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Seattle Seahawks: NFC West rivals at a glance – Arizona Cardinals

By Ed Stein

SEATTLE, WA: Tight end Jermaine Gresham #84 of the Arizona Cardinals tries to escape free safety Earl Thomas #29 of the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 31, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA: Tight end Jermaine Gresham #84 of the Arizona Cardinals tries to escape free safety Earl Thomas #29 of the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 31, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images) /
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The Seattle Seahawks play six of their 16 games against the NFC. We conclude our three-part series of quick NFC West rivals previews with the Arizona Cardinals.

This is the last in a three-part series. Emerald City Swagger wants to give the 12th man some quick and easy previews of the Seattle Seahawks NFC West Rivals. We conclude with the Arizona Cardinals. Our cousins at Heat Waved helped us out with this and we thank them.

Arizona Cardinals

Home Stadium: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ.

2017 Record: 8-8 (5-3 at home, 3-3 vs. NFC West)

2018 Games against Seahawks: September 30 in Glendale; December 30 in Seattle.

Cards at-a-glance

More from Seattle Seahawks

The 2018 Arizona Cardinals are going to be a bit different than what you are used to seeing. Oh, there will be some familiar faces on both sides of the ball but overall with 24 new players on the 53-man roster, a new coach, and a focus on running the ball, this year’s version of the Cardinals will be different.

Strengths: Running game will be heavily used. David Johnson returns and has some lofty goals for himself of 2,000-yards rushing and 1,000-yards receiving.

On defense, the Cardinals will be strong up front with the return of the NFL’s sack leader from a year ago in Chandler Jones. The Cardinals also look improved in the secondary as well with Jamar Taylor and Bene Benwikere at corner opposite Patrick Peterson.

Weaknesses: The Cardinals receivers are untested for the most part after Larry Fitzgerald. Second-year receiver Chad Williams and rookies Christian Kirk and Trent Sherfield make up three of the remaining four behind Fitz. J.J. Nelson, in his third season, continued to struggle to catch balls in the preseason.

Key additions: Sam Bradford (QB), Josh Rosen (QB), Justin Pugh (RG), Jamar Taylor (CB), Bene Benwikere (CB), Mason Cole (C), Tre Boston (SS), Steve Wilks (head coach)

Key losses: Tyrann Mathieu (S, signed with Houston Texans), Carson Palmer (QB, retired), John Brown (WR, signed with Baltimore Ravens)

Next. 5 Seahawks questions before Sunday's opener. dark

The new group under new Wilks will play hard for him. They already proved that in camp and in the preseason. Now how they do in 2018 may depend on how healthy they can stay.

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