Man, let me tell you that I am completely torn about this game. Coming in to this season, I never really had a read on this upcoming game ... and after Sunday I certainly don't have any true read of it now. Coming in to the Rams game, I would have said that the Cardinals game truly didn’t matter because it seemed like a foregone conclusion that the Seahawks were going to knock them off and lock up the #5 Seed.
The Hawks loss to the Rams definitely has put a wrench in things. Couple that with Carolina’s loss and all of a sudden this game matters to both the Seahawks and the Cardinals now. What needs to be factored in to this conversation is the fact that the Panthers loss has now cracked opened the door for the Cardinals to be the one to grab the #1 Seed. The Panther-Bucs game starts at the exact same time as the Hawks-Cards game, so the possibility now exists that the Arians and the Cardinals could actually see this Sunday as an important game for them as well.
As far as playoff seeding is concerned, it could actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise to end up as the #6 Seed. So from that standpoint, I get why a loss may not be a big deal.
And I understand all about the need to rest guys – that you don’t want to get them hurt for the playoffs, etc.
And I understand that in the true scheme of things that a win or a loss Sunday may not truly matter in the grand scheme of things. I get all that.
At the same time though, with the way this team played this past week this FEELS to me like a must win for the Hawks. They were thoroughly embarrassed this past week – and at home no less. That can’t sit well with this crew.
Momentum and confidence is everything in this league – especially heading in to the playoffs.
To me, looking at this 2015 Cardinals team – I see them as what we were 2 years ago. Like the Rams, they came in to our home and beat us back in Week 10. If I’m a Seahawks player, that has to still sting quite a bit. For me, this game is about re-establishing who is King of the Mountain in the division.
Not only that, the real possibility (actually probability) exists that the Seahawks and the Cardinals could end up being the last 2 NFC Teams standing – that they could end up battling it out for the right to go to the Super Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium 4 weeks from now. Two losses in a row to this Cardinals team isn’t something that the Seahawks are going to want to carry with them in to that game.
That’s why from a purely psychological standpoint, I don’t see Pete Carroll and the Seahawks treating this like a Preseason game whatsoever. I see this as a game that the Hawks will want badly and that they will plan to fight. I totally believe in the idea of statement games and believe that the Hawks (especially in light of everything I mentioned above) are going to want to make one. So no, I don’t believe Pete believes in the whole resting guys scenario. I actually think he’s more of a believer in what I’m talking about, so I fully believe he’s going to look to have his guys raring to go ALL OUT this Sunday. I don’t think he knows any other way (unless we’re up by 21 points with 8 minutes to go, that is).