The Arizona Cardinals are already assured of a first-round bye in the playoffs but still have a chance to claim the top overall seed in the NFC when they host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in a matchup of NFC West Division rivals.
The red-hot Cardinals are riding a nine-game winning streak that includes a 39-32 victory at Seattle in Week 10. Arizona needs a victory over the Seahawks and a loss by Carolina to visiting Tampa Bay to seize the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Seattle, which also has wrapped up a playoff spot, still faces the possibility of playing at either Washington, Green Bay or Minnesota in the opening round. The Seahawks rebounded from the defeat to Arizona by ripping off five straight wins, a streak that ended with last week's home loss to St. Louis.
Here are three keys to the game for both the Seahawks and the Cardinals.
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1. Figure out the ground game
Amid reports that running back Marshawn Lynch could return to practice this week for the first time since undergoing abdominal surgery on Nov. 25, Seattle needs to get its ground game in order. Christine Michael and Bryce Brown provided an unexpected jolt by rushing for a combined 127 yards in Week 15, but they flatlined last weekend, managing 15 yards on 13 carries. The Seahawks need to control the clock and avoid a shootout with Arizona.
2. Ramp up the pressure on defense
Linebackers Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright each came up with big plays off a pair of fumbles by quarterback Carson Palmer to get the Seahawks back in the game in the first meeting against the Cardinals. Seattle has lost running backs Lynch and Thomas Rawls along with tight end Jimmy Graham since the earlier matchup and will need some momentum-changing plays from its defense.
3. Find another option in the passing game
Doug Baldwin burned Arizona for 134 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions in November, starting a sizzling seven-game stretch that has seem him grab 42 receptions for 12 scoring passes. Rookie Tyler Lockett was starting to emerge with 25 catches and five TDs during the five-game winning streak before a head injury stalled some of his momentum last week. He provides a deep threat to keep the middle of the field open for Baldwin.
1. Attack with the passing game
Carson Palmer threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns in the first meeting and bounced back from two costly fumbles by directing a pair of fourth-quarter scoring drives of at least 80 yards. Seattle's secondary is not the Legion of Boom of years past and the Cardinals provide a matchup nightmare with the trio of wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and speedster John Brown.
2. Introduce David Johnson to the rivalry
Rookie David Johnson did not have a rushing attempt and had only one catch in Seattle, but he has been spectacular since taking over as the lead back following injuries to Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington. The 6-foot-1, 224-pound Johnson has rushed for four touchdowns and is averaging 5.3 yards per carry in his four starts. He's also a dangerous receiver out of the backfield with 12 catches in the past three games.
3. Keep the blitzes coming
The Cardinals blitz as much as any team in the league, but they made a loud statement with nine sacks against the Green Bay Packers in last week's 38-8 romp. Seattle's pass protection had improved down the stretch, but Russell Wilson was sacked four times and absorbed 13 hits in last week's loss to St. Louis. Midseason signee Dwight Freeney had three sacks last week to boost his team-high total to seven.
