NFL Thursday Night Preview: Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks
What’s gotten into Russell Wilson?
One of the craftiest, but also safest, quarterbacks in the NFL has committed 10 turnovers in his last four games. And so his Seahawks – who rely on him as much as any NFL team counts on any passer – have been sliding, dropping three of those four.
One of those losses was against Kyler Murray’s Cardinals, a 37-34 thriller that showed how close Murray has come to joining the league’s elite. Now the Cardinals are rolling after DeAndre Hopkins’ miracle grab, with both teams at 6-3 and the Rams right with them in the competitive NFC West.
So, what are the keys to this one?
Protect Russ: Six sacks last week got Wilson off his game, and the Seahawks need to take some pressure off him. The Seahawks are banged up on the line, so, likely without Chris Carson again, they need a healthy Carlos Hyde to generate at least 70 yards on the ground to complement Wilson and keep the pass rushers at bay.
The Jamal Adams effect: The Seahawks’ pricy acquisition from the Jets wasn’t available in the last meeting, but he is this time, and that should help. He had two sacks and forced a fumble against the Rams.
Can Cardinals continue to bend but not break?: Arizona’s defense remains a work in progress, and the Cardinals secondary let Tyler Lockett get loose in the last match-up. They did control DK Metcalf, however, so they’ll need a repeat on that. Arizona has consistently let teams get in the red zone. They’ll need a big play or two there to keep the score in the 20s.
I like Seattle to win by 7. This is a bet on Wilson. At home, now in position to fall behind in the division, expect him to be at his best. And Wilson at his best is still better than Murray at his – for now.
The Better Bet: Seattle covers as -3 point favourites.
-- by Juicy J
