Scouting Report

PLAYER MATCHUPS

Passing PC-PA Yds. TD Int.

Rick Mirer, Seattle 32-66 336 1 3

Jeff Blake, Cin. 39-63 496 3 0

Rushing Att. Yds. Avg. TD

Chris Warren, Seattle 30 112 3.7 0

Steve Broussard, Seattle 4 22 5.5 0

Harold Green, Cin. 29 101 3.5 1

Eric Bieniemy, Cin. 14 65 4.6 0

Receiving Rec. Yds. AVG. TD

Brian Blades, Seattle 10 135 13.5 1

Joey Galloway, Seattle 7 95 13.6 0

Carl Pickens, Cin. 10 141 14.1 2

Darnay Scott, Cin. 8 99 12.4 0

Injuries

Seahawks: DE Antonio Edwards (knee), WR Ricky Proehl (ankle) and LB Dean Wells (elbow) are out; T Ray Roberts (ankle) is questionable.

Bengals: QB David Klingler (jaw) and TE Troy Sadowski (shoulder) are out; CB Mike Brim (back), DE Ty Parten (thumb) and DT Keith Rucker are doubtful; RB Jason Burns (hamstring), RB Harold Green (ankle), WR Jeff Hill (concussion), CB Corey Sawyer (shoulder) and CB Chris Shelling (hamstring) are probable.

Notable

The Bengals have won three of four games inside the Kingdome, including victories in the last two. Last year’s Bengals win came in overtime. Surprisingly, the Bengals have the best overtime record in the NFL, having won all four such contests.

Cincinnati leads the NFL in sacks with 11, picking up seven against Jacksonville last week. Last year, the Bengals didn’t get their first sack until the fourth game.

Seattle’s defense has been the most generous in the league - worse, even, than the two expansion teams. Defensive efficiency, meanwhile, is 29th in the NFL (yielding an average of 6.38 yards per play). The Hawks also have the worst kickoff coverage in the league.

The Seahawks have a bye next week before playing host to Denver Oct.1.

Analysis

Didn’t someone title this a game between Numb and Numb-er?

Actually, that’s not fair to the Bengals, who have won both times out this year.

Seattle can’t really worry too much about the opponent this week, but must, rather, concentrate on executing their own offensive and defensive schemes.

In their first two games, the Hawks’ mental mistakes have doomed them to defeat. Quarterback overthrows, blown coverages, mis-reads - they’ve had them all, making this look like a team that is much worse than it probably really is.

Clearly, Seattle has the talent to win this game. But if the Hawks don’t play smarter than they have, no game is a sure thing.

Use quarterback Rick Mirer as a guide. If he can snap out of his slump, the Hawks can win.

But another effort like last Sunday’s against San Diego means that the Hawks limp into their bye week shouldering an 0-3 record. , DataTimes