The game moves to the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona on Sunday. Where the home team Arizona Cardinals play host to the defending NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks. Both teams are coming off road wins, you read right! Seattle disposed of Denver with some Hasselbeck second half antics and the Cardinals polished off the Rams with a previously unseen display of offense.
The 3-9 Cardinals led by rookie-first round draft pick Matt Leinart shot out of the gate and held the lead for the entire game. Running back Marcel Shipp scored three touchdowns, Edgerrin James had 115 yards rushing and Matt Leinart won for the second time in seven pro starts for Arizona, which made the most of the Rams' mistakes to win for the first time on the road all season.
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The Cards finally established what resembled a running game. Edgerrin James' 50th career 100-yard rushing games came against the NFL's worst team against the run. It's Arizona's first 100-yard game in more than two seasons since Emmitt Smith got 106 against the Seahawks two seasons ago. That and Matt Leinart maturity will help Arizona to crawl out of the bottom, maybe not this season but in the future.
Ramsʼ Quarterback Marc Bulger criticized teammates for not caring or for thinking mistakes are OK, the Rams gave up a season high 126 yards. Regardless Bulger threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns, but also had three interceptions to add to woes that contributed to a sixth loss in seven games for the Rams (5-7). Bulger has three touchdown passes and six interceptions the last four games, although one came on a desperation heave on the game's final play.
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The Seahawks will have to take this game a lot more serious then in previous encounters. For one, the Division clinch is up for grabs and a win against the Cardinals can provide that with other results elsewhere, but no matter, a win places them as the strongest candidate to crown. Two, in order to finish off the season with a better record they will require Sea-manship. With the return of starters Hasselbeck and Alexander, the offense has begun to sputter to life, for a good playoff run, this cohesiveness is vital.
The fact remains though, coming to life has been slow, against a whacky not so weak Cardinal defense a good test run of all offensive tools could be keen. The Seahawks (8-4) look to get their offense running more smoothly against one of the worst defenses in the league.
In its 23-20 win over Denver last week, Seattle had just two first downs and 67 total yards at halftime. The Second half became a better story when some late Hasselbeck maneuvers put the clinch on a much needed win since the running game of Shaun Alexander was still gaining force.
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Seattle has two relatively easy games coming, but they must remember that their loss against San Francisco was mistake ridden and should not be repeated. Alexander was in that game but was running a la test mode and collaborated very little to a winning cause.
Now in their sixth game together and with health both starters, Matt and Shaun must rally their team not to a win but a string of wins to position themselves for an equal or better post season.
The Seahawks haven't been consistent, but not for that would I pass up on Seattle -3 against the Cardinals. The line is -3½ but I would suggest a buy down in case of a push. The total over 45½ pick comes not from my love of scoring games as opposed to low or no scoring games, but from the fact that both defenses have permitted at least 20 points in the last two games while the offenses have scored an average of 14 points in the last 4 games.
