Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals: NFL Week 1 Preview

The Arizona Cardinals host the Seattle Seahawks in an evolving NFC West rivalry to start the 2012 season. Both teams will want to assert themselves as the primary challenger to the San Francisco 49ers, division winners in 2011.

University of Phoenix Stadium will be loud and hostile. While NFL fans are well aware of the home-field advantage the Seahawks have at the "Clink," the Cardinals fans also get quite loud and will give their defense an edge in this contest.

Game Time: 4:25 ET
Television: Fox (National Broadcast, "America's Game of the Week")
Last Game: Arizona 23-20 (OT) over Seattle
Favorite: Seattle -3
Prediction: Seattle 20-13 over Arizona 

The top story for the Seahawks is Marshawn Lynch. His status will be a game-time decision, but he did practice on Friday and is expected to split carries with rookie Robert Turbin. 

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk is reporting he'll play “unless something crazy happens.”

"

it looks like Beanie Wells will go in ARI but I expect most carries for Ryan Williams, Marshawn Lynch will get 10-15 crries for Seattle

— Pat Kirwan (@PatKirwanCBS) September 9, 2012"

The Seahawks need his presence to help keep some of the defensive pressure off rookie quarterback Russell Wilson.

Arizona will put up a solid defensive effort but will need to respect Lynch more than his backup, Turbin.

"

D'Anthony Batiste, Daryn Colledge, Lyle Sendlein, Adam Snyder, Bobby Massie. This is the #Cardinals starting line, also a living nightmare.

— Anthony Stalter (@AnthonyStalter) September 4, 2012"

The Cardinals are concerned with the status of their offensive line. They had one of the worst blocking units in the NFL last season and several injuries during the preseason could make them even worse in 2012.

They are down to D’Anthony Batiste at left tackle. He's bounced around the NFL since 2007 but has just four starts. Rookie Bobby Massie will start on the right side.

"

Worked in law enforcement at 1 pt. RT @kentsomers: Can't remember a player going longer between starts (5 plus yr) than D'Anthony Batiste

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) September 5, 2012"

Chris Clemons and Bruce Irvin will attempt to spend the afternoon harassing John Skelton; the Cardinals' offensive line needs to at least slow them down.

Don't be surprised to see Arizona use a hurry-up offense early and often to keep the Seahawks from rotating their situational players into the game. Pete Carroll has done an amazing job of acquiring specialists, but many of them lack the versatility to be effective on every down. They will also lose effectiveness if the defensive linemen can't stay fresh.

Both defensive units will be strong against the pass. Their secondaries will play well, and the key to moving the ball through the air will be protecting the quarterback.

That doesn't bode well for Skelton.

Both defenses have good pass-rushers, but the health of Seattle's offensive line gives them the edge.

Skelton will have the luxury of simply throwing the ball to where Larry Fitzgerald will be against a lot of defenses this season, but Seattle isn't one of them. Their corners (Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner) are big, strong ball-hawks. They'll be in press coverage and will make him pay with that approach.

Skelton will need to find a way to extend plays so he can get the ball to the best receiver in the NFL (or one of the top two, for the Calvin Johnsonn fans reading this).

Wilson will have a decided edge if both quarterbacks need to move away from pressure. He is extremely fast and athletic and was effective at picking up chunks of yardage on the ground for the Seahawks in preseason.

Please visit the B/R live blog during the game for ongoing analysis and updates.

Injury Report

Seattle
Name	Position	Injury	Practice Status	Game Status
James Carpenter	T	Knee	Limited Participation	Out
Golden Tate	WR	Knee	Did Not Participate	Out
Marshawn Lynch	RB	Back	Limited Participation	Questionable
Byron Maxwell	CB	Shoulder	Did Not Participate	Doubtful
Greg Scruggs	DE	Hamstring	Limited Participation	Out
Matt Flynn	QB	Right Elbow	Limited Participation	Probable
Arizona
Name	Position	Injury	Practice Status	Game Status
Rob Housler	TE	Hamstring	Full Participation	Probable
LaRod Stephens-Howling	RB	Groin	Full Participation	Probable
Early Doucet	WR		Did Not Participate
Adam Snyder	G	Elbow	Limited Participation	Questionable
Andre Roberts	WR	Ankle	Full Participation	Probable
Rashad Johnson	S	Abdomen	Full Participation	Probable
Gregory Toler	CB	Hip	Limited Participation	Questionable
Chris Wells	RB	Hamstring	Limited Participation	Questionable
O'Brien Schofield	LB	Knee	Full Participation	Probable

Follow @darinpike