Experts are completely split on Seahawks vs. Cardinals Week 18 predictions (Bears and Packers too)

The Seattle Seahawks absolutely must win against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 18 to have a real chance at the postseason. Seattle also needs some help from the Chicago Bears, too. Chicago needs to go to the Green Bay Packers and beat Jordan Love and friends.

The Cardinals, though, can run the ball extremely well and that has been Seattle's Achilles heel on defense over the last 11 games. Seattle ranks last in the NFL in yards allowed per rush and rushing yards allowed per games since Week 6. Plus, Arizona has Kyler Murray who might be a better runner than passer and Seattle at least is decent against the pass.

The NFL did the wise thing and scheduled a lot of games that could decide final playoff spots for the same time on Sunday. Seattle and Arizona will kickoff at 1:25 pm PT and so will the Packers and Bears. Chicago's defense has been great over the last half of the season and the Seahawks need them to be great again versus Green Bay. But Packers quarterback Jordan Love has been playing the best football of his career over the last seven games in which he has 16 touchdown passes and just one interception.

Seattle Seahawks need a win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 18

My guess is that Week 17's loss took an emotional toll on the Seahawks, especially as they simply got manhandled by the Steelers. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are playing some of their best football of 2023 and ascending. I think the Cardinals win 24-17 by getting close to 250 rushing yards. Here is what other people think.

Week 18 picks:

Mike Florio, NBC Sports: Cardinals 27 Seattle 24
Chris Simms, NBC Sports: Cardinals 27 Seattle 24
Brad Gagnon, Bleacher Report: Seattle wins
Kris Knox, Bleacher Report: Cardinals win
Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report: Seattle wins
The 33rd Team: Seattle 24 Cardinals 23
Ali Bhanpuri, NFL.com: Seattle 23 Cardinals 21
Tom Blair, NFL.com: Cardinals 26 Seattle 20
Brooke Cersosimo, NFL.com: Seattle 26 Cardinals 21
Gennaro Filice, NFL.com: Cardinals 30 Seattle 24
Dan Parr, NFL.com: Seattle 25 Cardinals 21

For the record, expert picks between the Packers and the Bears are just as split. What if both games end in a tie? Let's hope not as that would not help the Seahawks.

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