The Seahawks seized sole possession of first place in the NFC West with last weekend’s 26-21 road win over the New York Jets and can earn a valuable edge on divisional tiebreakers by topping the Cardinals for a second time in three weeks. The Cardinals stumble home after getting swept on a two-game road trip, capped by last weekend’s narrow 23-22 loss in Minnesota. Still just one game back of Seattle in the standings, the Cardinals have struggled to generate 14 points per game during their current 0-2 run but have effectively slammed the door on opposing offences while winning three straight on home turf.

The Cardinals look to Sunday’s matchup as 2.5-point favourites on the NFL Week 14 odds. The Seahawks lag as a +120 underdog on the NFL moneyline and the total is pegged at 44.5.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Seahawks will be aiming to sweep their season series for a third straight year when they hit the gridiron on Sunday afternoon. Overall, the Seahawks have taken seven of eight from the Cards including three straight wins in the desert, including a pair of outright victories as betting underdogs.

The UNDER has paid out in totals betting in each of their past three clashes. Arizona has helped fuel that trend while averaging just 12 points scored per game over its past three dates with the Seahawks and has been limited to 10 or fewer points in three of five head-to-head matches including a 16-6 loss in Seattle two weeks ago.

However, the Cardinals defense has excelled during the squad’s 3-0 run at home, allowing just 10 points per game, lifting Arizona to 11th overall in the NFL in points per game allowed this season.

Seattle Seahawks

For the third time in as many weeks, the Seahawks had to rally to overcome an early deficit on their way to last week’s victory over the Jets. Indeed, slow starts have emerged as a massive concern for the Seahawks, who have mustered just six total points in first-quarter action over their past six games, and seen their offence score just six total touchdowns before halftime over that stretch.

That trend continued last week, with the Seahawks spotting the beleaguered Jets a 14-0 lead. However, they can ill afford a repeat performance against a superior cards squad that is playing great defence at home.

Complicating matters for the Seahawks is a continued long list of injuries that rushers Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, along with receiver DK Metcalf, all of who missed time at practice this week. Tight end Noah Fant also made the injury report with a groin ailment but remained a full participant.

Arizona Cardinals

After struggling to get started against a stout Seahawks defence two weeks ago, the Cardinals offence rebounded last week, easily outpacing the Vikings by over 130 total yards but it was not enough to get them back into the win column. Like the Seahawks, the cardinals have consistently stumbled out of the gate, scoring touchdowns in the first 15 minutes in just two of their past seven games.

Quarter back Kyler Murray has cooled off after a sizzling start, finding the end zone twice over the past four games while tossing three total picks over the past two weeks.

However, the Cardinals have good health going for them as well as a stingy defence that has excelled on home turf that has allowed just 17.5 points per game this season and with a chance to reclaim a share of top spot in the division, it is those two factors that are likely to make the difference on Sunday.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Seahawks vs. Cardinals?