Seattle vs. Arizona Preview: Can Playoff-Hopeful Seahawks Avoid Cardinals Upset?

With a chance at making the playoffs, still alive, the Seattle Seahawks will hope to avoid another disappointing defeat, this time against the Arizona Cardinals.

Is this the end of the road for the Seattle Seahawks? 

That is the question on the mind of 12s as their Seahawks are set to do battle with their NFC West rivals, the Arizona Cardinals, in the NFL's regular-season finale, which could very well see both teams take the field for the final time this season.

The Cardinals have known that fate for a while now, as at 4-12, they've been eliminated from playoff contention since their Week 15 loss to the front-running San Francisco 49ers. However, the Seahawks still have a fighting chance to avoid the same disappointment despite their 30-23 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Oct 22, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) looks to pass the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Lumen Field.  / Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

At 8-8, Seattle can still find themselves playing postseason football, even after a season that hasn't gone the way many expected after an offseason where many felt they made the necessary improvements to build on a surprise playoff appearance a year ago. 

Yet, the path for the Seahawks is made tricky by their loss last week, as they need to defeat the Cardinals and the Chicago Bears to upset the Green Bay Packers. While the Cardinals have nothing left to fight for this season, it is easier said than done, as the Philadelphia Eagles recently found out. 

Despite the Eagles still being considered one of the best teams in the NFL, even with their recent struggles, the Cardinals pulled the upset after overcoming a 21-6 halftime deficit.

The Cardinals managed to score 14 unanswered in the third quarter to get back to even with the Eagles before riding a 14-point fourth quarter to victory as now fully-healthy starting quarterback Kyler Murray helped lead a game-winning drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown run for James Conner.

Seahawks' Focus vs. Cardinals 'Couldn't Be More Obvious'

On the flip side, the Seahawks will be looking to avoid being the next victim of a late-season upset by the Cardinals, something they were able to do back in Week 6. 

Fresh off a deflating loss to the Steelers, the Seahawks will certainly want to set things right as they hope to, at the very least, make good on the preseason expectation of making the playoffs for the 11th time in coach Pete Carroll's 14-year tenure. 

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WHAT: Seattle Seahawks (8-8, 3-5 Road) at Arizona Cardinals (4-12, 2-5 Home)

WHERE: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ (65,000)

WHEN: Sunday, Jan 7, 2024, 1:25 p.m. PT

TELEVISION: FOX | FuboTV (try it free)

RADIO: KIRO-FM Newsradio 97.3 | Seattle Sports 710 AM

TICKETS: SI Tickets

BETTING: SI SportsBook

SPREAD: Seahawks -2.5

TOTAL: 47.5

MONEYLINE: Seahawks -150, Cardinals +125