There may be three teams tied for first place in the NFC West, but this is the game that will decide the division leader (for at least three days). Entering this game this is a battle between two teams headed in opposite directions, sure, they are both tied for first at 6-3 but the Cardinals have won four of their last five while the Seahawks have lost three of their last four. These division rivals met earlier in the year and up until last week the Cardinals and the Bills it easily could have been touted as the game of the year as the Cardinals handed Seattle its first loss, winning in overtime on a Zane Gonzalez game winning kick in overtime.
Currently, both of these quarterbacks are in the MVP hunt with Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray both having their best games of the season in the first matchup. That first matchup was in primetime on Sunday night in week seven, now they meet in prime time again and after that first matchup we are all expecting nothing less of a repeat from the matchup.
Before their bye week after the first matchup with these two teams, the Seahawks were one of the best teams in the league with one of the most ferocious offenses in the league. The same thing can currently be said about Seattle, they still have one of the best offenses in the league, but their defense is subpar at best and that is putting it lightly. With the way Seattle has been playing recently they could play themselves out of a playoff spot, so they need to get a key divisional win in order to remain relevant in the division and the NFC playoff picture.
Then we have the Cardinals who are well ahead of their planned schedule of being a playoff team in two or three years. How did that all start, well, one could say it started with the draft pick of Kyler Murray and while they would technically be correct, this season all started with the trade for DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins is no doubt one of the, if not the best receiver in the game and his presence makes the entire offense better to go along with an already good defense.
Both of these teams come into this game looking for division supremacy for the time being and if the Cardinals win, they will be up 2-0 in the season series. This is an important matchup for both teams and not only will it give a team a leg up in the division, but it could also be the game that makes or breaks the MVP for one of the two candidates, so who has the upper leg in the second matchup of the season?
Thursday Night Football: Cardinals at Seahawks
Kickoff: Thursday, Nov. 19 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: Fox/NFL Network
Spread: Seahawks -3.5
How the Cardinals will win
Through four weeks of the season it looked like it was going to be an average season for the Cardinals where .500 would be the best expectation. Since then they have completely turned things around, and they are 4-1 in their last five games including a victory at home against the Seahawks. This win was not only big for their playoff standings and momentum, but it also told the world that the Cardinals are here, and they are legit. This game may not have shown who the Cards really are as a team, but what it did show is that they are a gritty team who will do anything it takes to capture the victory.
The Cardinals do have one huge advantage over the Seahawks, they are a much better-balanced team overall. The offense, while maybe not as explosive as Seattle, is still one of the best in the league ranking seventh overall in points (first in yards), 13th in the pass, and first in the run. They were destined to be a better offense before the season thanks to the likes of Murray improving, but after an offseason trade that brought DeAndre Hopkins in this offense has reached a whole new level of productive.
Then you have the defense who also ranks in the top 10 at ninth overall, 20th in the pass, and 17th in the run. The defense is actually the opposite of the offense, the offense is great at getting yards and while good, struggle at getting points compared to their yards. The defense on the other hand is great at limiting points, but struggle when it comes to allowing yards. Arizona has had their issues with both at points in the season and one of those games was the first meeting with Seattle in which they allowed 572 total yards (most they have allowed all season) and 34 points (tied for most they have allowed this season). Seattle will not be an easy team to keep off the scoreboard, so how will Arizona win, the pass game.
Seattle is great on the offensive end, but this is no legion of boom defense. Entering this game, the Seahawks have the 28th ranked defense in points, 32nd in the pass, and 4th in the run. With how their defense has played it is honestly impressive that they are even 6-3, but that is where they stand. The defense (specifically the pass defense) has been so poor though that the Cardinals could run right through it. In their first matchup the Seahawks allowed 519 total yards, 360 through the air, and 159 through the ground while also allowing 37 points. Arizona was able to get both aspects of their game working and if they can do so again, even though the pass will be more pertinent then it could be a season sweep for Arizona.
How the Seahawks will win
In the past four games, the Seahawks have had trouble at taking care of the ball on the offensive end, having 10 turnovers in their past four games. Despite all of that they have still been one of the best offenses in the league, failing to score 25 or more points only once this season (last week). However, with their worst offensive game happening last week they are not set up too well entering this Thursday night game for first place.
Their first loss of the season came against Arizona in Arizona, so if there is one thing going for them then it is that they are at home this game. Otherwise, not much is pointing towards Seahawks in this game. This season the Seahawks only have 14 total turnovers on the offensive end, 10 of those occurring within the last four games and all of them occurring withing their losses. In every game Seattle has lost this season they have had three or more turnovers yet have still managed to put up points in almost all of those games. What does this say, well, it says that as long as you minimize turnovers then you win the game. Seattle has been on a downward skid in the middle of the season and it may not get any better as they go against one of the most balanced teams in the league.
We already discussed their first game with Arizona this season and we have already discussed their horrid defense, so in a perfect world the defense would be what wins them this game and in a way that’s true. While it is somewhat true, we have seen nine games from Seattle, most of which they have allowed 300+ pass yards. With it now being over half the season, nothing is going to change and we will have to accept that this pass defense is not good and while they can have good games, they will be exposed more times than not.
So, what will really win this game for Seattle is on the offensive end and controlling the ball. While not all of their wins have involved a turnover, all of Arizona’s losses have involved either one or less turnovers, in a game against an offense that can strike at any time they will need to force some turnovers if they want to win. In their first meeting Seattle turned the ball over three times and while their defense did force two turnovers that is still a negative turnover ratio.
With how Seattle’s defense has been it looks like the offense has been trying to force things against the good defenses to make up for it, if they do that again then they could easily lose again. We know and they know that they are one of the best offenses in the league, don’t try to force anything on offense, control the ball and the chances of winning the game keep going up.
Final Analysis
Whoever wins this game will take the lead in the NFC West (at least until Sunday) and this is a huge game that could have large playoff ramifications. If this game is anything like the first matchup between these two then we should see fireworks again, and for maybe the second week in a row a potential game of the year that involves the Cardinals. Seattle is in desperate need for a win, not only to get some of their mojo back, but also to have at least one win on the Cards this season so this is a must win for them. Both of these quarterbacks are in the middle of the MVP race right now, so which potential MVP will put on the performance to lead their team to a victory?
Score: Seahawks 29, Cardinals 27