- Thread starter
- #1
blstoker
Bill Bergen for HoF!
- 14,275
- 2,881
- 293
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2013
- Location
- WA
- Hoopla Cash
- $ 9,816.00
- Fav. Team #1
- Fav. Team #2
- Fav. Team #3
Positives
Rashard Mendenhall - He was brought in to fix what has been an anemic running game the last few seasons. He really hasn't been much better than what they had before, and its arguable that Beanie Wells had more success. He's averaging only 3.1 yards per carry this season (1.7 in the teams' last meeting).
Pass Defense - If Mendenhall & company can't get the run game going, Carson Palmer will have to work against the #1 pass defense in the NFL. Palmer has been playing out of his mind since the game in October (69.0%, 13 TD-4 INT), which is one of the biggest reasons the Cards are 6-1 in those games.
Negatives
Run Defense - Seattle has the #1 pass defense, but the Cardinals have the #1 run defense. Seattle has the #2 run offense, but in the first 10 games of the season the Seahawks ran for an average of 153 yards per game, in the last 4 they've only managed 110. It should be a concern that the Seahawks are running for 28% less the last four games, cause if the team is losing the ability to do what they do best, it could hurt them in the playoffs.
Andre Ellington - Though he was quiet the last meeting (13 yards on 5 touches) he's had a great season. He's got 909 yards from scrimmage (7.1 yards per touch) and has been even better since the last time these teams met (540 yards in 6 games and both his TDs). He's able to break it at any time, and Seattle needs to keep the big runs to a minnimum and not let Ellington get the offense any momentum.
Matchups
Turnovers - These are 2 teams that thrive in getting take aways. Seattle is #2 in the NFL with 33 take aways while the Cards are #4 with 28. Seattle has been so good at winning the turnover battle this season (only losing the TO battle once) and it would go a long way to win the game if they win it today.
John Abraham vs. Okung and Giacomini - Anyone who thought that Abraham's age would make his skill set decline, was flat out wrong. Despite being 35, he's been putting in a very impressive, and it was his game against Seattle in October that woke him up, by getting his first 2 sacks of the season then. Seattle will need to protect Wilson, and stopping Abraham from getting pressure will be the biggest challenge to do that.
Overview
I know there has been talk that the Seahawks don't need to win this game, which is true in the sense that they are already in the playoffs and could still get home field with a lose today, but it is a must win in my eyes. Century Link must be defended, and losing today would only give teams like New Orleans and San Francisco hope that they could come into Seattle and win. Also, it isn't the team with the best record who makes the Super Bowl, but the team who is playing the best, and Seattle needs to show that it's play off time right now, and put their best into this game, as Arizona is a good team playing for their play off lives right now. Seattle has struggled running the ball of late, and they will be without Sweezy today. This would be a good time for the run offense to show itself, show it can run against great defenses.
Rashard Mendenhall - He was brought in to fix what has been an anemic running game the last few seasons. He really hasn't been much better than what they had before, and its arguable that Beanie Wells had more success. He's averaging only 3.1 yards per carry this season (1.7 in the teams' last meeting).
Pass Defense - If Mendenhall & company can't get the run game going, Carson Palmer will have to work against the #1 pass defense in the NFL. Palmer has been playing out of his mind since the game in October (69.0%, 13 TD-4 INT), which is one of the biggest reasons the Cards are 6-1 in those games.
Negatives
Run Defense - Seattle has the #1 pass defense, but the Cardinals have the #1 run defense. Seattle has the #2 run offense, but in the first 10 games of the season the Seahawks ran for an average of 153 yards per game, in the last 4 they've only managed 110. It should be a concern that the Seahawks are running for 28% less the last four games, cause if the team is losing the ability to do what they do best, it could hurt them in the playoffs.
Andre Ellington - Though he was quiet the last meeting (13 yards on 5 touches) he's had a great season. He's got 909 yards from scrimmage (7.1 yards per touch) and has been even better since the last time these teams met (540 yards in 6 games and both his TDs). He's able to break it at any time, and Seattle needs to keep the big runs to a minnimum and not let Ellington get the offense any momentum.
Matchups
Turnovers - These are 2 teams that thrive in getting take aways. Seattle is #2 in the NFL with 33 take aways while the Cards are #4 with 28. Seattle has been so good at winning the turnover battle this season (only losing the TO battle once) and it would go a long way to win the game if they win it today.
John Abraham vs. Okung and Giacomini - Anyone who thought that Abraham's age would make his skill set decline, was flat out wrong. Despite being 35, he's been putting in a very impressive, and it was his game against Seattle in October that woke him up, by getting his first 2 sacks of the season then. Seattle will need to protect Wilson, and stopping Abraham from getting pressure will be the biggest challenge to do that.
Overview
I know there has been talk that the Seahawks don't need to win this game, which is true in the sense that they are already in the playoffs and could still get home field with a lose today, but it is a must win in my eyes. Century Link must be defended, and losing today would only give teams like New Orleans and San Francisco hope that they could come into Seattle and win. Also, it isn't the team with the best record who makes the Super Bowl, but the team who is playing the best, and Seattle needs to show that it's play off time right now, and put their best into this game, as Arizona is a good team playing for their play off lives right now. Seattle has struggled running the ball of late, and they will be without Sweezy today. This would be a good time for the run offense to show itself, show it can run against great defenses.
