Seattle Seahawks versus Cardinals Week 18: Preview and staff predictions

The 6-10 Seattle Seahawks play the 11-5 Arizona Cardinals in Week 18 of the 2021 NFL season. Seattle could play spoiler with a victory.

The Cardinals currently have two different ways of improving their playoff seeding with a victory over the Seahawks. If the 49ers defeat the Rams, Arizona will win the division and move from the 5 seed to the number 3 seed. San Francisco has oddly defeated the Rams in the two teams’ last five meetings. If Arizona wins Sunday and the 49ers win and the Carolina Panthers defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Cardinals will move up to the number 2 seed.

I only bring this up because Arizona isn’t going to rest in Week 18 so the Seahawks could play spoilers. In a very strange season, Seattle isn’t going to the playoffs and will finish last in their division for the first time since 1996. Every other NFC West team is going to the postseason. Ouch.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Cardinals Week 18: Predictions

Our 12th Man Rising staff is completely split on who wins when the Seahawks play the Cardinals. Arizona hasn’t swept Seattle since 2009. The Cardinals defeated Seattle in Week 11. But I have a feeling that Seattle finds a way to win this game.

If they do it will be because Rashaad Penny has another huge game. Arizona is going to blitz. A lot. And Russell Wilson is going to get hit. A lot. Arizona, though, is just 22nd in yards-allowed-per-rush this season at 4.4. Penny has been on such a great roll for a month that Seattle needs to ride him to victory.

Seattle will be without right tackle Brandon Shell and left guard Damien Lewis but they have gotten used to playing without them lately and Jake Curhan is just as good of a run blocker as Shell. The Seahawks will also be without Bobby Wagner so Cody Barton can show Seattle how he should replace Wagner next year if he plays well.

Here is what our staff thinks will be the final score

Jake Luppino: Seattle 24 Arizona 23

Todd Vandenberg: Seattle 31 Arizona 29

Geoff Shull: Arizona 24 Seattle 21

Andrew Bailie: Seattle 23 Cardinals 20

Carson Schroer: Arizona 30 Seahawks 24

Max Downard: Arizona 28 Seattle 27

Kevin Daggett: Arizona 23 Seattle 13

Lee Vowell: Seattle 24 Arizona 17