Cincinnati @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 11, 2015 ) Seattle 24, Cincinnati 27

The Seattle Seahawks added a prime asset to their defense and the visiting Cincinnati Bengals show off a new coach when the teams square off in Sunday's season-opening contest. Seattle recently added star defender Jadeveon Clowney in a trade from the Houston Texans while Zac Taylor has replaced Marvin Lewis (16 seasons) as coach of the Bengals.

Clowney's presence provides Seattle's defense with a prolific game changer who is a three-time Pro Bowler and star middle linebacker Bobby Wagner is looking to see what impact his presence has on the defense. "His motor for sure," Wagner told reporters of what impresses him about Clowney. "His effort. The vicious hits in the backfield. The running back has the ball and before he makes a step, he's getting him. The sacks. You watch a couple plays where he just moves a 350-pound lineman out of the way like it's nothing. It's just the power." Taylor is working on changing the direction of a squad that has experienced three consecutive losing campaigns. "We've worked on setting the foundation and the culture for this team the last six months," Taylor told reporters. "Now we're relying on that to carry us through the season. We talk to players all the time - there's going to be some great moments, there's going to be some adversity we face - and we just need to be the same through the whole process. This will be the first test for us."

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Seahawks -9.5. O/U: 44

ABOUT THE BENGALS (2018: 6-10, LAST IN AFC NORTH): Quarterback Andy Dalton has seven 3,000-yard seasons in his career but is facing criticism at age 31 on whether he is the long-term solution under the new coaching regime despite Taylor's public praise. "He's very level-headed," Taylor said. "When you face adversity over the course of the season or within a game, at least you know that your quarterback is that calming influence for everybody - sometimes for the head coach too. If you look over and your quarterback is calm, it calms you down too. It's really good to have a leader like him - someone who has the football acumen that he has." Running back Joe Mixon is looking to build on a big season (1,168 on the ground) while seven-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Geno Atkins (10 sacks) leads the defensive unit.

ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (2018: 10-6, SECOND IN NFC WEST): Clowney's addition late in training camp was a stunner but it displayed the urgency at improving a defense that has slipped in recent seasons and allowed 353.3 yards per game last season, ranking 16th. Quarterback Russell Wilson is already the franchise's all-time leader with 196 career touchdowns and joined Peyton Manning as the only signal callers in NFL history to pass for 3,000 yards and 20 scores in each of their first seven seasons. Wagner had 138 tackles last season and has reached 100 in his first seven campaigns.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Bengals won the past two meetings and hold a 10-9 series edge.

2. Seattle is hoping to have LG Mike Iupati (foot) available after he missed most of training camp.

3. Cincinnati LT Cordy Glenn (concussion) remains in the protocol and his status is unclear.

PREDICTION: Seahawks 31, Bengals 23