Arizona @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 29, 2019 ) Seattle 27, Arizona 10

The Seattle Seahawks currently possess the top seed for the NFC playoffs and can't afford to slip up when they host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Seattle is one of four NFC teams with an 11-3 record and an NFC West showdown looms next week when the Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers (11-3) meet.

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson is enjoying a strong campaign and was named to his seventh Pro Bowl based on a stat line that includes 3,708 yards, 28 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Wilson has helped the Seahawks go 10-1 in games decided by eight or fewer points this season. "I love close games," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told reporters. "I think they help you. They make you stronger. They keep you in the game longer. They make you have to focus farther, and it prepares you for more kinds of things that can happen that you need background and experience in. It would really be OK if we could win by a lot sometimes. That'd be fun." Arizona rookie quarterback Kyler Murray is having a strong season with 3,279 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Seahawks -9.5. O/U: 51

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (4-9-1): Running back Kenyan Drake has made a fine impression in his six games since being acquired from the Miami Dolphins and none was bigger than last week's performance when he established career highs of 137 rushing yards and four touchdowns in a 38-24 victory over the Cleveland Browns. "It's bigger than me," Drake said after increasing his rushing output with Arizona to 417. "The game is not about any one individual player and whatever specific accolades he can accumulate. Not a lot of people get this opportunity. Maybe when I am 60 years old I can look back and think, 'I had fun' or whatever, but right now I am focused on the task at hand." Star defensive end Chandler Jones is headed to his third Pro Bowl and his 15 sacks are two shy of his career best in 2017 and his career-high six forced fumbles tie for the NFL lead.

ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (11-3): Wilson is 104 yards away from surpassing Matt Hasselbeck (29,435) as the franchise leader in passing yards - he already holds the touchdown passes record with 224. Star middle linebacker Bobby Wagner (ankle) missed practice Thursday and his status will be firmed up later in the week and that also holds true for safety Quandre Diggs (ankle) and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (core muscle). Wagner is headed to his sixth Pro Bowl and he ranks second in the NFL with 139 tackles and has topped 100 in all eight of his NFL seasons.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wilson passed for 240 yards - one less than Murray - as the Seahawks recorded a 27-10 road victory over the Cardinals on Sept. 29.

2. Arizona WR Larry Fitzgerald (711) has topped 700 receiving yards in all 16 of his seasons.

3. Seattle WR Josh Gordon was suspended indefinitely for his latest violation of the NFL performance-enhancing drugs and substance abuse policies.

PREDICTION: Seahawks 33, Cardinals 21