Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks: Complete Week 12 Preview for Arizona

The last time the Arizona Cardinals traveled to play the Seattle Seahawks, the game was a thriller from start to finish. Quarterback Carson Palmer hit receiver Michael Floyd for a 31-yard touchdown with 2:13 left to beat their NFC West rivals and snap Seattle’s 14-game home winning streak.

A lot has changed for both teams since that game. The Cardinals (9-1) enter Week 12 with the best record in the NFL; they have a three-game lead over the Seahawks (6-4) and a full two games over everyone in the NFC.

Both teams have had their fair share of misfortune this season, as a combined 19 players are on the season-ending injured reserve list.

That will not keep this game from being one of the better contests of the week, however. The Cardinals proved last season they can overcome a poor day from their quarterback to emerge victorious in Seattle; Drew Stanton does not need to be perfect on Sunday, he just has to be the leader and let head coach Bruce Arians’ offensive scheme do the work.

Here is your in-depth preview of the Cardinals' Week 12 matchup with the Seahawks.

Cardinals’ Week 11 Review

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Speaking of the team not needing perfect quarterback play to win, that’s what happened last week against the Detroit Lions. Stanton did complete a season-high 65.6 percent of his passes for a career-high 306 yards, but two ill-timed interceptions could have cost his team the game.

But coordinator Todd Bowles’ defense was up to the task and halted Matt Stafford and the Lions, allowing only a single field goal off both turnovers—and that was only because Stanton’s second interception gave Detroit possession in the red zone (the only time the Lions sniffed the red zone all game).

The Cardinals were shut out in the second half for only the second time under Arians—the first came last year in a blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints.

In fact, the Cardinals were shut out in the final three quarters of both of those games.

As it will be this week, the defense was important in this game. The group as a whole played fantastic football from beginning to end, but the front seven especially stood out.

Known for his exotic blitzes, which he uses often, Bowles sent pressure just eight times against the Lions—by far a season low. Impressive was the fact the Cardinals sacked Stafford four times, and three of those came without the help of extra rushers.

The more often the front seven can get pressure without sending a blitz, the better off the defense will be, because that means more players have dropped into coverage, increasing the chances of forcing a turnover off of a pressured throw.

The Cardinals won this game with just enough from Stanton and a lot of help from the defense. That sounds like the game in Seattle last season, right?

It’s the same formula the Cardinals must have on Sunday.

News and Notes

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Stanton Goes Deep

Everyone knows Arians loves taking shots downfield. Everyone also knows that’s a major reason he likes Stanton so much—the quarterback is not afraid to chuck it deep.

Arians told Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com on Thursday the offensive play-calling does not change whether Palmer or Stanton is the one throwing deep balls:

"

It really doesn’t. That’s the beauty of that pass that [Stanton] threw in that ball game (against the Rams) under duress. We’re not really going to lose that part of it. Carson was, and is, amazing at it, at dropping it in the bucket, but we can still go downtown and we still have that threat in our offense.

"

I published this piece on Arians’ deep attack and how successful it has been this season just hours before the above comment was gathered. Feel free to enlighten yourself by reading it.

Fells’ (Im)Patience Pays Off

With rookie second-round pick Troy Niklas joining Palmer on IR the rest of the season, the Cardinals need someone to step up and fill the role of blocking tight end.

That will be Darren Fells, who has been anxious to see the field more, according to Zach Buchanan of AZCentral.com: “I couldn’t say I’ve been patiently waiting," Fells said. "I’ve been impatiently waiting the whole time, trying to get out there.”

Fells has taken part in 24 offensive plays this season, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Of those, 22 have been in run-blocking situations.

He could see some action in the passing game; it might not be a bad idea considering the Seahawks likely have not game-planned for him this week. He’s athletic enough to make a catch and run with it, and we know he’s capable of going up to get one—he is 6’7”, 281 pounds, after all.

Matt Shaughnessy Back at Practice

This news means nothing for this week’s game. It doesn’t even mean anything for next week’s game at Atlanta. But the news that outside linebacker Matt Shaughnessy—who is set to return to game action against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14, according to Adam Green of ArizonaSports.com—is practicing is big nonetheless.

Arizona’s run defense has been great all season, but the Lions exploited the edge last week. Shaughnessy is a run-stopping machine, and he was missed in a game for the first time this season when Detroit had some success running the football.

Birdgang Boo-Boo Brigade

Ralph Freso/Associated Press

Player	Position	Injury	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Game Day
Sam Acho	OLB	Neck	-	LP	-	-
Lorenzo Alexander	OLB	Knee	LP	LP	-	-
Andre Ellington	RB	Foot/Hip	LP	LP	-	-
Larry Fitzgerald	WR	Knee	DNP	DNP	-	-
Larry Foote	ILB	Hip	FP	FP	-	-
Robert Hughes	RB	Hamstring	LP	LP	-	-
Rashad Johnson	FS	Back	LP	LP	-	-
Ed Stinson	DE	Toe	DNP	DNP	-	-
Dan Williams	DT	Elbow	FP	FP	-	-

Injury statuses gathered from AZCardinals.com.

X-Factors and Matchups to Watch

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Dan Williams vs. Patrick Lewis

Unaware of who Patrick Lewis is? That’s OK, because no one knows who he is. He’s Seattle’s backup center, thrust into action after All-Pro center Max Unger sprained his ankle and now will miss three to four weeks.

"

Carroll: Unger out 3-4 weeks with high ankle sprain. #Seahawks

— Stephen Cohen (@scohenPI) November 17, 2014"

That’s huge. Unger is a big reason why running back Marshawn Lynch has been so successful with the Seahawks, and this loss will be felt by Lynch and Co. (assuming Lynch plays; he’s on the injury report with a back issue).

Dan Williams has been great against the run this season; he’s a major reason the Cardinals have been so stout up front over the past two seasons. He could destroy any semblance of a run game Seattle hopes to have on Sunday.

John Brown vs. Earl Thomas

This is an indirect matchup, because free safety Earl Thomas will not be in the slot or on the outside covering rookie receiver John Brown man-to-man. That will be up to whichever cornerback he happens to line up against—the Seahawks don’t move cornerbacks around much.

For the Cardinals to be successful on offense, Brown must get behind the Seahawks defense a time or two. Once that happens, Thomas will start shading to the side on which Brown lines up.

And once that happens, all the Cardinals will have to do is line Brown up to the left of the offensive formation. That will leave Richard Sherman one-on-one with a receiver, which gives the Cardinals an advantage.

Thomas helps Sherman with receivers a lot, which makes the cornerback look better than he is. Leaving him on an island with a receiver like Floyd could be just what the Cardinals need to get going in the passing game.

For what it’s worth: Four of Brown’s five touchdowns this season have come with the receiver lined up to the left of the formation. The only touchdown that originated with Brown lined up on the right was against the San Francisco 49ers and gave the team the lead for good.

Stanton threw that pass.

Cardinals’ X-Factor of the Game: Deone Bucannon

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is more than a pocket quarterback; he’s a threat to run the ball just as much as he is to hit one of his no-name receivers deep off play action.

Rookie safety Deone Bucannon has been a linebacker this season. In nickel and dime packages, the talented and versatile defender has provided Bowles with an extra athlete in the box to add speed and quickness while not taking away from the thump of a linebacker.

His job this week likely will be to spy Wilson. He will follow him everywhere on the field. If the quarterback takes the snap and rolls out to his right, you can bet Bucannon will mirror him by moving to his left.

This is the role typically played by suspended inside linebacker Daryl Washington.

The rookie has big shoes to fill this week. Don’t be surprised if you mistake him for Washington on occasion. He’s got the size, the athleticism and the pop behind his pads to halt Wilson in his tracks and make him think twice about scrambling.

Arizona’s secondary has played really well of late, and if the guys on the back end play to the full extent of their abilities, Bucannon will have plenty of opportunities to chase down Wilson as the quarterback buys time.

Prediction

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Let’s be honest: This game is not going to be more than a one-possession game for very long, if at all. It will be a closely contested defensive struggle throughout, and the winner of the game will probably be the team with fewer mistakes.

These are two good teams hitting their stride down the stretch. Seattle may have lost last week, but playing at Arrowhead Stadium is always tough no matter which logo you wear on your helmet—just ask the AFC's No. 1 seed, the New England Patriots.

NFC West games tend to be more physical than their NFL counterparts, so expect a bloodbath in the trenches. The run game for both squads could stall, though it would be more of a surprise if Seattle’s can’t get going. The Cardinals do have one of the best run defenses in the league, but if he plays, Lynch is good for 20-plus carries in this one.

You have to figure he will break off a couple of solid gains, especially considering how hard to bring down he is.

Given the fact that we saw Palmer throw four interceptions in Seattle last season before leading a game-winning drive, it’s not a stretch to think Stanton can be better than that and beat the Seahawks as his peer did.

This year’s defense may be better-suited to play the Seahawks, so Wilson, Lynch and Co. could be in for a very frustrating afternoon.

Prediction: Cardinals 13, Seahawks 12