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Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals: Prediction, preview, pick to win

By The Sports Xchange
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) catches a pass in front of defending Atlanta Falcons strong safety Kemal Ishmael (36) for 25 yards at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington on October 16, 2016. Graham caught six passes for 89 yards in the Seahawks 26-24 win over the Falcons. Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI
1 of 3 | Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) catches a pass in front of defending Atlanta Falcons strong safety Kemal Ishmael (36) for 25 yards at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington on October 16, 2016. Graham caught six passes for 89 yards in the Seahawks 26-24 win over the Falcons. Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI | License Photo

Seattle Seahawks (4-1) at Arizona Cardinals (3-3)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET, University of Phoenix Stadium. TV: NBC, Al Michaels, Chris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya.

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SERIES HISTORY: 35th regular-season meeting. Series tied, 17-17.

GAMEDATE: 10/13/16

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Cardinals got a feel for the Seahawks' "new" offense during a 36-6 loss at home in Week 17 last season. Granted, Arizona had clinched the division and a first-round bye, but coach Bruce Arians saw the new approach -- and the ability of Seahawks QB Russell Wilson to hurt opposing defenses from the pocket. That has been especially beneficial for Seattle early this season with Wilson dealing with right ankle and left knee injuries that have limited his mobility. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said he would like to see a more even distribution between the run-pass play-calling, but it's clear this offense is now Wilson's show to run. The Cardinals enter with 19 sacks and, if they can bottle up RB Christine Michael early, Arizona could make life difficult on Wilson from the pocket.

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Ironically, it's Arizona's star-studded passing game that enters still seeking to find its rhythm. RB David Johnson enters with 833 combined yards and eight touchdowns through just six games as he has emerged as the catalyst for the offense. The Seahawks will rely on their front seven and either Kam Chancellor (groin) or Kelcie McCray to contain the ground game and largely rely on the single-high safety support of Earl Thomas to prevent the big plays that Cardinals coach Bruce Arians is still seeking from his passing attack. Seattle's vaunted "Legion of Boom" suffered a few breakdowns in communication against Atlanta last week, and the Cardinals present an equally formidable set of weaponry for QB Carson Palmer to test those coverages with.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Seahawks wide receivers vs. Cardinals CB Tharold Simon. The former fifth-round pick by the Seahawks was claimed off waivers on Sept. 14 and played in 43 percent of the Cardinals' defensive snaps against the Jets on Monday night. Arizona has shelved the Brandon Williams experiment for now, with Simon now in the nickel package with Patrick Peterson and Marcus Cooper. The physical Simon is better suited outside, where he will likely see time against WRs Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse, who spent the past three years working against Simon in practice.

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--Seahawks RG Germain Ifedi vs. Cardinals NT Corey Peters. Carroll loves Ifedi's toughness, but acknowledged the rookie had his struggles against Arizona last week, noting issues with footwork and the expected growing pains. Arizona will no doubt dissect those tendencies on film and look to exploit the rookie. Peters and fellow veteran DE Calais Campbell will engage in some games to confuse the Texas A&M product, who will also likely lock horns with fellow former SEC star Robert Nkemdiche (Ole Miss).

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Seahawks TE Nick Vannett. After missing the first five weeks with a high ankle sprain, the rookie out of Ohio State saw his first action last week, with three snaps on offense and two on special teams. That role should increase rapidly with Luke Willson out following knee surgery this week. Carroll said Vannett will be involved "extensively" in the game plan, described the staff's view of the Ohio State product's playing time as "anxious" and, when asked if Vannett could fill some of the fullback duties that Willson serves, replied, "He could."

INJURY REPORT: Seattle -- Out: DE Quinton Jefferson (knee), LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (ankle), RB Thomas Rawls (fibula), TE Luke Willson (knee). Questionable: S Kam Chancellor (groin). Arizona -- Out: DT Ed Stinson (toe). Doubtful: WR John Brown (hamstring), LB Gabe Martin (knee). Questionable: WR Jaron Brown (knee), QB Carson Palmer (hamstring).

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FAST FACTS: Wilson has thrown 158 passes since his last interception, the third-longest streak in the NFL and 10 shy of tying his personal best set last season. ... The Cardinals are 20-0 since 2011 when scoring at least 28 points, and 10-36 in all other games. ... The Seahawks and Cardinals have combined to win 10 of the past 12 NFC West titles. ... Seattle has a three-game road winning streak in the series.

PREDICTION: These teams have owned the NFC West dating back to 2004 outside of a two-year break owned by San Francisco (2011-12), and there is the respected rivalry that comes with it. The Cardinals have lost the past three meetings at home by a combined score of 105-34, and have been asked about it ad nauseum all week. The defense is coming together, should own the line of scrimmage, and provide QB Carson Palmer with enough short field to keep the Seahawks in chase mode.

OUR PICK: Cardinals, 27-24.

--Derek Harper

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