Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks: Full Seattle Game Preview
The Seattle Seahawks play one of their most important games of the season this Sunday night against the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals.
The Seahawks are 3-1 against the Cardinals in the last two seasons and 1-1 against them at CenturyLink Field in that same span.
Coming off a Week 9 bye, Seattle will look to make a statement against a Cardinals team poised to make a deep playoff run. Arizona has the league's second-ranked offense this season, averaging 32.9 points per game.
Seattle's defense, meanwhile, is allowing 17.5 points per game. The unit hopes it can get some help from the Seahawks offense this Sunday, especially in the fourth quarter—Seattle hasn't scored a fourth-quarter touchdown since its Week 1 loss to the St. Louis Rams.
But that was then, and this is now. The Seahawks are a well-coached team and the 12th Man should expect them to compete hard and look good in this important divisional contest.
Continue reading to find out what to watch.
Location: CenturyLink Field, Seattle
Time: 5:30 p.m. PT/ 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC (national) Channel 5 (local)
Week 9 Recap
1 of 6
After a narrow, one-point victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8, the Seahawks got some rest on a Week 9 bye.
According to Curtis Crabtree of United Press International, the team used its week off to focus on improving its red-zone offense. It has been one of Seattle's biggest issues in the first half of this season.
"Offensively, we just didn't do well enough—didn't take advantage of our opportunities being down there," head coach Pete Carroll told Crabtree. "That's really a point of emphasis for us to turn that thing around."
In 17 red-zone possessions through eight games this season, the Seahawks have only scored five touchdowns. Last season, the Seahawks scored touchdowns on more than half of 31 red-zone trips through the same number of games.
One Seahawks stat to consider in terms of red-zone offense: The Cardinals have only allowed three rushing touchdowns all season. Red-zone creativity will be key this week for Seattle's offense if the team is truly going to turn around its red-zone blues.
The Seahawks are currently tied with the St. Louis Rams for second place in the NFC West.
News and Notes
2 of 6
Marshawn Lynch must engage "Beast Mode"
Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com recently published an article breaking down Lynch's 2015 production, questioning if the 29-year-old running back has legitimately slowed down.
There are a few apparent reasons as to why Lynch looks less effective on the field this season, including age, a heavy workload in previous seasons and (most obviously) an ineffective Seahawks offensive line.
Whatever the case, getting Lynch and the rest of the Seahawks' running game going is key to the team making a run at the postseason. If the Seahawks can run against the Cardinals defense this Sunday, Seattle will set the tone for another strong finish to the season.
Seattle might try running with Lynch out of the shotgun formation more going forward, as it's been the most effective way for the Seahawks to move the ball on the ground this season.
According to Kapadia's article, Lynch has averaged 4.57 yards per carry on runs when quarterback Russell Wilson is in shotgun this season. That number is close to last year's mark of 4.88 yards per carry from the same formation.
Keeping that kind of production up on the ground is huge for the Seahawks, not only this weekend but for the rest of the season as well.
Calling Mr. Jimmy Graham
"The Seahawks are in a position that was hard to imagine when they traded for Graham this offseason: They are the NFL’s worst team in the red zone, scoring touchdowns on a league-worst 29 percent of their trips inside the 20-yard line."
That's a line from a recent story by the Seattle Times' Jayson Jenks. It's particularly curious because, at a glance, it seems like the whole reason the Seahawks traded for Graham during the offseason was to acquire the league's greatest red-zone threat.
It's alright, though, because the season is only halfway over.
And getting Graham rolling against the Cardinals would be darn good timing.
In order to do that, Russell Wilson needs to give Graham more chances when he's covered by a single defender. It is Jimmy Graham, after all. He is 6'7", after all.
It was only one of the offseason's biggest trade acquisitions, after all.
Seriously, though—it's time for this offense's passing game to become Graham-centric. And, after a bye week, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Seahawks' game plan feature a heavy dose of Graham, especially with the recent loss of wide receiver Ricardo Lockette.
Graham versus the Arizona secondary will be a key matchup to watch this Sunday night.
Latest Injury News
3 of 6
The Seahawks are coming off their Week 9 bye "very healthy," according to Coach Carroll via Seahawks.com.
That might be the best news Seattle fans have heard in weeks.
Take a look at Wednesday's injury report as listed on the team's official website:
Out
WR Ricardo Lockette, neck
Did not participate
RB Marshawn Lynch (not injury-related, will play vs. Cardinals)
Limited participation
TE Luke Willson (toe, expected to play Sunday)
Full participation
LT Russell Okung (toe/ankle, also expected to play Sunday)
Okung's probable return to the field Sunday is important. Say what you want about the way he and the rest of the offensive line have played this season, but getting your starting left tackle back before a divisional showdown is significant.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Key Matchups
4 of 6
Seattle Offensive Line vs. Arizona Front Seven
The Cardinals defense has played stout this season, especially against the run. Opponents are averaging only 3.8 yards per carry against Arizona, while the Seahawks are averaging 4.6 yards per carry on the ground this season.
That yards-per-carry average is slightly misleading, however. Starting running back Marshawn Lynch is averaging 3.6 yards per carry, and he's expected to get the majority of touches going forward.
It's absolutely imperative that the Seattle offensive line is ready to create space on the ground Sunday night—expect it to be up to the task.
On the plus side, the Cardinals defense only has 13 sacks on the season, and Seattle's offensive line didn't allow a quarterback sack in a Week 8 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Russell Wilson should not only have adequate time to throw the ball, but also enough space to make plays with his feet.
Second-year offensive tackle Garry Gilliam has shown toughness in pass protection this season and has yet to surrender a sack in 2015.
Legion of Boom vs. Cardinals Wideouts
Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer has thrown 20 touchdowns to a talented group of wide receivers that includes Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown. The Seattle secondary will have its hands full all night long.
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has a good history against Arizona—he has seven interceptions in eight career games against the Cardinals. Forcing turnovers and keeping Palmer and Co. off the field is essential to a winning game plan. The Seattle defense has only three interceptions on the season.
Protecting against big plays will also be key to slowing down Arizona's high-powered offense. The Cardinals have 37 pass plays of 20 or more yards on the season, while the Seahawks defense has allowed 25 such plays.
The Cardinals like to strike quick. They have five pass-catchers who are averaging at least 15 yards per reception this season, meaning the Seahawks secondary will need to play tighter—and with better communication—than it has all season to stall the Cardinals' high-flying offense.
Matchup X-Factor: Tyler Lockett
5 of 6
With Ricardo Lockette out for the season with a neck injury, rookie receiver Tyler Lockett's role is about to increase tremendously in this Seahawks offense.
The bye week will do nothing but help Lockett become more familiarized with the team's system. Look for offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell to dial up some creative plays involving Lockett to create mismatches in the Arizona secondary.
Of course, talking about Lockett as a X-factor without mentioning his ability on special teams would be just plain wrong. The rookie has been electric in the return game, scoring two touchdowns on special teams this season.
That ability will be a valuable weapon in this game, especially so given that Patrick Peterson will be returning kicks for the Cardinals.
A breakout game for Lockett, even if that means only throwing one or two big plays in the mix, could easily prove to be the difference on Sunday night.
Prediction: Arizona Cardinals 20, Seattle Seahawks 23
6 of 6
This game is going to be a feisty affair between two well-rested teams coming off bye weeks.
The Cardinals know that, for the time being, the NFC West goes through Seattle. The Seahawks are still figuratively in the Cardinals' way of obtaining a division title, and Sunday night has huge implications for the playoffs.
But the Seahawks of late have been known as a team to go on a run during the season's back stretch, and that run will start Sunday.
It won't come easy. The Arizona secondary will likely force an interception from Wilson, but the Seahawks defense will return the favor late in the game to help seal a narrow victory in front of the 12th Man.
Follow Ethan on Twitter @ebai_today for coverage and analysis of the Seahawks and the rest of the NFL.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
