Hawks (

21.25) at
Cards (

24.25)

Game Overview ::

By mike johnson >>

• This game is a rematch from two weeks ago. It was an ugly, low-scoring game that featured only one offensive touchdown, and the Seahawks won 16-6.
• This game will have huge NFC West implications. The Seahawks could potentially create a two-game lead in the division, and the Cardinals would lose the tiebreaker if Seattle sweeps them.
• Cardinals tight end Trey McBride has 73 receptions this season without a receiving TD. The NFL record for receptions without a touchdown is 86.
• Arizona WR Marvin Harrison Jr. leads all NFL rookies with seven receiving touchdowns, 5 of which have come at home and all of which have occurred in a dome or warm weather.
• Seattle passes at one of the highest rates in the league, but struggled against the Cardinals in the first matchup while the availability of star RB Kenneth Walker III and WR DK Metcalf are both in question.

How seattle Will Try To Win ::

The Seahawks have taken control of the NFC West with a 7-5 record and have a chance this week to really put their stamp on things. After beating Arizona two weeks ago at home, the Seahawks can take a two-game lead with four to play while also owning the tiebreaker against the Cardinals if they can steal a win in the desert this week. Geno Smith has had a solid season, and the defense has stepped up in several spots, although Seattle has also had several head-scratching losses this season. They blew a game at home against a depleted Giants team earlier this year and then two weeks later went on the road against a red-hot Falcons team and ran them out of the building 34-14. There are not many teams in the league who have been as tough to predict as Seattle this year in terms of how they will perform on a weekly basis.

The Seahawks offense struggled in their first matchup with the Cardinals, averaging only 4.7 yards per play. For context, only one team in the NFL averages fewer yards per play than 4.7 this season. Seattle ranks 4th in the league in pass rate over expectation (PROE) as well as raw pass rate. Their biggest issue has been a poor offensive line that ranks 29th in the league in Adjusted Line Yards, struggling to get a push against anything but the weakest defensive fronts. The Cardinals run defense has been very solid this season, especially of late, as they have held five of their last six opponents below 80 total rushing yards. If we know the Seahawks struggle to run the ball (bottom-5 in both rushing yards per game and rushing yards per carry), and we know the Cardinals shut down mediocre to poor running games, then we can quickly infer that the Seattle offense in this game will rely heavily on Geno Smith and the passing game. 

So, how will Seattle attack through the air? A lot will depend on the status of DK Metcalf, who missed practice on Thursday due to a shoulder injury after being limited on Wednesday. Metcalf previously missed time with a knee injury, so the physical toll is likely starting to mount for him. Second-year WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba has emerged this season and becomes a dynamic route runner who can play both inside and outside while expanding his game to make more downfield plays. JSN’s average depth-of-target (ADOT) has risen from 6.1 yards in his rookie season to 9 yards this year, while his catch rate has also increased. This shows remarkable improvement for a player to see targets (from the same QB) further downfield and to catch more of them. The Cardinals play zone coverage at a very high rate, and only five NFL teams blitz less than them, as their general defensive philosophy is conservative. Seattle struggled a bit offensively in the first matchup in the rain but should be able to have more success this week in their second look at Arizona and more favorable passing conditions. They will likely have to show significant offensive improvement to compete this week, as Arizona’s offense has been significantly better at home this year, and the Seahawks can’t count on holding them to 6 points again.

How arizona Will Try To Win ::