SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks will look to improve to 7-2 with a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Seattle is coming off a 27-20 week seven victory on the road against the Atlanta Falcons.
>> PHOTOS: Seahawks vs. Buccaneers through the years
Russell Wilson threw for two touchdowns, Chris Carson ran for another and the Seahawks forced three Falcons' turnovers in the win.
A win on Sunday would help the Seahawks keep up with the undefeated San Francisco 49ers, who beat the Arizona Cardinals 28-25 on Thursday night.
On the other side, the 2-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming off a 27-23 loss against the Tennessee Titans.
The Buccaneers are led by first-year head coach Bruce Arians, who was 4-1 on the road in Seattle as head coach of the Cardinals from 2013 to 2017.
"If you can hang in there with the crowd and the environment and everything that's so unique about the place, and don't get overwhelmed, you'll have a chance to win the game," Arians said Wednesday.
On offense, the Buccaneers have an explosive passing game led by wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.
Evans and Godwin have combined for 85 catches, 1,367 yards and 12 touchdowns so far this season.
Quarterback Jameis Winston has thrown for over 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns, but has thrown 12 interceptions – tied for second in the NFL.
The Seahawks lead the all-time series against the Buccaneers 8-5. Sunday's game begins at 1:05 p.m.
Watch the Steve Raible Scouting Report at 7 p.m. on Saturday to see Raible's interview with Joey Hunt and for a complete preview of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.
Here are Raible's three keys to victory for the Seahawks on Sunday:
Key #1: The Ground War
It's written in the Dead Sea Scrolls that the Seahawks will run the ball. Seattle is averaging 130 yards-per-game -- good for ninth in the NFL.
Last season, Pete's guys were the best in the NFL pounding the rock to the tune of 160 yards-per-game.
Most of the same players are back on offense and it's time to get Carson and Penny really rolling.
One slight problem: the Buccaneers are tops against the run, giving up just under 69 yards-per-game.
They'll load up the line of scrimmage. Pull that chinstrap tight, it's going to be a war up front Sunday.
Key #2: The Shaq & Tre Show:
Griffin and Flowers are a pair of difference making cornerbacks that are growing up and growing together in Pete Carroll's defense.
But these guys will be tested by Tampa's one-two punch of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
The Bucs' wideouts are two of the most productive in the league. Godwin is averaging over 100 receiving yards per game.
Evans is averaging around 95. They each have 6 TD's. They're both big, fast, with excellent hands.
It's time for these young Hawks to add to the team's INT total.
Key #3: J-D Unleashed:
When the Seahawks traded for Jadeveon Clowney they were counting on him to be the Pro Bowl disrupter he was for five seasons in Houston.
And halfway through the season, he's starting to make his mark. Last week in Atlanta he had a strip sack and 4 QB hits.
He also had a pick-six against the Cardinals earlier this season.
Enter quarterback Jameis Winston: a gifted athlete, but the poster child for inconsistency.
This season: 14 TD's, 12 INT's - tied for most in the league. He's also been sacked 28 times.
Winston is big and strong, but Clowney is bigger and stronger!
Time to let the "big dog hunt".
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