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The upcoming matchup features the Arizona Cardinals (6-4) taking on the Seattle Seahawks (5-5) this Sunday at 4:25 p.m. EST, broadcasted on Fox. According to BetMGM, the Cardinals are favored to win by one point in this clash. Historically, the Seahawks have the edge in the series with a record of 27 wins, 22 losses, and one tie. In terms of spread performance, the Cardinals are 7-3 while the Seahawks hold a 3-6-1 record. Their most recent encounter concluded with the Seahawks narrowly defeating the Cardinals 21-20 on January 7, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. Last week, the Cardinals enjoyed a bye while the Seahawks managed to secure a victory against the 49ers with a score of 20-17.
When examining the offensive statistics, the Cardinals rank 12th overall, 5th for rushing, and 23rd for passing, with a scoring rank of 13th. In contrast, the Seahawks are 10th in total offense, 28th in rushing, 2nd in passing, and 17th in scoring. On the defensive side, the Cardinals sit at 21st overall, 19th against the run, 21st against the pass, and 12th in points allowed. Alternatively, the Seahawks rank 22nd overall defensively, 27th in run defense, 15th against the pass, and 21st in scoring defense. With turnover differentials, the Cardinals stand even, while the Seahawks are at minus-six.
A key player to watch for the Cardinals is safety Budda Baker, who continues to excel in his eighth season, leading a defense that is showing significant improvement. Baker, a two-time All-Pro, has amassed 100 tackles this season and boasts seven tackles for loss, in addition to mentoring emerging cornerbacks like Max Melton and Garrett Williams. For the Seahawks, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has showcased his skills with two consecutive 100-yard receiving games, and he is positioned to potentially shine against the Cardinals’ struggling pass defense, which ranks 21st. Smith-Njigba leads the Seahawks with 60 receptions for a total of 678 yards.
A critical matchup in this game will be the Seahawks’ run defense up against the Cardinals’ rushing attack. The Cardinals are averaging an impressive 149.4 rushing yards per game, ranking 5th in the league, thanks to the contributions of standout running back James Conner and quarterback Kyler Murray’s athleticism. They will be challenged by a Seahawks run defense that has been stepping up recently, particularly with the recent addition of linebacker Ernest Jones.
Injury updates indicate that Cardinals rookie defensive tackle Darius Robinson, who has been sidelined due to a calf injury, might finally make his season debut. Right tackle Jonah Williams, who has also been dealing with a knee issue, could return to action for the first time since Week 1. Coach Jonathan Gannon mentioned that starting safety Jalen Thompson’s status is day-to-day due to an ankle injury. On the Seahawks’ side, safety Rayshawn Jenkins is expected to make a return this week after missing four games with a hand injury, while cornerback Dee Williams is also listed as day-to-day after sustaining an ankle injury during last Sunday’s match against the 49ers.
Historically, the first game between the two franchises was a 30-24 victory for the then-St. Louis Cardinals on September 12, 1976, which marked the inaugural game for the Seahawks. The Seahawks have won the last five matchups against the Cardinals, extending their winning streak since 2021, the longest streak by either team in this series. Interestingly, the Cardinals dominated the early competition, winning the first five games from 1976 to 1995. The most significant margin of victory in their encounters occurred on December 9, 2012, when the Seahawks overwhelmed the Cardinals with a 58-0 scoreline.
Looking at some notable statistics, the Cardinals are coming off a bye week and are about to start a stretch of back-to-back road games against the Seahawks and Vikings. They are currently riding a four-game winning streak, having prevailed in five of their last six games and sit atop the NFC West standings. Quarterback Kyler Murray is on a streak of 17 consecutive completions, setting a franchise record. Furthermore, the Cardinals defense has restricted opponents to just nine and six points over their last two outings, marking only the second time in 30 seasons that the team has allowed fewer than 10 points in two successive games. Their offensive line is performing well, allowing only 15 sacks, which ranks 3rd in the NFL. Moreover, Arizona has recorded just 46 penalties this season, the least in the league. In their last game against the Jets, Murray astonishingly completed 91.7% of his passes, marking one of the highest completion rates in franchise history.
On the Seahawks’ end, wide receiver Tyler Lockett is just two touchdowns shy from surpassing Marshawn Lynch for third on Seattle’s all-time touchdowns record, with 67. He also needs one more 100-yard game to tie Darrell Jackson for second in franchise history with 19. Wide receiver DK Metcalf requires 72 receiving yards to surpass Steve Largent for the most receiving yards by a player in their first six seasons with 6,042, and he’s one touchdown away from breaking Largent’s record in that category as well, with 47 touchdowns. Quarterback Geno Smith needs one additional 300-yard game to equal Russell Wilson’s record for most 300-yard games in a single season within franchise history, standing at five. Running back Kenneth Walker III is three rushing touchdowns away from achieving a personal best of 10 and becoming the first Seahawks player to reach double-digit rushing touchdowns since Marshawn Lynch in 2014.
For those involved in fantasy football, the improved offensive line featuring right tackle Abe Lucas and center Olu Oluwatimi could lead to a much-anticipated breakout game for Walker. After struggling for the majority of the season due to inconsistent line performances, Walker might finally find success if the line maintains its upward trajectory as seen in the previous week.
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