A look at the Seahawks’ Week 6 opponent:
When: Sunday. 1:05 p.m., Qwest Field
Record: 2-2 after holding on for a 28-21 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday
Where they rank: No. 16 on offense (31st rushing, 3rd passing); No. 27 on defense (1st rushing, 32nd passing)
Series: Cardinals lead 11-9 after sweeping the home-and-home series last year.
Star power: Larry Fitzgerald. Sunday, Kurt Warner joined Fran Tarkenton as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to pass for more than 13,000 yards with two teams – 13,255 with the Cardinals, 14,447 with the Rams. But the nod goes to one of his wide receivers anyway. Fitzgerald is that good. In two games against the Seahawks last year, he caught 10 passes for 151 yards in Seattle and five for 130 and two touchdowns in Arizona. In the Cardinals’ run to the Super Bowl last season, he set postseason records for receptions (30), receiving yards (546) and touchdown catches (seven). That, after leading the NFC in receptions (96) and receiving yards (1,431) and tying for the league lead in TD catches (12) during the regular season. This season, Fitzgerald has 22 receptions and four of the Cardinals’ six TD catches.
Unsung hero: Calais Campbell. The second-year defensive end has moved into the starting lineup this season. But Sunday, he also was returned to special teams duty after tight end Stephen Spach was injured. Campbell blocked his second field goal of the season and also made a touchdown-saving tackle on a 62-yard punt return.
On the spot: The pass defense. The Cardinals aren’t just allowing a league-high average of 303 passing yards, they’re the only team in the league yielding more than 300 per game. The Seahawks’ passing game got its tempo back last week with the return of QB Matt Hasselbeck, who passed for four touchdowns.
Burning question: Which Cardinals team shows up? The one that scored three touchdowns against the Texans in the first half, when Warner was 20 of 23 for 262 yards and two TDs? Or, the one that allowed three touchdowns in the second half?
Familiar faces: OLB Chike Okeafor (2003-04) and WR Jerheme Urban (2003-05) played for the Seahawks, while defensive backs coach Teryl Austin (2003-06) coached for the Seahawks. Assistant defensive backs coach Rick Courtright (1991-92) also coached at the University of Washington. Scout Chris Culmer worked for the Seahawks (2000-08), went to Washington State and is from Richland.
The last word: “It’s going to be a helluva week this week at practice because this is personal between us and Seattle. We know for a fact we’ll get their best shot and I’ll probably send Matt Hasselbeck a Twitter message later this week, so stay tuned.” – Cardinals Pro Bowl DT Darnell Dockett.
Dockett called the Seahawks’ Matt Hasselbeck “one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the league.” He also has been trying to make a deal via Twitter, which both Dockett and Hasselbeck famously use.
“I’ve been trying to negotiate with him, ask him not to pass the ball a lot, give me two sacks, no hard counts.” Dockett said. “Hopefully we can solidify a deal before the game.”
Dockett has offered up things like cheesecake and a CD.
“It seems there are a bunch of guys on Arizona that are Twitter-friendly,” Hasselbeck said. “A lot of guys I respect.”
Hasselbeck seems to understand manipulation through Twitter, however. One of his tweets to Dockett is one of Dockett’s hot-button issues: Dockett’s contract. Tweeted Hasselbeck, “I thought the team was working on a new deal for you? You've earned it! What are they waiting for?”
Whether that means Hasselbeck will help Dockett – Dockett tweeted to the QB he’d be happy if Hasselbeck allowed him to sack him twice because Dockett is underpaid and it would help his cause – remains to be seen.
When: Sunday. 1:05 p.m., Qwest Field
Record: 2-2 after holding on for a 28-21 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday
Where they rank: No. 16 on offense (31st rushing, 3rd passing); No. 27 on defense (1st rushing, 32nd passing)
Series: Cardinals lead 11-9 after sweeping the home-and-home series last year.
Star power: Larry Fitzgerald. Sunday, Kurt Warner joined Fran Tarkenton as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to pass for more than 13,000 yards with two teams – 13,255 with the Cardinals, 14,447 with the Rams. But the nod goes to one of his wide receivers anyway. Fitzgerald is that good. In two games against the Seahawks last year, he caught 10 passes for 151 yards in Seattle and five for 130 and two touchdowns in Arizona. In the Cardinals’ run to the Super Bowl last season, he set postseason records for receptions (30), receiving yards (546) and touchdown catches (seven). That, after leading the NFC in receptions (96) and receiving yards (1,431) and tying for the league lead in TD catches (12) during the regular season. This season, Fitzgerald has 22 receptions and four of the Cardinals’ six TD catches.
Unsung hero: Calais Campbell. The second-year defensive end has moved into the starting lineup this season. But Sunday, he also was returned to special teams duty after tight end Stephen Spach was injured. Campbell blocked his second field goal of the season and also made a touchdown-saving tackle on a 62-yard punt return.
On the spot: The pass defense. The Cardinals aren’t just allowing a league-high average of 303 passing yards, they’re the only team in the league yielding more than 300 per game. The Seahawks’ passing game got its tempo back last week with the return of QB Matt Hasselbeck, who passed for four touchdowns.
Burning question: Which Cardinals team shows up? The one that scored three touchdowns against the Texans in the first half, when Warner was 20 of 23 for 262 yards and two TDs? Or, the one that allowed three touchdowns in the second half?
Familiar faces: OLB Chike Okeafor (2003-04) and WR Jerheme Urban (2003-05) played for the Seahawks, while defensive backs coach Teryl Austin (2003-06) coached for the Seahawks. Assistant defensive backs coach Rick Courtright (1991-92) also coached at the University of Washington. Scout Chris Culmer worked for the Seahawks (2000-08), went to Washington State and is from Richland.
The last word: “It’s going to be a helluva week this week at practice because this is personal between us and Seattle. We know for a fact we’ll get their best shot and I’ll probably send Matt Hasselbeck a Twitter message later this week, so stay tuned.” – Cardinals Pro Bowl DT Darnell Dockett.
Dockett called the Seahawks’ Matt Hasselbeck “one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the league.” He also has been trying to make a deal via Twitter, which both Dockett and Hasselbeck famously use.
“I’ve been trying to negotiate with him, ask him not to pass the ball a lot, give me two sacks, no hard counts.” Dockett said. “Hopefully we can solidify a deal before the game.”
Dockett has offered up things like cheesecake and a CD.
“It seems there are a bunch of guys on Arizona that are Twitter-friendly,” Hasselbeck said. “A lot of guys I respect.”
Hasselbeck seems to understand manipulation through Twitter, however. One of his tweets to Dockett is one of Dockett’s hot-button issues: Dockett’s contract. Tweeted Hasselbeck, “I thought the team was working on a new deal for you? You've earned it! What are they waiting for?”
Whether that means Hasselbeck will help Dockett – Dockett tweeted to the QB he’d be happy if Hasselbeck allowed him to sack him twice because Dockett is underpaid and it would help his cause – remains to be seen.
