Over the last few years, the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals have been the class of the NFC West, and two of the best teams in the NFL. Since the start of 2013, only two NFL teams (the Patriots and Broncos) have a better record than the Seahawks, and only three teams (including the Seahawks) have a better record than the Cardinals.
They were each expected to be among the best teams in the NFL yet again this season. Six-plus weeks into the year, some things have gone according to plan and others have not. The Seattle defense is again arguably the NFL's best, while Arizona's has played well also. But the two teams' offenses have yet to live up to what people thought they might be.
Russell Wilson has been hobbled and unable to take off and run with the football, which has affected how the rest of the offense operates. Carson Palmer has seemingly yet to recover from last season's playoff meltdown, and the Arizona offense has not hummed at its usual efficiency because of it. The teams' running backs -- Christine Michael and David Johnson -- have each been excellent, but you know they need their explosive passing attacks back in order to make deep playoff runs.
Arizona, at 3-3, needs to come away from this game against the division-leading Seahawks (4-1) with a win in order to avoid falling too far behind in the division. Can they get it? We'll find out.
How to Watch
- What: Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals
- When: Sunday, Oct. 12, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
- TV: NBC
- Streaming: Verizon NFL Mobile App
- Sunday Ticket: DirecTV
- Online: NFL Game Pass (available to watch online after midnight)
- Odds: The Cardinals are 1.5-point favorites, according to SportsLine
Injury Report
Seahawks
- DT Quinton Jefferson (Thumb) -- Out
- LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (Ankle) -- Out
- RB Thomas Rawls (Fibula) -- Out
- TE Luke Willson (Knee) -- Out
- S Kam Chancellor (Groin) -- Doubtful
Cardinals
- DT Ed Stinson (Toe) -- Out
- LB Gabe Martin (Knee) -- Doubtful
- WR John Brown (Hamstring) -- Doubtful
- WR Jaron Brown (Knee) -- Questionable
- QB Carson Palmer (Hamstring) -- Questionable
Prisco's Pick
This is a big chance for Seattle to take a big hold on the division lead. The Cardinals haven't looked right so far in the early part of the season, but I think they get it going here and David Johnson will run them to a victory.
Pick: Cardinals 23, Seahawks 20
