have split time in the backfield. While Crowell has registered 55 more carries, neither back is averaging more than 45 rushing yards per game. It doesn’t help matters that McCown was placed on injured reserve. This has left the quarterback position in the hands of Johnny Manziel and Austin Davis.

Regardless of quarterback play, the team’s only three victories this season came against the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. Those three teams have a combined 28 losses.

The defense certainly hasn’t helped. Cleveland has allowed the second-most points in the league. On top of that, the team has allowed the fourth-most rushing touchdowns and the fourth-highest number of net yards per pass attempt.

Those rushing numbers will be especially appealing to a Seahawks team that is trying to reestablish the running game. With Thomas Rawls and Marshawn Lynch out due to injury, the team will look to the recently signed duo of Bryce Brown and Christine Michael to lead the charge. Both are talented players, but have yet to put it all together. A matchup with a porous Browns’ run defense could be just what Seattle needs.

The Hawks will also try to maintain an aerial assault that has been nothing short of outstanding as of late. Russell Wilson has thrown for 1,171 yards, 16 touchdowns and zero interceptions over his last four contests. During that span he has also chipped in with 101 rushing yards and a score on the ground. The main beneficiary of the quarterback’s high level of play has been wide receiver Doug Baldwin. The Stanford graduate has hauled in 23 catches for 381 yards and eight touchdowns during the last four games.

Injury Report

Lynch (abdomen), tight end Anthony McCoy (knee/ankle) and defensive tackle Jordan Hill (toe) have all been ruled out. Strong safeties Kam Chancellor (pelvis) and DeShawn Shead (ankle) are both listed as questionable. Tight end Luke Willson (rib) as well as defensive lineman Michael Bennett (toe), Cliff Avril (non-injury related) and Demarcus Dobbs (concussion) are all listed as probable. 

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About the author
Ben Rosener
Ben Rosener is a sports writer born and raised in the greater Seattle area. He is a college who is the editor and founder of two sports websites, Kingdome of Seattle Sports and Know Hitter, the latter of which is a member of the BBA. Ben’s work can also be found on the digital pages of Bleacher Report, USA Today, World Soccer Talk and FanSided among others. He only refers to himself in the third person for bios.