Once again the Thursday Night Football producers have to be kicking themselves after what originally looked like a good game back when the schedule was announced, turned into a pile of wet garbage by airtime. I’m talking, of course, about the Seattle Seahawks (5-3) traveling to University of Phoenix Stadium to take on the Arizona Cardinals (4-4).
The idea was that this game would be for control of the NFC West. Now, it’s just a chance for Seattle to stay within a game of the Los Angeles Rams and for the Cardinals to not completely tank the season.
NBC, it’s network of affiliates and the NFL Network will team up to bring you this TNF game at 8:25 p.m. EST.
The Game: Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals (+6)
O/U: 41.0
The History
The Cardinals and 49ers have been NFC West rivals since 2002 when the NFL re-aligned to four divisions in each conference.
Arizona and San Francisco have played 36 times since 1976 with the Cardinals holding an 18-17-1 advantage in the all time series.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (5-3)
As good as Russell Wilson is at quarterback for the Seahawks, he obviously can’t do it all by himself. Last week, Seattle dropped a 17-14 game to the Washington Redskins at home, surrendering a four play, 70 yard touchdown drive with less than 48 seconds to go in the game. Remember when it was reported that Richard Sherman though Wilson was getting a pass for his shitty play in the off-season? I wonder what the Shermanator thinks now.
Yep, it’s the defense that’s suddenly become the primary problem for the Seahawks. Overall, they didn’t have a horrible game against the Redskins. They just bent over when it mattered the most, at crunch time with under a minute left. Up until that final drive they’d held Washington to just 174 total yards on the day before opening the floodgates.
While the Seahawks saved their defensive collapse to the final seconds last Sunday, the week before they let Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans abuse them like an 1800s English orphan. If not for a dropped pass from Cooper Kupp in the end zone when they played the Los Angeles Rams, they’d have the same record as the Cardinals and have dropped two games in the final seconds.
While Wilson shouldn’t be counted on to carry the team on his back, that doesn’t mean the 5-10 quarterback won’t give it a try. Last week he completed 24 of 45 for 297 yards, two touchdowns and two picks while rushing 10 times for 77 yards to lead the team.
On the injury report, Eddie Lacy is out with a groin injury. Offensive lineman Luke Joeckel will miss the game with a knee injury and Marcus Smith is out with a concussion. Wide receiver Paul Richardson, linebacker D.J. Alexander and Sherman are all listed as questionable and none of them practiced this week. Since this is a Thursday game, you can’t automatically assume that means they won’t play.
ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-4)
The Cardinals were alternating weeks with razor thin wins and double digit losses before Carson Palmer went down with a broken arm against the Rams. They had a bye week to prepare for the winless San Francisco 49ers and made it count with a 20-10 victory.
Drew Stanton showed he’s a competent back up and spot starter by completing 15 of 30 passes for 201 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. It was Adrian Peterson’s 37 carries for 159 yards that really won the day on offense. Since he joined Arizona last month, Peterson has played in three games and crossed 100 yards in two of them. The Cardinals won both of those games.
Considering the mess the 49ers’ offense has been, take Arizona’s five sacks and five stops in the backfield with a grain of salt. They also forced two turnovers.
The Pick
I didn’t like the Cardinals back when everyone else did, so their slide into mediocrity doesn’t surprise me at all. Until last week, Arizona had given up 33 or more points for three consecutive weeks. I think this game will make it four out of five. Seahawks 34, Cardinals 20
Last week
Straight up: 9-4
Against the spread: 11-2
Season
Straight up: 78-54
Against the spread: 69-62
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