The Arizona Cardinals will take on their NFC West rivals when they travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks in their Week 16 matchup Sunday. The Cardinals enter this game at 4-9-1, while the Seahawks are 11-3. Seattle is a 9.5-point favorite, and the over/under is 51.
Something To Build On
The Cardinals have been piecing things together this season with first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury and rookie quarterback Kyler Murray. While they have not been as successful as they hoped to be this season, they hope that they have started something to build on in the coming seasons.
Arizona is coming off a win over the Browns last week at home after losing its previous six. The Cardinals have had ups and downs all season but have failed to maintain any consistency.
Murray has been leading the team this season on offense, both in passing and rushing. Murray has thrown for 3,279 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. With the Cardinals using multiple running backs this year, Murray has led the team on the ground as well, with 504 yards and four rushing touchdowns.
Veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has been the rookie’s top target this season, reeling in 67 catches for 711 yards and three touchdowns.
The Cardinals are averaging 22.1 points per game while allowing 28.4. They are also putting up 355 yards of offense while giving up 429.
Each team is giving up over 100 rushing yards per game, so if the Cardinals can keep this close enough to utilize their run game, it could be a big day for their backfield.
Back In The Driver’s Seat
The Seattle Seahawks are coming off a win over the Panthers after dropping their previous game to the Rams. Playing in the tough NFC West, the Seahawks have gone under the radar this season, but they look very prepared for a deep playoff run with their stout defense and MVP candidate quarterback.
It is impossible to talk about the Seahawks and not focus on Russell Wilson. The Seattle signal-caller is having one of the best seasons of his career and only trailing the MVP vote to Lamar Jackson.
Wilson has thrown for 3,708 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He is the core of the Seattle offense and always seems to find a way to get the job done with the game on the line in the fourth quarter.
Chris Carson has been getting the job done for Seattle on the ground this year. He has 270 carries for 1,190 yards and seven touchdowns. The Cardinals are allowing 122 yards on the ground per game this season, so if the Seahawks can jump out to an early lead, Carson could be in for a big day.
Wilson’s primary target this year has been Tyler Lockett, who has 75 receptions for 994 yards and seven touchdowns. With Josh Gordon out due to another suspension, both Lockett and rookie DK Metcalf could get a lot of targets this week.
The Seattle Seahawks are averaging 26.5 points per game while allowing 24.6. They are also posting just over 400 yards per game while allowing 389.
What To Expect
While Seattle is clearly the better team and has home-field advantage, most of its games have ended very close this season, and division games tend to go that way as well. I do expect the Seahawks to win, but they will most likely be playing it safe for the playoffs, and I think the Cardinals will keep it within nine.
