Cardinals vs. Seahawks: NFC West divisional showdown
by David Fucillo on Oct 15, 2009 11:34 AM PDT
in San Francisco 49ers News
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PrintSince the 49ers have a bye week, we have to look for other stories to occupy our time this weekend. We have the Panthers Watch every week so that's certainly a plus. The Panthers head down to Tampa to face the Buccaneers in a big game for 49ers draft purposes. I'd imagine our Sunday game day thread will be a Panthers Watch style thread.
This weekend though, 49ers fans have another reason to tune in for the afternoon games. The Arizona Cardinals head up to Seattle to take on the Seahawks in a battle of the 2nd and 3rd place team in the NFC West. The Seahawks currently sit as a 3 point favorite so clearly oddsmakers view this as a tight matchup. The folks at Revenge of the Birds did a breakdown of each position and who had the edge and gave Seattle a 7-6 edge so even they are seeing how tight a battle this could be.
The big plus for Seattle is having Matt Hasselbeck back in the lineup. Last week he lit up the Jacksonville Jaguars to the tune of 4 touchdowns and 241 yards. The Jaguars aren't exactly a stellar squad so we'll certainly take those stats with a grain of salt. At the same time, the Arizona Cardinals secondary is not so good. The folks at RotB went so far as to say, "Even though the game-winning pick six came from a defensive back last week, this unit (cornerbacks) by the Cardinals has been terrible to say the least."
I honestly have paid little attention to our division-mates outside of the 49ers games against them, and their final scores against other folks. After some quick research of my own I tend to think Seattle has the edge in this game, even beyond the home field advantage. Arizona is not a bad team per se, but Seattle appears to have enough of an edge to pull out this key home victory. We've included this game in the prediction contest and barring any late breaking news I will definitely be taking the Seahawks, although not by a large margin of victory.
The question becomes not who will win, but who would you prefer to win? Which team winning would better aid the 49ers cause of attempting to win the NFC West? An Arizona win vaults them into a tie with the 49ers. A Seattle win moves them to .500 and keeps the Cardinals a full game back of the 49ers. I've included a poll to get people's thoughts. I realize a tie is always an option, and might even be favorable to some, but I'm leaving that option off the table for now.
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Rooting Seattle this week!
I don’t see how hoping the Cardinals pull it out could ever help the 49ers. Hoping for a tie in the division? I personally want to see the 49ers remain in sole possession of first place for the rest of the year. I don’t need the Cardinals coming out with any more intensity in our rematch at Candlestick than they are already going to come with.
An Arizona win
is better for the 49ers. Here’s why: We play Seattle in Seattle in our next meeting, it puts Seattle in a really bad situation with a division record of 1-2. Now that Hasselbeck is back and a majority of the rest of the folks for the Seahwks, they are a better team than when we faced them. Won’t be an easy game to go in to Seattle and take that one for us.
We have proven that we can beat the Cardinals in a hostile environment (AZ). The next time we face them will be a Monday Night game in Candlestick (a cold night game). The Cards do not do very well in the cold as history has shown. Currently the Cards sit at 0-1 in the division so a win Seattle would put them at .500.
Overall records if the Cards win would be this: 1st- 49ers (3-2), 2nd- Cardinals (3-2) but with a divsion record of (1-1), and 3rd- Seattle (2-4) div. 1-2 and conf 1-3.
So if that happens, it will be very hard for Seattle to get back in to the mix. I feel like Seattle is stronger (with all players healthy) than AZ. Seattle’s defense is much better and I like our odds against AZ more than Seattle. Homefield advantage plays in to this scenario in the Niners favor.
Anyhow, that’s my two cents.
Also, a look at the next 5 games after this week for each team
49ers
@ Houston
@ Indy
vs. Tenn
vs. Chicago
@ G.B.
Seahawks
Bye
@ Dallas
vs. Detroit
@ Cardinals
@ Minnesota
Cardinals
@ NY Giants
vs. Panthers
@ Chicago
vs. Seattle
@ St. Louis
Seattle has it easy over the next 5 weeks
3 BYE weeks!
lol
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Oct 15, 2009 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh nevermind
got it…cause they’re playing weak teams. I actually think Dallas has a good chance to beat them at home
Yeah, I'd be happy if we got through that stretch 2-2.
"Mayhap a hidden door lurks nigh. Let us search the environs."
by Fearless Frog on Oct 15, 2009 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Playing at Dallas is a pretty tough game
Unless you think the Cards are that bad, I’m not sure who the 3rd bye week is supposed to be.
by Brendan Scolari on Oct 15, 2009 2:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Detroit, the actual bye, and?
What’s the third one?
by Brendan Scolari on Oct 15, 2009 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions
I think...
… it was implied that Dallas was the other one.
That's pretty weird
Dallas almost beat the Giants at home. I’d say the odds are against Seattle winning that one.
by Brendan Scolari on Oct 15, 2009 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe...
.. the “@” was missed? The Cowboys have had some terrible moments this year otherwise.
They have not been consistant
thats for sure. Maybe Romo finally found something with Austin last week. The Seahawks have everyone back for the most part. Not sure if Dallas’ defense is all that good this year. They have struggled in that new stadium though …“Jerryland”. The pole dancers are the most entertaining thing there so far
I wouldn't call losing on a last second field goal to maybe the best team in football
Struggling, they played really well that game. Their defense isn’t too good, but the offense is.
by Brendan Scolari on Oct 15, 2009 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions
They played well against the Giants
but the rest of the season the defense has been average or worse. It’s almost as if it’s a split defense you have some like Ware who are awesome and then you have guys like Pat Watkins that really leave the field wide open. Doesn’t seem like they have any average players. They’re either great or really bad. It’s easy to exploit their weaknesses from what I have observed
True
Just saying in no way is @ Dallas a “bye week”.
by Brendan Scolari on Oct 15, 2009 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions
I wouldn't say he 'found' something with Austin.
I watched that entire game and most of those 250 receiving yards were Miles Austin taking advantage of some ridiculously poor Chiefs’ tackling.
"Mayhap a hidden door lurks nigh. Let us search the environs."
by Fearless Frog on Oct 15, 2009 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions
True
what I meant is Austin could continue in his playmaking abilities. I thought it was more Austin ripping away. On the last one especially. That DB had him wrapped and Austin sort of just ripped away. Probably a little premature to say he’s a playmaker but he seems like he could be that
I think he looks pretty impressive as well
Not just in that game either.
by Brendan Scolari on Oct 15, 2009 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions
The 3 BYE weeks comment
It was just a random I hate the Cowboys insult.
They still do have a horrible pass defense though and their offense is sooooo inconsistent.
How the hell do you trail the Cheifs for that long?
And how do you allow Matt Cassel (and an O-line that’s worse than ours) to put together a 4th quarter game-tying drive?
After the Cheifs/Cowboys game I don’t consider the ’boys a legitimate threat anymore.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Oct 15, 2009 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Some good points
But as you show below, the Seattle upcoming sched is tough and they likely have a 1-3 stretch upcoming. So their winning here is not a bad thing for us.
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
3/4 on the road
@ Dallas (loss for them), @ AZ (yet to win in the new AZ stadium even when they were a playoff team) and @ MInnesota (Vikings are better than them). For them that’s tough. In the NFC it’s certainly not homecoming.
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
Adam shefter "tweet". good info from hasselback
RT @MatthewHass8 My mom is in town for game. Seahawks 16-0 with her at Qwest since 2002. Pretty legit.<—Betsy Hasselbeck is THAT powerful. about 3 hours ago
by nacho49 on Oct 15, 2009 12:20 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Awesome.
"Mayhap a hidden door lurks nigh. Let us search the environs."
by Fearless Frog on Oct 15, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Not really big on crime
Maybe we should give her an all expense paid vacation to the Bahamas when the niners visit.
"Optimist Prime"
Come along and ride the muthaship!
I'll chip in
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Oct 15, 2009 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions
AZ
simply because Seattle looks better to me and any momentum picking up for them would not be good. I know the Cards beat Houston but still not looking as sharp as the hawks. However, we can also hope for a split between the two for the season, in which case a home win for each would be most likely, which would then be a pick for Seattle
"The Jaguars aren't exactly a stellar squad so we'll certainly take those stats with a grain of salt."
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not underestimating how bad the Jaguars’ pass defense is, but if I’m not mistaken, Arizona’s is statistically the worst pass-d in the NFL, ranking 32 out of 32.
"Mayhap a hidden door lurks nigh. Let us search the environs."
I think Seattle is a better team
And we already beat Arizona in Arizona. We still have to play a game in Seattle which is always really tough, so I’d definitely say I’d rather have the Cards win.
by Brendan Scolari on Oct 15, 2009 2:18 PM PDT reply actions
agree
Seattle’s schedule is way too easy. It would be well within reason for them to finish at .500, and maybe better.
They way things are starting to look, we might have to go 9-7 at least with our Div record putting us over the top.
Seattle
I expect AZ and Seattle to split heir season series. ‘Hawks have yet to win @ AZ new stadium so an AZ win here likely means they sweep Seattle. That would make them (with an assumed sweep of STL) 4-1 in the division pending the final game against us. I’d rather they lose here. Plus the upcoming sched for Seattle has 1-3 written all over it so they’ll be back to were they belong: a .500 team.
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
You stole my thought
A tie would be best all around. They are so evenly matched that after 75 minutes of football its still 20-20 :)
by snowweasel30 on Oct 15, 2009 4:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Hmm...Well,
according to this:
The Seahawks entertain their bye week in Week 7 and that does not spell good news for this week’s opponent. Seattle has the NFL’s top record in games played heading in to the bye week. Seattle is 16-4 (.800) in those games, tying Dallas and the N.Y. Giants for the top spot.
"Mayhap a hidden door lurks nigh. Let us search the environs."
I don't see how that stat
Could be anything but luck. Coming off a bye week? Yeah, that could definitely change things. But how would have a bye week after a game factor into the game?
by Brendan Scolari on Oct 15, 2009 7:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Wanting to head into the bye-week on a high note, perhaps?
I’m not entirely sure myself.
"Mayhap a hidden door lurks nigh. Let us search the environs."
by Fearless Frog on Oct 15, 2009 8:07 PM PDT up reply actions
B-b-but Shaun Hill undefeated at Candlestick! :(
"Mayhap a hidden door lurks nigh. Let us search the environs."
by Fearless Frog on Oct 16, 2009 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Against everyone.
"Mayhap a hidden door lurks nigh. Let us search the environs."
by Fearless Frog on Oct 16, 2009 8:07 PM PDT up reply actions
EVERYONE
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