It will be hard to top the Sunday night battle in Week 7 between the Cardinals (6-3) and Seahawks (6-3) that ended in a dramatic 37-34 overtime win for Arizona. Russell Wilson led the NFL MVP conversation in the first half of the season, but Kyler Murray has inserted himself into the debate as well. After marching Arizona down the field for multiple comebacks in his 2020 sophomore campaign, all eyes will be on Murray though focus will also be on Wilson in the Thursday night NFC West showdown.
The biggest impact for the Seahawks on Thursday will be the return of running back Carlos Hyde. Though Chris Carson will likely not return this week, having Hyde back will open up an additional dimension of the Seattle offense. With the amount of time missed by Seattle running backs, the 325 rushing yards from quarterback Wilson are the most on the team. Until Carson returns, he will again rely on Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf to produce offensively.
With the Los Angeles Rams also at 6-3, the second matchup between these teams is extremely important for playoff ramifications. A loss by the Seahawks would eliminate any hope of winning a tiebreaker against Arizona and puts them in a position to need help rather than control their own destiny.
For Arizona, Murray has emerged as a top-five MVP candidate after the dramatic win against Buffalo last week. Having a dynamic dual-threat quarterback, a true number one running back and arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL in DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona has created one of the most balanced offensive attacks through nine games. Averaging 29.6 points per game against a Seattle defense that allows 29.6 points per game, the Cardinals are poised to repeat their impressive offensive performance from the season’s first meeting.
Game Info:
Date: November 19, 2020
Start Time: 5:20 P.M. pst
Location: Seattle, WA
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
TV Info: FOX/NFL
Betting Odds Sponsored by Jazz Sportsbook
Point Spread: ARZ +3 (-110) | SEA -3 (-110)
Moneyline: ARZ (+135) | SEA (-165)
Over/Under: O 57.5 (-110) | U 57.5 (-110)
This will be an offensive matchup and the over is absolutely worth the bet. With the Seahawks habit to play close games, aiming for Seattle to cover would also be smart here. In the same sense that the Rams and Seahawks always play close, low-scoring games, the Cardinals and Seahawks seem to play close, high-scoring contests. The moneyline and spread may be dangerous, but play the over every time here.
Prediction:
Wilson and the Seahawks need to win this game. In order for the quarterback to stay in the MVP conversation and in order for Seattle to stay in control of the NFC West, this is a must-win game. Although Wilson claims not to think about a potential three-game losing streak, doing so would severely jeopardize their chances at a division title.
For Arizona, winning this Thursday night matchup would put them in the best position in the NFC West. With two games remaining against the Los Angeles Rams, sweeping the season series against Seattle gives Arizona a one-game lead and the tiebreaker over the division favorite. Ultimately, Wilson and the Seahawks will put up their best fight at home to keep themselves alive and well in the playoff race.
Final Score: Arizona Cardinals 31, Seattle Seahawks 34
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Embed from Getty Images
