Seahawks, Cardinals matchup loses its bite

When the schedule came out, folks in Seattle and Phoenix pointed to the Seahawks- Cardinals game on Thursday as a pivotal one in the NFC West.

Forget t hat: Arizona, plagued by i njuries and mediocre play, has been a huge disappointment.

Indeed, t he Seahawks haven’t exactly been world beaters, either, bothered by untimely penalties and a sporadic attack.

This is an opportunity for Seattle to keep close to the division-leading Los Angeles Rams, who face the powerless Houston Texans. Are the Seahawks up to it?

Star linebacker Bobby Wagner finds a benefit to playing the Cardinals on a short week.

“Yeah, because you don’t have to relearn a new offence, like you have seen this team a handful of times,” Wagner said.

“We got a lot of film on them, so that’s what helps us. They know us, we know them, and it’s just who can remember what they did the fastest.”

The Arizona roster is without Carson Palmer and David Johnson. But newcomer Adrian Peterson has had two big games running the ball and will get all of Seattle’s attention.

“I think this is a style of offence where he is excelling really well in because he is a very patient runner, and this is a patient kind of run game,” Wagner said. “If we stay gap sound, we should be fine.”

Seattle is asix- point choice at No. 23 Arizona.

Seahawks, 19-12

Houston (+ 10) at Los Angeles Rams

Without DeShaun Watson, Texans have no offence. And no chance.

Best Bet: Rams, 27-10 Dallas (+ 3) at Atlanta Two teams headed in opposite directions. Go with

the 30-20 Upset team pointing Special: upward. Cowboys, New York Jets (- 2 ½ ) at Tampa Bay

Best Actually Jets, Bet. 26-17 toyed with this as New Orleans (-3) at Buffalo

Upset Actually Bills, Special. 24-23 toyed with this as Pittsburgh (-7 ½ ) at Indianapolis

Upset Best Did Bet. not Special. toy with But this did for for

Steelers, 38-13 New England (- 6) at Denver

Mile Patriots High City. often Not struggle this time. in

Patriots, 27-16 Minnesota (-1) at Washington

in Redskins Seattle, but looked also so are good so banged Vikings, up. 20-17 Green Bay (+ 5) at Chicago

ting Cheeseheads their faith in Wisconsin are putBadgers Bears, now. 13-9 Miami (+ 8) at Carolina, Monday night

Another prime- timer for Dolphins, who haven’t really earned it.

Panthers, 20-14 Los Angeles Chargers (+ 4 ½ ) at Jacksonville

We could see Chargers sneaking away with this one.

Jaguars, 21-20 Cincinnati (+ 5 ½ ) at Tennessee

If Titans expect to win AFC South, they can’t stumble in this kind of matchup.

Titans, 23-16 Cleveland (+10) at Detroit

First win for Browns? Not happening.

Lions, 27-12 New York Giants (- 1) at San Francisco

First win f or Niners? Maybe. Or maybe not.

Giants, 17-13 Last week: Against spread (5- 6-1). Straight up (6-7) Season Totals : Against spread ( 60- 63- 3). Straight up: (80-52) Best Bet: 5- 4 against spread, 7-2 straight up. Upset special: 6- 3 against spread, 6-3 straight up The Associated Press