Matchups to watch for the Seahawks at Cardinals
Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch vs. the Cardinals? defense: In Week 12, the Cardinals held Lynch to 39 yards. And that came during a four-game stretch where Lynch had 140 yards against the New York Giants, 124 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs and 104 yards against the San Francisco 49ers. One big difference against the Cardinals: Lynch got only 15 carries. When Lynch has gotten at least 20 carries this season, the Seahawks are 7-1. The Cardinals rank No. 6 in the league in average rushing yards allowed (90.4) and their per-carry average of 3.8 yards allowed is tied for sixth. Lynch is averaging 80.9 yards and 4.4 yards per carry, and he?s scored 10 rushing touchdowns. In eight other matchups against the Cardinals since being acquired in a 2010 trade, Lynch has run for 89 (Seattle) and 29 (Arizona) yards in 2010; 73 (Seattle) and 86 (Arizona) in 2011; 85 (Arizona) and 128 and three TDs (Seattle) in 2012; and 91 (Arizona) and 71 (Seattle) last season.
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson vs. the Cardinals? pass rush: The Seahawks won?t have the injured duo of left tackle Russell Okung and center Max Unger. So Alvin Bailey will make his fifth NFL start at left tackle for Okung, who got a bruised lung in last week?s game; and either Lemuel Jeanpierre or Patrick Lewis will step in for Unger, who will miss his fifth consecutive games because of a high ankle sprain. That will create issues against a Cardinals? defense that blitzes more than any team the Seahawks have faced ? the Cardinals? 33 sacks have come from 15 players, including seven each by 6-foot-7 end Calais Campbell and second-year linebacker Alex Okafor. The Cardinals got to Wilson for seven sacks in Week 12 at CenturyLink Field, including three by Campbell. But Wilson also got out to run for 73 yards and fashioned a 121.6 passer rating by completing 17 of 22 passes for 211 yards and the game?s only touchdown. Wilson?s uncanny ability to sense and evade pressure will be put to the test in this one.
Seahawks CB Richard Sherman vs. Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald: There?s a lot of respect between these two, not to mention a lot of impressive statistics. Last week, Fitzgerald became the youngest player in NFL history to reach the 900-catch plateau. Sherman, meanwhile, ranks No. 4 in league history for most interceptions in his first four seasons with 23 ? behind the Raiders? Lester Hayes and Cowboys? Everson Walls (25) and Seahawks? Ring of Honor strong safety Kenny Easley (24). Fitzgerald has had big games against the Seahawks ? nine catches for 149 yards in 2011, 13 catches for 100 yards in 2009 and 10 catches for 151 yards in 2008. But only the 2011 season finale was with Sherman in the Seahawks? secondary. Sherman had three of his league-leading eight interceptions last season against the Cardinals, and three of his eight picks in 2012 also came against them.
Cardinals QB Ryan Lindley vs. the Seahawks? No. 1-ranked defense: In his first start since 2012, Lindley draws a Seahawks defense that is allowing the fewest average yards and passing yards in the league and the second fewest average points. Also consider that Lindley was released by the Cardinals in August and signed off the San Diego Chargers? practice squad last month when starter Carson Palmer was lost for the season to a knee injury. And, during their defensive-fueled four-game winning streak, the Seahawks have held the opposing quarterbacks to a 59.1 passer rating, as the 49ers? Colin Kaepernick (twice), Cardinals? Drew Stanton and Eagles? Mark Sanchez have completed 54 percent of their passes (51 of 94) for an average of 126.8 yards, with two TD passes and four interceptions. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians says he?s going to let Lindley ?sling it.? When he does, the Seahawks need to make him pay.
The importance of this game to both teams: If the Cardinals win, all the cards fall into place. They will be NFC West champions, get a bye in the first round of the playoffs and have home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs in the stadium where Super XLIX will be played on Feb. 1. If the Seahawks win, they will be tied for the division lead and hold the tiebreaker over the Cardinals. But they?d still have to beat the Rams in their finale at CenturyLink Field on Dec. 28 to assure winning the division for the second consecutive season and third time in five seasons under Pete Carroll. If the Seahawks lose, they will be a wild-card team, at best, and travel in the first round of the playoffs. The Seahawks can talk about each week being a championship opportunity, but this really is. And the alternative to not winning this game is not an attractive one for the defending Super Bowl champs.
Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch vs. the Cardinals? defense: In Week 12, the Cardinals held Lynch to 39 yards. And that came during a four-game stretch where Lynch had 140 yards against the New York Giants, 124 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs and 104 yards against the San Francisco 49ers. One big difference against the Cardinals: Lynch got only 15 carries. When Lynch has gotten at least 20 carries this season, the Seahawks are 7-1. The Cardinals rank No. 6 in the league in average rushing yards allowed (90.4) and their per-carry average of 3.8 yards allowed is tied for sixth. Lynch is averaging 80.9 yards and 4.4 yards per carry, and he?s scored 10 rushing touchdowns. In eight other matchups against the Cardinals since being acquired in a 2010 trade, Lynch has run for 89 (Seattle) and 29 (Arizona) yards in 2010; 73 (Seattle) and 86 (Arizona) in 2011; 85 (Arizona) and 128 and three TDs (Seattle) in 2012; and 91 (Arizona) and 71 (Seattle) last season.
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson vs. the Cardinals? pass rush: The Seahawks won?t have the injured duo of left tackle Russell Okung and center Max Unger. So Alvin Bailey will make his fifth NFL start at left tackle for Okung, who got a bruised lung in last week?s game; and either Lemuel Jeanpierre or Patrick Lewis will step in for Unger, who will miss his fifth consecutive games because of a high ankle sprain. That will create issues against a Cardinals? defense that blitzes more than any team the Seahawks have faced ? the Cardinals? 33 sacks have come from 15 players, including seven each by 6-foot-7 end Calais Campbell and second-year linebacker Alex Okafor. The Cardinals got to Wilson for seven sacks in Week 12 at CenturyLink Field, including three by Campbell. But Wilson also got out to run for 73 yards and fashioned a 121.6 passer rating by completing 17 of 22 passes for 211 yards and the game?s only touchdown. Wilson?s uncanny ability to sense and evade pressure will be put to the test in this one.
Seahawks CB Richard Sherman vs. Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald: There?s a lot of respect between these two, not to mention a lot of impressive statistics. Last week, Fitzgerald became the youngest player in NFL history to reach the 900-catch plateau. Sherman, meanwhile, ranks No. 4 in league history for most interceptions in his first four seasons with 23 ? behind the Raiders? Lester Hayes and Cowboys? Everson Walls (25) and Seahawks? Ring of Honor strong safety Kenny Easley (24). Fitzgerald has had big games against the Seahawks ? nine catches for 149 yards in 2011, 13 catches for 100 yards in 2009 and 10 catches for 151 yards in 2008. But only the 2011 season finale was with Sherman in the Seahawks? secondary. Sherman had three of his league-leading eight interceptions last season against the Cardinals, and three of his eight picks in 2012 also came against them.
Cardinals QB Ryan Lindley vs. the Seahawks? No. 1-ranked defense: In his first start since 2012, Lindley draws a Seahawks defense that is allowing the fewest average yards and passing yards in the league and the second fewest average points. Also consider that Lindley was released by the Cardinals in August and signed off the San Diego Chargers? practice squad last month when starter Carson Palmer was lost for the season to a knee injury. And, during their defensive-fueled four-game winning streak, the Seahawks have held the opposing quarterbacks to a 59.1 passer rating, as the 49ers? Colin Kaepernick (twice), Cardinals? Drew Stanton and Eagles? Mark Sanchez have completed 54 percent of their passes (51 of 94) for an average of 126.8 yards, with two TD passes and four interceptions. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians says he?s going to let Lindley ?sling it.? When he does, the Seahawks need to make him pay.
The importance of this game to both teams: If the Cardinals win, all the cards fall into place. They will be NFC West champions, get a bye in the first round of the playoffs and have home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs in the stadium where Super XLIX will be played on Feb. 1. If the Seahawks win, they will be tied for the division lead and hold the tiebreaker over the Cardinals. But they?d still have to beat the Rams in their finale at CenturyLink Field on Dec. 28 to assure winning the division for the second consecutive season and third time in five seasons under Pete Carroll. If the Seahawks lose, they will be a wild-card team, at best, and travel in the first round of the playoffs. The Seahawks can talk about each week being a championship opportunity, but this really is. And the alternative to not winning this game is not an attractive one for the defending Super Bowl champs.
