Cardinals defensive lineman Frostee Rucker celebrates a defensive stop during Sunday's win over the Giants.
The Cardinals were officially eliminated from the postseason in Washington in Week 15, but a game against the NFC West rival Seahawks to close out the season New Year's Eve still carries significance – not only to the Seahawks, but to the Cards.
"It's Christmas, and the way this season has been a roller coaster for us, we'll take this one," defensive lineman Frostee Rucker said after the Cardinals shut out the Giants. "Next week is even bigger.
"Despite the noise and the distraction that we're not going to the playoffs, they are still fighting to get in."
The Seahawks (9-6) are trying desperately to keep their postseason streak alive and still have an opportunity
to reach the playoffs as the NFC's sixth and final seed. But to get in, Seattle not only has to beat Arizona, but has to hope the Atlanta Falcons lose at home against Carolina.
The Falcons win, and the Seahawks are out no matter what happens. The NFL moved the Falcons-Panthers kickoff – along with all the playoff-related games next week – to 2:25 p.m. Arizona time to coincide with the Cardinals-Seahawks kickoff and make sure the teams all have something for which to play.
That's usually not a problem with the Cardinals and Seahawks anyway. It's certainly not a problem for the Cards, who have a chance to finish at .500.
But, Rucker said, Sunday would be "more about just beating (the Seahawks)."
"Being .500 does send the year out not on a negative note -- we'd be at least dead even," Rucker said. "This group of men is so talented, I hope they don't break it up. You can read what's going on in the paper, [what
(GM) Steve (Keim) said](http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/GM-Steve-Keim-We-Have-A-Lot-Of-Work-To-Do/43a3c3ba-be96-4896-bcc4-5aa1bb09c36d), but across the board, even with all our injuries, we have a group of guys in there that are fighters. I just hope everyone gets a shot to come back (in 2018)."
The Cards still aren't playing great on offense, although they snapped their touchdown drought against the Giants with a pair of Drew Stanton TD passes, along with a fumble return for a score by defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche.
Since Week 10 the Cardinals are No. 1 in the NFL in total defense, and punctuated that surge with the franchise's first shutout since 1992.
"I just wish we definitely could play like that year long," cornerback Patrick Peterson said.
Had the Cardinals been able to be more consistent, the game in Seattle might have been for their own postseason spot. Instead, it's about being a spoiler, at a place that coach Bruce Arians has posted a 3-1 record since becoming the Cardinals' coach – an impressive mark, given how dominant the Seahawks are at home.
"There's our playoff game," Rucker said. "All or nothing, right?"
Images from the Christmas Eve game in Seattle

LB Markus Golden after a sack

WR J.J. Nelson celebrates his long touchdown catch

DT Rodney Gunter blocked a field goal

QB Carson Palmer

LB Chandler Jones gets the sack

Dueling allegiances

Cardinals fans at CenturyLink

LB Chandler Jones with the sack

The Cardinals enter for the game against the Seahawks

WR Larry Fitzgerald before the game

WR Larry Fitzgerald attempts a pass

TE Jermaine Gresham before the game

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians (left) and GM Steve Keim

LB Markus Golden with the sack

QB Carson Palmer unleashes an 80-yard touchdown pass to J.J. Nelson

LB Markus Golden celebrates a sack

CB Patrick Peterson celebrates after a blocked punt

Seattle QB Russell Wilson under pressure again

RB David Johnson with the carry

Head coach Bruce Arians

RB David Johnson finds some space

Seahawks RB Alex Collins runs into Cardinals defense

The Cardinals block an attempted field goal

Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin takes a catch into the endzone

RB David Johnson crosses the goal line for a touchdown

The Cardinals force a Seahawks fumble

RB David Johnson

LB Alex Okafor blocks the Seahawks punt

RB David Johnson on a carry

LB Chandler Jones and DT Calais Campbell sack Seahawks QB Russell Wilson

QB Carson Palmer looks for TE Jermaine Gresham on a route

WR Larry Fitzgerald stretches out for a 16-yard reception

The Cardinals defense look to take down Seahawks RB Alex Collins

RB David Johnson gets in the endzone for one of his three touchdowns on the day

DT Rodney Gunter gets a big fourth down stop in the second quarter

TE Jermaine Gresham (right) congratulates RB David Johnson (left) after the score

WR J.J. Nelson takes the reception to the 2-yard line in the fourth quarter

LB Sio Moore brings down Seahawks QB Russell Wilson

QB Carson Palmer throws down the field

RB David Johnson scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter

K Chandler Catanzaro kicks the game-winner