The Arizona Cardinals host the Seattle Seahawks in an NFC West grudge match to close out the regular season. Despite both teams clinching playoff berths, there is still a lot on the line with seeding up for grabs.
Seahawks vs. Cardinals 2016 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch online
The Cardinals can clinch the No. 1 seed if the Panthers lose to the Bucs.
The Cardinals are 13-2 and won their ninth game in a row with a 38-8 beat down over the Green Bay Packers. If the Carolina Panthers stumble against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona will clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed with a win.
Arizona made mincemeat of Aaron Rodgers, sacking him eight times and forcing three fumbles, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Even without Tyrann Mathieu, the Cardinals defense looks fierce. The offense held up its end of the deal with Carson Palmer throwing for two touchdowns and 265 yards on 18-of-27 passing.
David Johnson continued his breakout run in Week 16, racking up 127 total yards and a touchdown on 12 touches. The third-round rookie has proven to be one of the biggest steals of the 2015 NFL Draft, looking like the complete package as a running back.
The Cardinals and Seahawks last met in Week 10, when Arizona ground out a 39-32 win. That happened to be the last game Marshawn Lynch played. Seattle is hoping to get him back this week.
Seattle’s running game has been in flux over the past few weeks. When Lynch went down with a sports hernia, undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls had an explosive few games and looked like the future in Seattle’s backfield. Unfortunately, his breakout season came to an abrupt end when he broke his ankle against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14. Since then, the Seahawks have utilized a three-man committee of Christine Michael, Bryce Brown and Fred Jackson.
The lack of a real running game haunted the Seahawks last week, when they fell to the St. Louis Rams at home. Michael, Brown and Jackson combined for just 27 yards against a stout Rams front. Russell Wilson threw for 289 yards on 41 passing attempts, but he was harassed by St. Louis’ defensive line and missed left tackle Russell Okung, who was out with a calf strain.
That listless offensive showing ultimately ended the Seahawks’ five-game winning streak and dropped them to the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs. Now they need to beat the Cardinals and hope the Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings to move back up to No. 5 (and a date with Washington).
The Seahawks have also missed safety Kam Chancellor, who missed the past two games with a bruised tailbone. Without Chancellor around to enforce the middle of the field and support the run defense, opposing offenses are picking Seattle apart. The Seahawks are hoping to have Chancellor, Lynch and Okung back this week, which would be a major boost to the team. Seattle simply hasn’t been the same without Beast Mode in the backfield and Chancellor patrolling the secondary.
How to watch
When: 4:25 p.m. ET
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
TV: FOX
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews
Online: NFL Game Pass
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