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When: Sunday, 1:15 p.m. PST, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
Records: Seahawks are 7-8 after their Christmas Eve loss to the 49ers; Cardinals are 7-8 after losing to the Bengals last week
TV: Fox (channel 13 in Seattle), with Sam Rosen, Chad Pennington and Jody Jackson
Radio: 710 ESPN and 97.3 FM, with Steve Raible, Warren Moon and Jen Mueller
Rest of the West: 49ers (12-3) at Rams (2-13)
Matchup microscope
Seahawks secondary vs. Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald: The Cardinals’ Pro Bowl receiver has always been big (6 feet 3, 218 pounds) and he seemingly always comes up big against the Seahawks (93 receptions for 1,222 yards and 10 touchdowns in 15 career games). But this season, Fitzgerald has become an even-bigger big-play receiver. He is averaging a career-best 17.8 yards on his 71 receptions, and his seven catches of 40-plus yards are more than he had in the past three seasons combined. But the Seahawks finally have corners with the size to matchup with Fitzgerald in Brandon Browner (6-4, 221) and Richard Sherman (6-3, 195); as well as 6-3, 232-pound strong safety Kam Chancellor. In the Week 3 game in Seattle, Fitzgerald had five catches for 64 yards, including a 12-yard TD.
One to watch
The scoreboard in the fourth quarter: No scoreboard-watching for the players, as both teams were eliminated from the playoff chase last week. But in the only two games the Seahawks have lost during the second half of the season, they surrendered fourth-quarter leads to the Redskins and 49ers. The Cardinals, meanwhile, have six fourth-quarter comebacks this season and they’ve overcome second-half deficits in each of their seven victories – one shy of the NFL modern-day record. The Seahawks can’t let the Cardinals tie that mark on Sunday.
Fun to watch
The Cardinals defense vs. Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch: To say that Lynch is on a roll doesn’t do justice to just what he’s been able to accomplish in the past eight games. Lynch has six 100-yard rushing performances, and his 855 yards over that span are tops in the league. He also has scored a touchdown in his past 11 games, a franchise record and the longest streak in the NFL since 2002. The Cardinals are allowing averages of 120.5 rushing yards per game and 4.1-yards per carry. Lynch’s averages in his eight-game run: 106.9 yards per game and 4.5 per carry.
One tough task
Seahawks C Max Unger and OGs Robert Gallery and Lemuel Jeanpierre vs. Cardinals DE Calais Campbell: While listed as an end, Campbell often slides inside in the Cardinals’ 3-4 front so either LB Sam Acho or LB Clark Haggans can step up as the end. That means each of the Seahawks’ three interior linemen will be matched against him at one time or another. Campbell had 2½ sacks of his career-high eight sacks in the Week 3 game in Seattle, and he’s also got 72 tackles, 15 QB hits and 11 passes defensed. If the offense is going to unleash Lynch and protect Tarvaris Jackson, it will start with controlling Campbell.
Worth noting
Jackson needs 131 passing yards to reach 3,000 for the first time in his career. … Lynch already has career-highs in rushing yards (1,118), rushing touchdowns (12) and total TDs (13). … Doug Baldwin has 48 catches for 748 yards and will become the first rookie free agent to lead his team in receptions and receiving yards since 1960. He also needs 24 yards to pass the Raiders’ James Jett (771 in 1993) for the most by an undrafted rookie since 1970. … Beanie Wells has become the first Cardinal to rush for 1,000 yards (1,047) and score double-digit touchdowns (10) in a season. … The Cardinals’ Adrian Wilson is one of five safeties in NFL history with 20-plus sacks (22½) and 25-plus interceptions (26). … LB Daryl Washington leads the Cardinals in tackles (100), while MLB David Hawthorne is the Seahawks leading tackler (102). … The Seahawks’ defense has allowed the second-fewest touchdowns (10) and points (109) in the league during the second halves of games this season. … The Cardinals have scored 108 points in the fourth quarter, but only 29 in the first quarter.
Source: Seahawks.com
Records: Seahawks are 7-8 after their Christmas Eve loss to the 49ers; Cardinals are 7-8 after losing to the Bengals last week
TV: Fox (channel 13 in Seattle), with Sam Rosen, Chad Pennington and Jody Jackson
Radio: 710 ESPN and 97.3 FM, with Steve Raible, Warren Moon and Jen Mueller
Rest of the West: 49ers (12-3) at Rams (2-13)
Matchup microscope
Seahawks secondary vs. Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald: The Cardinals’ Pro Bowl receiver has always been big (6 feet 3, 218 pounds) and he seemingly always comes up big against the Seahawks (93 receptions for 1,222 yards and 10 touchdowns in 15 career games). But this season, Fitzgerald has become an even-bigger big-play receiver. He is averaging a career-best 17.8 yards on his 71 receptions, and his seven catches of 40-plus yards are more than he had in the past three seasons combined. But the Seahawks finally have corners with the size to matchup with Fitzgerald in Brandon Browner (6-4, 221) and Richard Sherman (6-3, 195); as well as 6-3, 232-pound strong safety Kam Chancellor. In the Week 3 game in Seattle, Fitzgerald had five catches for 64 yards, including a 12-yard TD.
One to watch
The scoreboard in the fourth quarter: No scoreboard-watching for the players, as both teams were eliminated from the playoff chase last week. But in the only two games the Seahawks have lost during the second half of the season, they surrendered fourth-quarter leads to the Redskins and 49ers. The Cardinals, meanwhile, have six fourth-quarter comebacks this season and they’ve overcome second-half deficits in each of their seven victories – one shy of the NFL modern-day record. The Seahawks can’t let the Cardinals tie that mark on Sunday.
Fun to watch
The Cardinals defense vs. Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch: To say that Lynch is on a roll doesn’t do justice to just what he’s been able to accomplish in the past eight games. Lynch has six 100-yard rushing performances, and his 855 yards over that span are tops in the league. He also has scored a touchdown in his past 11 games, a franchise record and the longest streak in the NFL since 2002. The Cardinals are allowing averages of 120.5 rushing yards per game and 4.1-yards per carry. Lynch’s averages in his eight-game run: 106.9 yards per game and 4.5 per carry.
One tough task
Seahawks C Max Unger and OGs Robert Gallery and Lemuel Jeanpierre vs. Cardinals DE Calais Campbell: While listed as an end, Campbell often slides inside in the Cardinals’ 3-4 front so either LB Sam Acho or LB Clark Haggans can step up as the end. That means each of the Seahawks’ three interior linemen will be matched against him at one time or another. Campbell had 2½ sacks of his career-high eight sacks in the Week 3 game in Seattle, and he’s also got 72 tackles, 15 QB hits and 11 passes defensed. If the offense is going to unleash Lynch and protect Tarvaris Jackson, it will start with controlling Campbell.
Worth noting
Jackson needs 131 passing yards to reach 3,000 for the first time in his career. … Lynch already has career-highs in rushing yards (1,118), rushing touchdowns (12) and total TDs (13). … Doug Baldwin has 48 catches for 748 yards and will become the first rookie free agent to lead his team in receptions and receiving yards since 1960. He also needs 24 yards to pass the Raiders’ James Jett (771 in 1993) for the most by an undrafted rookie since 1970. … Beanie Wells has become the first Cardinal to rush for 1,000 yards (1,047) and score double-digit touchdowns (10) in a season. … The Cardinals’ Adrian Wilson is one of five safeties in NFL history with 20-plus sacks (22½) and 25-plus interceptions (26). … LB Daryl Washington leads the Cardinals in tackles (100), while MLB David Hawthorne is the Seahawks leading tackler (102). … The Seahawks’ defense has allowed the second-fewest touchdowns (10) and points (109) in the league during the second halves of games this season. … The Cardinals have scored 108 points in the fourth quarter, but only 29 in the first quarter.
Source: Seahawks.com
