Arians’ Cardinals seek first home win over Seattle
GLENDALE, Arizona — Coach Bruce Arians has accomplished a lot in his three seasons with the Cardinals, but beating Seattle in Arizona isn’t one of them.
His 0-3 record at home against the Seahawks was a major topic as the Cardinals prepared for tonight’s matchup of two teams that have dominated the NFC West in recent years.
Cornerback Patrick Peterson brought it up in the locker room moments after Arizona’s 28-3 victory over the New York Jets on Monday. The Cardinals have won two of their past three at Seattle, but the Seahawks have dominated the past three in Arizona by a combined score of 105-34.
Asked if there’s a common thread through those losses, Arians was characteristically blunt.
“Yeah,” he said. “They beat the [heck] out of us.”
There were mitigating circumstances. The Cardinals were down to Ryan Lindley in a 35-6 loss late in the 2014 season. And Arizona already had clinched the No. 2 playoff berth before a 36-6 loss to Seattle last season.
But another Seahawks victory this season would have a significant impact for both teams.
Seattle would improve to 5-1, Arizona would drop to 3-4. A Cardinals win, on the other hand, would put Arizona just a halfgame behind Seattle.
“This is a classic Western division matchup,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “We love it. They’re a great team and they bring out the best in us.”
But Carroll scoffed at the suggestion that a Seattle victory would lock up the NFC West.
“That’s crazy to think that,” he said. “That’s not how it is. It’s just one game, one week, and then there’s a bunch of other games after that.” Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer left late in the Jets game with a strained hamstring and didn’t practise Wednesday.
Arians said it was a scheduled day off, but the injury report listed a hamstring injury and Palmer was listed as limited in practice on Thursday.
After the Jets game, Palmer shrugged off the problem as a cramp. He had returned against New York after missing Arizona’s victory over San Francisco because of a concussion.
The Seahawks’ run game has not been up to Seattle standards.
The Seahawks are averaging just 88.8 yards per game rushing. That’s 22nd in the NFL, but they are 30th in the league averaging a mere 3.2 yards per attempt.
One of the big reasons is the lack of yards on the ground from quarterback Russell Wilson. Slowed by ankle and knee injuries, the Seahawks QB has just 35 yards rushing and no run longer than nine yards.
Seattle is hoping for a breakout against the Cardinals and past games show it’s possible. The Seahawks had 145 yards rushing in a Week 17 win at Arizona last season and two years ago rushed for 267 yards against the Cardinals.