Seattle (7-5) will face off against Arizona (6-6) on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. EST, airing live on CBS. BetMGM’s current odds favor the Cardinals by 2.5 points. Historically, the Seahawks maintain a slight edge in the matchups, leading the overall series record at 28 wins to 22 losses and 1 tie. In terms of betting performance, Seattle has a record of 5-6-1 against the spread, while Arizona boasts a 8-4 record. The last encounter saw the Seahawks triumph over the Cardinals 16-6 on November 24, 2024, in Seattle.
In their most recent games, Seattle secured a 26-21 victory against the Chargers, while the Cardinals narrowly lost to the Vikings 23-22. Breaking down the teams’ statistics, the Seahawks’ offense ranks 16th in the league overall, 28th in rushing, and performs significantly better in passing at the 2nd position, resulting in a 15th place in scoring. Meanwhile, their defense stands at 18th overall, 21st against the run, 12th against the pass, and also 12th in scoring. Conversely, the Cardinals’ offense sits at 11th overall, 6th in rushing, but drops to 22nd in passing and 17th in scoring. Their defense lands in 17th overall, 13th against the run, 18th against the pass, and ranks 11th in scoring.
In terms of turnover differentials, the Seahawks sit at minus-6, while the Cardinals are at minus-1. For Seattle, defensive tackle Leonard Williams stands out as a key player to watch, showcasing his dominance over the past two weeks with impressive stats including 2.5 sacks and an extraordinary pick-6 during his last game. For the Cardinals, quarterback Kyler Murray is pivotal, having shown flashes of brilliance by completing 31 out of 45 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings, although he also struggled with a pair of costly interceptions near the end of that game.
A crucial matchup to observe is between Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith and the Arizona defense. Smith has had a solid season; however, he is set to challenge an Arizona defense that has markedly improved over the last six games, ranking third in the NFL with 23 sacks during that stretch.
Injury updates reveal some potential key absentees for Seattle. Coach Mike Macdonald is hopeful about punter Michael Dickson recovering from back spasms, while linebacker Uchenna Nwosu may also return after an extensive time on injured reserve due to a thigh injury. On the other hand, the Cardinals are relatively healthy, with defensive linemen Darius Robinson and Dante Stills managing their injuries during practice this week.
Historically, the Seahawks have had a recent upper hand, winning their last six contests against the Cardinals since 2022, with Arizona’s last victory coming in November 2021. At home, the Cardinals have struggled against Seattle, as they have not secured a win at home since 2020.
In terms of stats, a victory for the Seahawks would mark the 400th win in the franchise’s history. Their defense, especially impressive since Week 9, is allowing an average of only 17.5 points, 299 yards, and limiting opponents to 84.3 rushing yards per game. Notably, Seattle’s recent two games have included two pick-6s, marking a first for the franchise since 2012, and they have held three opponents under 300 yards. As the season progresses, WR DK Metcalf is on the verge of making franchise history with just one more touchdown reception needed to pass Steve Largent for the most in a player’s first six seasons. Smith also stands to tie Russell Wilson’s franchise record for most 300-yard games in a single season with one more such performance.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals are riding a wave of success at home, having outscored their last three opponents 77 to 30 while securing nine touchdowns without allowing any. Tight end Trey McBride has made history by catching 12 passes in back-to-back games, a first for tight ends in NFL history. The team’s losses have come against highly successful opponents, compiling a combined record of 55-18 thus far in the season. Linebacker Budda Baker is currently one of the league’s top tacklers, ranking sixth overall with 114 tackles this season.
Finally, as a tip for fantasy players, the Cardinals’ defense is a solid choice, especially at home, where they limit opponents to just 17 points per game, making them the second most effective home defense in the league.
