3 reasons why Seattle Seahawks will shock the Cardinals Week 18

The Seattle Seahawks have been relentlessly peppered with questions about the future of the team surrounding quarterback Russell Wilson and coach Pete Carroll.

These questions do not appear to be affecting Seattle’s play on the field, as Seattle recently crushed the Lions 51-29 in week 17.

With nothing to lose, the Seahawks are a dangerous opponent for the Arizona Cardinals to face for the last game of the season. Here are three reasons why the Seahawks will pull off the upset.

Three hopes for the Seahawks in Week 18 versus the Cardinals

1. The Cardinals are stumbling to the finish line

Arizona has really struggled since starting the season 8-1, as they have gone just 3-4 in their last seven games. In that stretch, they also had two head-scratching losses to the Panthers in week 10 where they lost 34-10 and an excruciating 30-12 loss to the Lions in week 15.

The Cardinals have also dropped three of their last four games, as they recently ended a three-game losing streak with a narrow 25-22 win over the Cowboys in week 17. Shockingly, the Cardinals still have a chance to win the NFC West with a win and a Rams loss on Sunday.

2. The Seahawks are starting to find an identity on offense

Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny has led the charge for Seattle on offense down the last stretch of the season. Penny is averaging 120 yards rushing per game over his last four games.

This has helped open the play-action passing game for Seattle and helped take some of the pressure off Russell Wilson. Penny’s 170 yards rushing against the Lions on Sunday was a career-high for him, expect the Seahawks to feed Penny this weekend against the Cardinals.

3. This rivalry is historically close

In the history of this division matchup, Seattle and the Cardinals are tied 22-22-1 in their 45 previous meetings. The last time either team swept the season series was in 2018 when the Seahawks won both of their meetings with the Cardinals. This was the only time either team swept the season series in the last 10 years.

Arizona has not swept Seattle in the season series since 2009. The Cardinals spoiled any chance Seattle had of a playoff berth back in 2017, with a shocking 26-24 upset of Seattle in the last week of the season. Now is the time for the Seahawks to return the favor and ruin the Cardinals NFC West title hopes.

Seattle has started to figure out Shane Waldron’s offense and are in a prime position to upset the Cardinals on Sunday.  With Rashaad Penny on a hot streak and Wilson coming off a 4 touchdown pass performance, expect the Seahawks to give the Cardinals all they can handle.