MINNEAPOLIS -- Safety Earl Thomas says he generally has a feel before each game about how things are going to go for the Seattle Seahawks.

Probably the most instinctive player on the team, Thomas pays attention to how guys are interacting, whether they seem loose and if they are focused.

Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas bumped heads over whether Christian McCaffrey is a better college player than Reggie Bush. Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Following the Seahawks' 38-7 win over the Minnesota Vikings, I asked Thomas what he noticed before the game.

"It felt good," Thomas said. "I think it started early. Sherm [Richard Sherman] came with this debate about Stanford’s [Christian] McCaffrey, said he’s better than Reggie Bush. So me and him were arguing the whole way up here. So it started pretty early, and that just got my mojo going. We were just up. Usually the time difference affects us, but not today."

Sherman, a Stanford graduate, was seated in the next locker over answering reporters' questions. And suddenly, the debate was back on. He made the case that McCaffrey not only deserves the Heisman, but is a better college player than Bush.

Here's the back and forth:

Thomas: "I’m taking Reggie Bush. Reggie Bush is better than McCaffrey."

Sherman: "Prove it with stats."

Thomas: "That’s how he’s getting me. I can’t do all that."

Sherman: "You can’t prove it with stats. You can’t prove it with touches. You can’t prove it with anything because that boy is putting on good tape. He should win the Heisman."

Reporter: "I’m not saying that he shouldn’t be the Heisman."

Thomas: "You see how he [Sherman] tries to switch it up?"

Sherman: "But explain to me how he’s better."

Thomas [to reporter]: "Don’t let him draw you in. Don't let him draw you in"

Sherman: "It’s an opinion. What I’m saying is a fact. I’m giving you factual evidence that Christian McCaffrey, best player in college football."

Thomas: "Is he better than Reggie Bush?"

Sherman: "Yes. Give the kid credit where credit is due. They don’t want to give it to him."

***

Over the weekend, McCaffrey set the NCAA single-season record for all-purpose yards. The Heisman will be handed out Saturday night.