Seahawks vs. Cardinals Odds, Picks, Predictions: Back Russell Wilson, Seattle to Cover Spread In NFL Week 18

Seahawks vs. Cardinals Odds

Against the Detroit Lions, the Seattle Seahawks offense looked unstoppable. Whether it was through the air or on the ground, Seattle moved the ball with ease. That offensive success will be needed if it's going to take down the Cardinals and end the year on a high note.

Arizona is coming off a victory over the Dallas Cowboys that snapped a three-game losing streak. A victory over a playoff-caliber team late should help the Cardinals get some of their swag back as they look to make a playoff push.

However, their starters should play since seeding is on the line. They will need a convincing win here if they are to build on the momentum from the Cowboys game.

Let’s take a deeper dive to see if Seattle has a positive finish to a rough season or if Arizona will stay strong as it enters the playoffs.

Seahawks vs. Cardinals Matchup

Seahawks Getting Back To Form

Seattle had its second impressive offensive game last week since the return of Russell Wilson. The Seahawks marched up and down the field on the Lions, scoring 51 points and gaining 497 yards of offense. Wilson and the passing attack played well, but the dominance was mostly thanks to the running game. Rashaad Penny went off for a ridiculous 170 yards and two touchdowns.

Relying on the run game has been the MO of this time in the past few weeks. Since Week 13, the Seahawks have averaged 193.6 passing yards and 170.8 rushing yards. They are 3-2 in that span, so it's unlikely they'll break from that pattern to end the season.

Saying they have run the ball well shouldn't detract from their passing game potential, though. Even though the yardage hasn’t been great, Seattle has still averaged two passing touchdowns since Week 13. Between Wilson, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, this team can threaten to score on any play.

Unfortunately, the defense didn't experience the same success as the offense. The Seahawks allowed the Lions — with a backup quarterback — to put up 29 points and 357 yards of total offense. They were able to force three turnovers, but against a team like Arizona recreating that success will be prove difficult.

The good news is the defense does rank second in yards allowed per carry. This means Arizona will have to rely on its passing attack without DeAndre Hopkins.

Cardinals Need To Finish Drives

Since the loss of Hopkins, this offense has been just good enough to be held out of the end zone. The Cardinals have averaged 391.7 yards of offense, but only 17.7 points per game. The discrepancy in yards and points has come from them being held to field goals instead of touchdowns. 

Last week was a perfect showing of Arizona's struggles. Four of its six scoring drives ended in field goals. If the Cardinals are going to get back to their dominant form, they will need to finish more drives.

One answer could be the return of James Connor. He's currently marked as questionable, but his presence could still help in the postseason. Before his injury, Connor had built his name up as the Cardinals' short-yardage specialist. That was thanks to his 16 total touchdowns in 14 games. 

While Connor can make a difference on the ground, Zach Ertz is the one making his mark through the air. Since Hopkins was taken out for the season, Ertz has averaged seven catches and 56 yards per game. The yardage might not be outstanding, but a good connection to the tight end can be extremely valuable in the red zone.

Defensively, the Cardinals seemed to have find themselves against the Cowboys. After three tough weeks, they buckled down and held Dallas’ running backs to 25 yards on 12 carries. That success will be tested against Penny and the Seattle rushing game. If they can pair a successful run defense with their pass defense that ranks 10th in net yards per attempt, Arizona will create problems in the playoffs.

Seahawks vs. Cardinals Predictions

While the Arizona defense has found its rhythm, it is hard to trust the offense. The combination of being able to move the ball, but not create touchdowns is worrisome. When DeAndre Hopkins was healthy he could demand a defense’s attention, create rushing lanes or simply beat anyone one on one. The Cardinals will need Kliff Kingsbury to get more creative in those tight situations to have success.

As for the Seahawks offense, it's also untrustworthy. Yes, Seattle is coming off a red-hot game, but its two recent impressive games have come against Houston and Detroit. Those are franchises they simply beat due to having more talent. Needless to say, that won't be the case against Arizona.

The obvious angle with untrusted offenses is the under on the total. However, even that seems risky given these teams' athletes and big-play ability.

Fortunately, we have a large spread to turn to instead. As long as the Cardinals continue to play the way they have been, it's hard to imagine them beating anyone with ease.

That said, take Seattle and the points to keep things close in this showdown.

Pick: Seahawks +6.5  | Bet to: +6