Seattle Seahawks Vs. Arizona Cardinals: Seahawks Bring Best Defense To Play Best Offense In NFL

Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals tickets have been sold out for a while. The Seahawks vs. Cardinals game not only pits the two top teams in the NFC West against each other, but also the best defense in the NFC against the best offense in the NFL. Most of the NFL analysts at ESPN.com are siding with the Cardinals to win this game and finish the season at 14-2. That would give the team a shot to finish with the top NFC seed in the NFL Playoffs.

At game time it is predicted to be 72 degrees, which could be the perfect weather for these two playoff teams. As for the odds, the Cardinals are six-to-seven point favorites to win this home game. The over/under is also set at 47 points, suggesting a final score of around 27-20 in favor of the Cardinals. With two of the best offenses and two of the best defenses in the NFL taking part in this game, it could certainly go either way.

The Seattle Seahawks currently have the best defense in the NFC, according to the updated statistics from NFL.com. The Seahawks allow just 18.1 points and 295.7 yards per game. That includes a run defense that allows only 85.1 yards per game and a passing defense that gives up only 210.6 yards per game. Now, the Seahawks are tasked with beating the top-ranked offense in the NFL. Winning the game would give the Seahawks a good chance at finishing the season as the No. 5 seed in the NFC with a 10-6 record.

Lead by quarterback Carson Palmer, the Arizona Cardinals have the No. 1 offense in the NFL this season. The Cardinals average 420.1 yards and 32.2 points per game. That includes 294.1 passing yards and 126.0 rushing yards per game. David Johnson has stepped up as a force on offense and a secure replacement for the injured Chris Johnson. Palmer will likely lean heavily on him in both the running and passing games this weekend.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, a lot of the NFC playoff seeding depends on the results of this Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals game. If the Cardinals win and the Carolina Panthers lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17, then the Cardinals would claim the No. 1 seed in the 2016 NFC Playoffs. A loss would simply keep the Cardinals as the No. 2 seed, as the team has already clinched the NFC West and at least a first-round bye in the playoffs.

The Seahawks will finish the season as a wild card team in the NFC and either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the playoffs. If the Seahawks beat the Cardinals and the Minnesota Vikings lose to the Green Bay Packers, then Seattle becomes the top wild card team. In that scenario, Seattle would be the No. 5 seed and play the Washington Redskins in a first-round game. A loss by the Seahawks to the Cardinals would mean the No. 6 seed and a game against the NFC North champion in the wild card round of the playoffs.

Game time is 1:25 p.m. PT for the rematch between the Seahawks and the Cardinals. The first game between the two teams this season was back in Week 10 at CenturyLink Field. The Cardinals won the game 39-32, taking advantage of early offense to win a rare game in Seattle. Now the Cardinals will look for a season-sweep of the Seahawks on Sunday afternoon. The Seattle Seahawks will be without Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch, possibly giving the Cardinals a huge advantage in the game. For both teams, this is an opportune moment to build momentum heading into the 2016 NFL Playoffs.

[Photo by AP Photo/Stephen Brashear]