Richard Sherman Has Larry Fitzgerald’s Number
Dec 2, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) pretends to yawn while looking at the New Orleans Saints sideline during the second half at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated New Orleans 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
On Sunday the Seahawks will host their division rival Arizona Cardinals in a game that could result in Seattle clinching home field advantage through the NFC playoffs. The fact that the Seahawks are incredibly difficult to beat at home is old news. So, it goes without saying that this is a big game. The Cardinals are a worthy opponent, but the Seahawks beat them handily on the road and are heavy favorites in this one. While the game itself might not end up being a close one (which isn’t to say it couldn’t, but we are looking at a double digit spread), there are some interesting games with the game going on.
One of the most intriguing matchup that comes out of any game played between the Cardinals and the Seahawks is Richard Sherman vs. Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald might not be putting up the numbers he has in the past, but he’s is still one of the best receivers around. Unfortunately for him, since Kurt Warner departed he hasn’t been able to showcase his skills while working with largely inferior quarterbacks. Although Carson Palmer is no prize, Fitzgerald does has 823 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season, numbers that are already superior to last year’s totals with two games remaining. Larry Fitzgerald used to haunt the dreams of Seahawks fans, but now I think it’s fair to say that he isn’t thought of that much despite playing for a division rival. One of the reasons for that is his own decline in production, but there is another that goes by the name of Richard Sherman.
Big, physical corners like Richard Sherman are designed to stop guys like Fitzgerald, and by and large that’s what he’s done in his career. The games that Fitzgerald has had against the Seahawks since Sherman took over as a starter have looked like this:
Game |
Receptions
Yards
Touchdowns
Week 17, 2011
9
149
0
Week 1, 2012
4
63
0
Week 14, 2012
1
2
0
Week 7, 2013
2
17
0
Although Fitzgerald put up a big game yardage wise in his first matchup with Sherman it’s been slim pickings recently. The fact he has been held without a touchdown is also significant. These statistics are descriptive of the matchup between Sherman and Fitzgerald but they are incomplete, it’s also worth looking at Sherman’s production in the games he’s started against Fitzgerald and his Cardinals.
Game |
Tackles
Interceptions
Yards
Touchdowns
Week 17, 2011
6
1
33
0
Week 1, 2012
4
1
0
0
Week 14, 2012
1
2
19
1
Week 7, 2013
6
0
0
0
Those numbers are pretty outstanding. It’s interesting that in their last two meetings Richard Sherman has the exact same amount of interception return yardage as Fitzgerald has receiving yardage. Fitzgerald only has one more reception than Sherman has interceptions and Sherman has the sole touchdown between the two. That there is some real dominance.
Sunday’s matchup between the Seahawks and Cardinals will include a lot of interesting one-on-one matchups. One of the most interesting one of those matchups is the one between Seattle’s elite corner, Richard Sherman, and Arizona’s elite wide receiver, Larry Fitzgerald. However, just because it’s interesting that doesn’t mean it will be evenly matched. Sherman has owned Fitzgerald in the past, and there’s a decent chance he’ll do it again on Sunday. Perhaps even a more than decent chance.