Jets at Seahawks-- Week 10

Where: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA (Field turf, outdoors)

When: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS)

Spread: Seattle by 6

Forecast: Cloudy. Temperature in the upper 40s.

Records: Jets (Overall: 3-4, AFC East: 2-2); Seahawks (Overall: 5-4, NFC West: 0-3)

Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Dec. 21, 2008 (Seahawks 13, Jets 3); Dec. 19, 2004 (Jets 37, Seahawks 14).Series record: Seahawks 9-8.

What matters: Week 10 and it’s still the running game. The Jets have built their team to be a “ground and pound” offense, but they’ve struggled. If the running game can’t establish a rhythm that’s going to put them behind the eight-ball playing catch-up the entire game.

Who matters: QB Mark Sanchez and the offensive line. Sanchez has to make sure his decision-making is on point, especially against the Seahawks secondary, which has some tall players (e.g. S Kam Chancellor) who create a big presence downfield. The offensive line
has to make sure their protections and run blocking are solid in order to give RB Shonn Greene room to run and give Sanchez time to throw. The protections and blocking have been erratic all season.

Key matchups: The defensive line vs. Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch. The Jets run defense has improved since the season started, but Lynch is a player who LB Bryan Thomas said is “a make-you-miss guy.” They will have to be as stout against him as anyone they’ve faced so far.

Injuries of note: RB Joe McKnight is battling a sprained ankle, which he has played two games with, but he may not play in this one. NT Kenrick Ellis has a knee injury. LB Bart Scott has been rehabbing a toe injury.

Inside stuff: The Jets will finally get S Eric Smith back from a knee injury. Coach Rex Ryan pointed out what a critical component Smith is, especially on special teams. Referring to what happened when Smith wasn’t active, “We gave up a kick return where Eric Smith’s spot would
be. We gave up an onside kick where Eric Smith’s spot would be. We gave up a blocked punt where Eric Smith might be.” Special teams coach Mike Westhoff, after one of the worst games of his career against Miami agreed, saying Smith does things for their unit that few others
can do.

Connections: Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was Jets QB Mark Sanhez’s coach at USC. Jets CB Isaiah Trufant’s brother Marcus plays cornerback for the Seahawks.

Stat you should know: The Seahawks are second in the NFL in rushing.

Looking ahead: Heading into the second half of the season at 3-5, the Jets will be in brutally bad shape if they don’t win this game and then have to go on the road for a second straight week to face St. Louis. They then return home to host the Patriots who have already
beaten them once this year. As for the Seahawks a win would send them into their bye week at 6-4. They then travel to Miami to play the Dolphins and then to Chicago to take on the Bears.

Prediction: Jets 17, Seahawks 13

Stay dialed in on the New York Jets by following correspondent Lisa Zimmerman on Twitter @CBSJets and@LisaZimmerman.