Where: CenturyLink Field, Seattle (FieldTurf, outdoors)
When: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (Fox)
Spread: Seahawks by 10
Forecast: Mid-40s, cloudy, 30 percent chance of rain.
Records: Seahawks (7-5, 0-3 in NFC West); Cardinals (4-8, 1-3 in NFC West)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Sept. 9, 2012: Cardinals 20, Seahawks 16; Jan. 1, 2012: Cardinals 23, Seahawks 20 OT Series record: Cardinals lead 15-12.
What matters: Playoffs. The battle for the second NFC wildcard berth is turning into an old fashioned street fight. The Seahawks (7-5) are in the lead for the sixth and final spot, but lurking a game behind are Washington, Dallas, Minnesota and Tampa Bay -- all at 6-6. If the Seahawks are going to make the playoffs, they absolutely can't afford a slip-up at home against a Cardinals team that will be riding an eight-game losing streak into Seattle.
Who matters: QB Russell Wilson. In Seattle's first meeting with Arizona, Wilson was sacked three times, picked off once and played one of his worst games of the season. But that was Wilson's first career start, and the Cardinals aren't going to see that same QB on Sunday. Wilson is on a roll. In the past five games, he has thrown 11 touchdown passes, no interceptions and averaged 223 yards passing. To put that in perspective, Wilson didn't reach the 223-yard mark once in his first five games. If Wilson gets going, it's going to be tough for Arizona to slow the Seattle offense.
Key matchups: Seahawks defense vs. Cardinal QB John Skelton. Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt has been playing quarterback musical chairs all season. For Sunday's game, he has decided to start Skelton, who is 1-3 in four starts this season, his only win coming against Seattle. But that should have an asterisk next to it because Skelton played poorly -- 14 of 28, 149 yards, an interception -- and the Cardinals only won after Kevin Kolb came off the bench to direct a game-winning 80-yard touchdown drive. It's been more than a month since Skelton has seen extensive action, which should work to the advantage of the Seahawks defense. ... CB Richard Sherman vs. WR Larry Fitzgerald. The Seahawks will be without suspended CB Brandon Browner and injured backup CB Marcus Truant, which makes Sherman's job that much more important. Fitzgerald will be a big test for a secondary that allowed Chicago WR Brandon Marshall 165 yards receiving.
Injuries of note: CB Marcus Trufant, who injured his hamstring in a Nov. 29 practice and missed the Bears game last week, has been ruled out for Sunday. LB Leroy Hill could also miss his second game in a row; he's listed as questionable for Sunday.
Inside stuff: A loss against Arizona on Sunday would drop the Seahawks to 0-for-2012 against the Cardinals. Arizona has beaten Seattle twice this calendar year -- Jan. 1, Sept. 9 -- a third loss would mark the first time in franchise history that the Seahawks have lost to a team three times in one calendar year.
Stat you should know: Wilson's home quarterback rating of 122 is the highest in the NFL. He has thrown 11 touchdown passes and no interceptions at home, where the Seahawks are 5-0.
Record watch: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell talked about eliminating kickoffs this week, so Seahawks KR Leon Washington might be feeling a little bit extra pressure. Washington needs one kick return for a touchdown to have the all-time NFL record to himself. Washington has eight career kick-return touchdowns, tied with Cleveland's Josh Cribbs for the NFL record.
Looking ahead: The Seahawks will be making their final trip of the regular season next week, and it's not just any trip. They'll head to Canada to play the Bills in Toronto. Seattle will get a chance to find out if the team's road struggles are limited to U.S. soil or if they spill over to Canada.
Prediction: Seahawks 27, Cardinals 13
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Seahawks blogger John Breech follow@JohnBreech and @CBSSeahawks.
