- SEAHAWKS at CARDINALS
- 5:15 p.m. Thursday
- State Farm Stadium
- Line: Cardinals +1.5 (For more NFL odds, visit the BetMGM online sportsbook)
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NAME: Isaiah Adams
Right guard Isaiah Adams' rookie season came with a lot of learning, and it began with his first start against Leonard Williams and the Seahawks. The Week 14 start last season came two weeks after Big Cat had 2.5 sacks, four QB hits, a pair of TFLs and six tackles. Since then, Adams has held the starting responsibilities at right guard, even with guard Will Hernandez back in the building. It's no secret that the Cardinals offensive line needs a jolt in the run game, but in pass protection, Adams and the unit has done a solid job. Against the 49ers, quarterback Kyler Murray had an average of 3.11 seconds to throw the football, which was a season-high for the Cardinals and sixth in the league during Week 3. It's a short week, so the time to prep for Williams is limited. In his 11th season, Williams is building a Pro Bowl-caliber season. This will be a prime time test for Adams and the Cardinals O-Line on primetime (streaming) TV.
-- Zach Gershman
NUMBER: 33, 31, 20
Due to the unfortunate injury to James Conner, the Cardinals are going to have to rely on Trey Benson (No. 33), Emari Demercado (No. 31) and Bam Knight (No. 20) for the rest of the season. And it's going to take all three – and maybe others – to help fill the void of No. 6, who was the heart and soul of the team's offense. Benson leads the Cardinals in rushing and is averaging a robust 6.0 yards per carry, while his 52-yard run at New Orleans is the club's longest play from scrimmage. Demercado, meanwhile, saw his first offensive snaps on Sunday and Knight is still waiting for his name to be called on offense. To make matters more difficult, the Seahawks are allowing fewer than 100 rushing yards per game and rank sixth in rushing yards per play. The run game had already gotten off to a slow start, and the loss of Conner only magnifies the struggles.
-- Craig Grialou
NUANCE: A Rivalry game and the need for home-field advantage
The hope was that the Cardinals were going to be coming into this game undefeated, and for as many spots that need to improve, they almost pulled that off. Now, in a division that still seems wide open with good teams, the Cardinals already have a crucial game. Yes, there will still be 13 games left in the season but to drop back-to-back NFC West games would hurt. Yet the Cardinals will be playing in the spotlight of primetime (for the first time since 2022) in a game that should be electric with a special game presentation and with the sharp new Rivalry uniforms in play. Look good, feel good, play good. No, a jersey doesn't complete a pass downfield or make a block in the run game. But the energy will be there in support. The Cardinals need to take advantage.
-- Darren Urban
