Match Preview
At the start of the season, it was expected that the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals would be neck and neck and battling it out for the 1st place spot in the NFC West. Unfortunately, the Cardinals haven’t played up to the analyst’s expectations - it was only a year ago that the Cardinals were playing in the 2015 NFC Championship Game. Seattle clinched the NFC West with their win over the Rams last week. The Cardinals are 2nd in the division. This season, Seattle has won 7 straight home games, a win would help them secure a first-round playoff bye if the Lions & the Falcons lose this week. A win for Arizona may be the only way for them to climb back into the divisional race.
Head Coach
This is Bruce Arians' fourth year as a Head Coach for the Arizona Cardinals. He was an assistant coach for 20 years at various teams before he got chosen for his 1st head coaching position by the Cardinals in 2013. Last year the Cardinals won the NFC West for the first time since 2009, had their first-ever postseason bye and advanced to the NFC Championship for the second time in team history.
Offense
The Cardinal’s offense has a lot of player’s injured, but they have come together well, they scored 41 points and had only 1 sack in last week’s game against the Saints. They are #7 in the league in yards per rush, #9 in overall & pass yards, #7 in red zone percentage, and #9 in 3rd down percentage.
Arizona’s David Johnson is arguably the best offensive player this year - for most of the games he has recorded at least 100 yards from scrimmage (receiving and running).
Arizona’s pass rush has emerged as one of the NFL’s toughest - their defense has forced 19 sacks, the 3rd most in the league. This season they’ve taken advantage with any turnovers. Their defense is tied for first in the NFL in defending explosive passes - Seattle loves to air out the ball.
Defense
Arizona’s Defense is #4 in the NFL in preventing yards, #2 in yards per play, #5 in yards per rush, pass yards & yards per attempt. They are #4 in sack percentage.
Head Coach
Pete Carroll was named head coach of Seattle in January of 2010. He had one of the most successful runs in USC history in the college ranks. He brings 21 years of NFL experience and 19 years of collegiate experience to Seattle. In his five seasons as head coach in Seattle, Carroll has constructed the best teams in Seahawks history. He led them to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances for the 2013 & 2014 seasons. The 2013 season marked the first Super Bowl title in franchise history with a win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
While a college coach at USC, Carroll reached a bowl in each of his nine seasons and won seven. During his tenure, USC won the national championship game three times and became the first school to have three Heisman Trophy winners in a four-year span (Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush).
Offense
The Seahawks offense is healthy and they have played well as a cohesive unit. This year they’ve been favoring their passing game, they are #8 in the NFL in yards per attempt and #8 in explosive over 16-yard passes.
Defense & Special Teams
Seattle also has a formidable defense their rush defense is ranked #1 in yards per carry. They are #2 in points against, #3 in yards per play, #5 in sack percentage, #1 in preventing rushing yards over 12 yards.
Seattle has the biggest advantage when comparing special teams performance. The cardinals performance thus far this year is on the lower end of range in the league.
Comparisons
Game Information
Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks
12/24/16
1:25 PST - 3:25 CST - 4:25 EST - 9:25 UTC
Seahawks
Seahawks
Seahawks.
Seahawks!
SEATTLE!
Seattle Seahawks
Wilsonnnnn
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Winner
SeaChickens for the win.
hawks
Seattle Seahawks
Sea Hawks!
Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks!
Seattle
Seattle Seahawks
Seahawkes
Seattle Seahawks
seahawks
seahawks
Sea hawks
Seattle
Seahawks
Seahawks
Seahawks
Seattle
Arizona
Arizona
Arizona
Arizona win
Arizona!! o/
Arizona
Arizona
cardinals
arizona
Cardinals
Arizona
Arizona
Arizona
MERRY CHRISTMAS
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Arizona was the winner!!!
Arizona