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How the Seahawks can win the NFC West again in 2021

By Andy Excell

Sep 27, 2020; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll talks with quarterback Russell Wilson. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2020; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll talks with quarterback Russell Wilson. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

Seahawks versus Cardinals

Firstly in what will be a common theme against all three teams, let’s look at what the Seahawks greatest strengths are.

They are

  1. Russell Wilson at QB
  2. Linebackers
  3. Interior of the defensive line
  4. Offensive tackle
  5. Left side of the O-line
  6. Wide receiver duo

According to my ratings, the Seahawks are in the top ten in the NFL in all of these categories.

The Seahawks main weaknesses are

  1. The defensive secondary
  2. Receivers not called Metcalf or Lockett

In terms of the Cardinals strengths, according to my ratings they are as follows:

  1. The ground game
  2. Defensive End
  3. Defensive secondary

And their weaknesses are:

  1. The receivers
  2. Interior of the defensive line

Based on these findings, stage one of an offensive plan against the Cardinals would appear to be running plays behind Damien Lewis at LG and Duane Brown at LT. If you can establish this run game successfully that should open up greater opportunities for Russell Wilson to target his wide receiver duo against the strong Cardinals secondary.

It also slows down the Cardinals pass rushers, notably Watt and Chandler Jones if you are able to run the ball effectively. On the defensive side limiting the running game of the Cardinals would be a great first step.

The head-to-head between Poona Ford at defensive tackle for the Seahawks and Rodney Hudson at center for the Cardinals is a crucial one. Good as Hudson is, Ford is better and I would expect him to edge this battle.

Part two of that is limiting the scrambling ability of Kyler Murray, keeping contain on Murray is vital. The variety and depth the Seahawks have at defensive end should enable them to get the best personnel on the field to achieve this.

By achieving these two aims, you force Murray to pass, not his greatest strength and outside of DeAndre Hopkins to a set of receivers with pretty limited ability.

So vital matchups in the games against the Cardinals will be

  • Poona Ford v Rodney Hudson
  • Brown & Lewis v Leki Fotu & Zach Allen
  • Seahawks RBs v Cardinals inside linebackers
  • Seahawks DEs v Kyler Murray on the ground
  • Double team v DeAndre Hopkins

Win those battles (which I believe the Seahawks will) and two wins against the Cardinals will be in the bag.

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