The planets are back in alignment and everything has returned to normal in the NFC West. The Seattle Seahawks enter their Week 7 Sunday night showdown with the Arizona Cardinals riding a three-game winning streak and atop the division. After a shaky start and some rumblings in the desert, the Cards have won two straight and appear to be headed in the right direction. The teams have combined for 10 of the past 12 division titles and once again appear headed on a collision course in 2016.
This matchup in Week 7 of the regular season will take place on Sunday, October 23, 2016, at 8:30 p.m. ET at University of Phoenix Stadium.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Seattle Seahawks +2
Arizona Cardinals -2
Over/Under 43.5
Odds Analysis
The betting public likes Seattle to win this matchup with 73 percent of the wagers backing the visitors. The early money forced a half point move in the line to Arizona -2. It should be noted that Seattle has won their last three regular season visits to Arizona while scoring an average of 35 points and covering the spread each time. Both teams are stout defensively, so the opening total seems a bit high. The teams have combined to eclipse the current 43.5 total just three times in the past 10 meetings.
Injury Report
Kam Chancellor – The leader of the Seahawks secondary from his safety spot, Chancellor sat out Sunday’s game due to a groin injury. Without him, the Seahawks were vulnerable in the middle of the field and surrendered three third quarter touchdown passes from Matt Ryan. Even if Chancellor does play, his mobility could be compromised.
Mike Iupati – The Cardinals lost both starting guards to injury two weeks ago. Evan Mathis has been placed on injured reserve and Iupati is still nursing an ankle injury. The Cardinals got by the Jets with backups John Wetzel and Earl Watford, but facing the Seahawks could be more challenging.
Matchup to Watch
The Cardinals have tried desperately over the past several years to diversify their attack and they seem to have a new identity this season, thanks to a rushing attack that is the NFL’s fourth-best. Behind second-year man David Johnson, the Cards actually have a ground game. Johnson had his second straight 100-yard rushing game when he plowed through the Jets No. 1 ranked run defense for 111 yards on 22 carries. His 5.0 yards per carry average was boosted on Arizona’s first play of their second possession by a nifty 58-yard touchdown run, the first of three on the night.
Johnson is the NFL’s third-leading rusher with 568 yards on the season and he’s more than halfway to becoming Arizona’s first 1,000-yard runner since Beanie Wells in 2011. Johnson has all the tools of an elite back and has taken over the position following an injury to Chris Johnson. The key now is for the Cards to put one more solid ground game together against another stellar defense. The Seahawks are always tough to run on and this year is no different. They rank third allowing just 74.6 rush yards per game and they have the speed and quickness throughout the defense to track down any back. Establishing the run will be key for the Cards to keep Seattle on its heels.
Free ATS Pick
This game has the potential to be the best of the week with both teams playing good football and plenty at stake. The key for Arizona rests in its ability to run the football. For the first time in years the Cardinals have a running back mentioned among the best in the NFL and they shredded what was the league’s best run defense on Monday night in a convincing 28-3 win over the Jets. If Johnson and the Cardinals can duplicate that effort there’s a good chance they win the football game.
While Johnson is getting all the press for his work, the Arizona defense did a number on New York, looking more like the unit we expected at the beginning of the year than the one that struggled during three losses earlier this season. Arizona hasn’t had much success against Seattle at home recently, losing the last three games, but the Cards overcome that to post a crucial win while covering the spread.
NFL Odds: Cardinals 24, Seahawks 20
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