The Seattle Seahawks will take a trip to the site of Super Bowl XLIX to take on the Arizona Cardinals.  The Cardinals are currently tied for the NFL’s best record (11-3) and clinched a playoff birth last week with a win against St. Louis.  The Seahawks continue to dominate their opponents, playing their best ball at the right time.  Seattle moved closer to their goal of winning the NFC West and securing a home playoff game.  The Hawks mathematically can still secure the one seed in the NFC if they win out and other teams do things, but that’s a lot of scenarios that I frankly don’t want to get into.  Seattle knows what they have to do: win out.  Taking down Arizona is the next step towards defending their Super Bowl title. 

1. Rattle the Third-Stringer

The Cardinals have been battling injury problems all year long and still have been able to secure a playoff spot.  Back-up QB Drew Stanton went down against St. Louis, spraining his MCL and partially tearing his ACL.  In steps in Ryan Lindley, the third-year QB from San Diego State, who went 4-of-10 for 30 yards and finished with a 47.9 passer rating.   Arizona had been already struggling on offense before Stanton went down.  Look for that to continue, and possibly get worse, especially against the league’s best defense.  Bobby Wagner has been playing like a man possessed the last few games.  If BWagz and the LOB can rattle Lindley, I wouldn’t be surprised to see rookie Logan Thomas come in the game – and still struggle.  Seattle’s defense isn’t messing around.

2. Get Up Early

Seattle’s offense has also seen their fair share of struggles this season, but it seems to be on the up swing the last few games.  It also helps that the defense has only allowed 27 total points in the last four games.  However, Seattle has scored more than 24 points in any of their last five games.  If Seattle can get up early and shake Arizona’s defense a bit, they’ll be able to hang on to the lead.

3. Score on Defense

The Legion of Boom has been huge the last few games and just dominating anyone coming within striking distance.   However, only one interception has been returned for a touchdown this season.  If the defense can take advantage of the third-string (and possibly rookie) quarterback play, go cherry picking, and turning those cherries into beautiful baked pies worth six points, Seattle is going to be in great shape on Sunday Night Football.

4. Improved Offensive Line Play

Seattle’s offensive line has been atrocious.  Russell Wilson has been sacked 38 times this season, the fifth most in the NFL.  He has been sacked 18 times over the past four weeks.  Compare that to 20 times in the first 11 games of the season.  Much of that can be attributed to the absence of Max Unger and human turnstile Justin Britt.  Things are about to shake up even more as Russell Okung is out with a bruised lung.  Alvin Bailey will be taking his place at left tackle, which many people (myself included) believe that isn’t such a terrible thing.  If the o-line can block for longer than two seconds, maybe Wilson will be able to take advantage of passing opportunities.  You know what else happens when the passing game is going well?  The run opens up.  You know who is really good at running the ball?  Marshawn Lynch.

5. Pass the Ball

I mentioned this above, but it’s a crucial part of the freaking game of football.  Seattle is all right at it, but not the best.  They can really be better, especially if play is improved on the offensive line.  Arizona is seventh against the pass according to DVOA and third against the run.  If Russell and his band of merry men can get the passing game opened up, that’s a whole new world of wonder.  Do it early enough, too, and Seattle will no doubt be in control of this game.  

Arizona would clinch the NFC West and a first-round playoff bye with a win.  Seattle will clinch a playoff berth with a win.  The Hawks will have to win this game and next week against the Rams to win the NFC West.  With two defenses with everything to play for, look for the LOB to reign supreme – again.  Seattle wins, 20-10.