Arizona Cardinals vs Seattle Seahawks Preview (10/16/22): Betting Odds, Prediction, Depth Chart

The Seahawks are back at home this week after going 1-1 on the road over the last two weeks. They’ll host fellow NFC West contender, the Arizona Cardinals, who are coming off a loss to the undefeated Eagles. Both teams are 2-3 entering this game so the winner will move to .500 on the season and try to gain relevance in the NFC West. Read on for predictions, odds, picks, injuries, and depth charts.

Seattle Seahawks Vs. Arizona Cardinals Betting Odds

The Seahawks are 1-0 as home underdogs this year after their win over Denver in Week 1. Since then, they’ve gone 1-3 ATS overall and 0-1 ATS at home. The Cardinals boast a 2-0 record on the road so far and are 3-2 ATS.

The Seahawks have hit the over in their last three games while the Cardinals have hit the under in their last three games. Still, oddsmakers have this over/under as the second-highest total of all Week 6 games, behind just the Bills vs. Chiefs game. Both of these teams have been powered by their offenses, so the high total isn’t totally surprising.

Seattle Seahawks Vs. Arizona Cardinals Analysis and Prediction

The Seattle offense currently ranks first in total DVOA at 21.3% and total pass DVOA at 45.1%. Why? Not why – who? Geno Smith.

Through Week 5, Smith still holds the highest completion rate of all quarterbacks in the league, completing over 75% of his passes and boasting the highest passer rating in the NFL (113.1). He is also top three in average yards per play.

Smith threw for three touchdowns, 268 yards, and zero interceptions in their loss to the Saints last week, finding veteran receiver Tyler Lockett twice and DK Metcalf, once. It was Smith’s lowest completion rate of the year (64%) but his highest passer rating (139.7). He has thrown for over 900 yards and accounted for seven touchdowns over his last three outings.

Why then, is this Seahawks team 2-3? It’s simple. The defense. This Seattle defense has been the main cause of all three losses even when the offense does their job. Their defensive DVOA rating is second-to-last ahead of just the Lions, coming in at 15.4%. They are dead last in total yards against and rushing yards per game where they average over 170 yards against them. A bright spot of this defense is Tariq Woolen who has accounted for all three of the team’s interceptions and is a contender for Defensive Rookie of The Year.

Meanwhile the Seahawks running game just took a big hit. Rashaad Penny is out for the season with a broken fibula, just as he was starting to get comfortable. Rookie Kenneth Walker will assume the RB1 position, but the loss of Penny is a big hit to the versatility of the Seattle offense.

The Cardinals are coming off a narrow loss to an undefeated Eagles team after their interim kicker missed a field goal. Kyler Murray threw for 250 yards and found Marquise Brown for a touchdown, who continues to lead this team on the receiving end. This may not last for long as DeAndre Hopkins will be eligible to play next week which should give this receiving corps a boost. Until then, Brown, Zach Ertz, and Greg Dortch will continue to chip away and could easily terrorize this Seattle defense.

Eno Benjamin also tallied a touchdown last week; he and his fellow running backs can also have a field day this week against a Seattle defense that allows more rushing yards than any other team.

The Cardinals overall defensive DVOA rating ranks 29th at 8.6% (not worse than Seattle’s 15.4%). Their pass defense DVOA also ranks in the bottom half which could be trouble against a hot Seattle offense. Their stopping of the running game is a bright spot as they rank in the top five of rushing yards against.

Over the last three seasons, the Seahawks and Cardinals have gone 3-3 against each other. Despite Seattle having less star power, they have a tendency to do very well in divisional games, especially at home, where they are 2-1 against the Cardinals over the last three seasons.

Both offenses should be in full force this game, but the Seahawks have home field advantage, which usually serves them right. Their defense won’t be good by any stretch, but their offense is doing more than Arizona’s right now.

My predictions: Seahawks win 28-24, Seahawks cover, over 51

Betting Trends

• Seahawks 2-1 against Cardinals in last 3 matchups at home
• Under is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 games overall
• Over is 3-0 in Seahawks last 3 games overall
• Cardinals 3-2 ATS in last five games
• Seahawks 0-1 ATS as home underdog this year

Key Injuries

Arizona Cardinals Injuries: James Conner (Q), Matt Prater (Q)

Seattle Seahawks Injuries: Rashaad Penny (IR)

Key Matchups

Check out the key matchups and mismatches for Seattle Seahawks vs Arizona Cardinals below.

Kenneth Walker vs Cardinals run defense

This is a big week for Kenneth Walker as the rookie assumes the RB1 position for the first time this year following Penny’s season-ending injury. He tallied 88 rushing yards and his first career touchdown in last week’s loss in New Orleans. The Cardinals have a top-five defense in terms of yards against them, and they rank in the top half of rush defense DVOA.

Seahawks offensive line vs Cardinals defensive line

The Seahawks offensive line has actually done well this year despite having two rookies bookending the line as tackles. The pair of youngsters and their line gave up just nine sacks on Smith through Week 5 and a season-high three sacks last game. Meanwhile the Cardinals defense, whose front seven is full of veterans, is tied for the fewest sacks in the league. It will be interesting to watch how this young offensive line faces up against this veteran defensive line.

Arizona Cardinals Depth Chart

QB: Kyler Murray
RB1: James Conner
RB2: Eno Benjamin
LWR: Marquise Brown
RWR: Rondale Moore
SWR: A.J. Brown
TE1: Zach Ertz

Seattle Seahawks Depth Chart

QB: Geno Smith
RB1: Kenneth Walker
RB2: DeeJay Dallas
LWR: DK Metcalf
RWR: Dee Eskridge
SWR: Tyler Lockett
TE1: Will Dissly