Seattle at Arizona

After losing eight in a row one might expect that this Arizona team would have packed it in. What was supposed to be a playoff contending team tanked in the early going. But to their credit, they haven't mailed it in and are playing superb football of late. They've won two of their last three games, covering the spread in all three. Seattle comes in at 8-4 and barring a disaster, will be in the playoffs. They have played a couple of very important and emotional games. First was a must-win Monday night game against Green Bay and then Denver last week. Three weeks ago they were sitting at 6-4, a somewhat mediocre and concerning record for a team that went to the Super Bowl last year. They played very hard and well the past two weeks and now they are feeling pretty good and we think they are probably ready to relax a bit. They have a game coming up next Thursday, so may not be thinking about expending too much energy here against lowly Arizona. It's like a well-deserved week off. But that is very dangerous. This Seattle team has not been bad on the road, they have been awful. They got their first road cover of the year vs. Denver, but it took a +4 turnover margin to squeak out a 3-point win. Seattle has been outgained by nearly 100 yards per game on the road and has lost the first downs battle 93-119. In their last five road games they have allowed an average of 28 points. Until last year, which now looks more and more like an anomoly, this is exactly what the Seahawks were known for - terrible play on the road. Arizona has scored more points in each of the last two weeks than it scored at anytime during the year since game one. The public loves Seattle now that Alexander and Hasslebeck are back and they are off two wins. We like the re-born Cardinals to perhaps win this game outright, but at least bring it down to the wire.