Check out what the Seahawks (9-4-1) are saying about the Cardinals (5-8-1) before the two teams meet in Week 16 at CenturyLink Field.
Head Coach Pete Carroll
(On this week's game against Arizona...) "We see these guys as we always see them, explosive, tough, aggressive. A big challenge with their defensive scheme and the players that they have. We're ready to go for it. Good week and it's not Christmas yet. Christmas will come after the football game, we'll try to make it a joyful holiday for all those who care, I know that's a bunch of 12s. We'll see what we can do for it."
(On differences in the Arizona team now versus the last time they played...)"I think they just scored 41 points and had a big offensive day. They didn't have the defense that they wanted and usually do. They went into that game last week leading the NFL in defense. This is a very talented team, the tied game that we played was a battle from start to finish. It took forever in that game to get it over with and unfortunately it wound up in a tie. We see all of the assets, they had their guys and we had our guys pretty much for the most part, and it was a great battle. It will be interesting to see what happens, looking back, we'll see how this one turns right now. I don't know, but we're excited about it and we need to play really well. I know that. In all phases."
(On their last game against Cardinals that ended in a 6-6 tie...) "They're tough up front, they do a nice job mixing their coverages, the stuff that we try to do to change our protections and things, we weren't as clean as we'd like to be. We didn't run the ball as well as we wanted to, it was the same on both sides of the ball. We both struggled throughout the game. We had a number of negative plays in that game which set us behind the sticks a lot and we had a lot of long yardage situations which is terrible to try to function on the road like that. It was a combination of things. It was a really hard fought, tough, physical, mentally challenging game and I like that we have that at our back and we made it to a tie. We know what that's like and we don't want to ever have to do that again. I think we gained something out of that and got better after that."
(On what he learned from the 6-6 tie with the Cardinals and how the tie is impacting the playoff standings…)"Looking back at it, we took some real positives out of it because it was such a battle and there was so much tension throughout the game in all areas. Defense played extraordinary forever, as there's did as well, so the way it worked out now, it's interesting how it's playing in and fascinating that it happened to other teams, too. We'll see what happens, we'll know more when it's all over, but right now it's just one game and try to get it and see what happens next week."
Quarterback Russell Wilson
(On what's at stake now that they won their division...)"It's another game. There's more implications each game as you go on, but that's the exciting part. That's what you play the game for, that's why we're professional athletes, we get to play the greatest game. It's a physical game, it's comes down to the wire and who can stand the test of time. Who can be committed to being great week in and week out, committed to the process, committed to one another and finding ways to win. That's the part you enjoy, that's the fun part now. You always want to get to December with a chance, obviously to get into the playoffs, we can check that off, but there's a lot more to do. We're relaxed, we're trusting one another, we're preparing to the highest level. We're playing a very good football team, despite their record, Arizona Cardinals have a great quarterback in Carson Palmer, they have a great defense, tons of players on their defense, they got great players on the offensive side of the ball. Larry Fitzgerald and [David] Johnson, all of the guys that they have. It's going to be a great game, they have a great coach in Bruce Arians too, we know that it's going to be a battle."
(On the Cardinals' strengths last time they played them...) "Last time they just made a few more plays, then at the end of the game they just kind of went a little crazy there and unfortunately it ended in a tie. For us, it comes down to making plays, it comes down to execution, it's not some big mysterious thing. You just have to be able to make the plays when they're there. It's going to be a challenging game, there are going to be challenges, there's going to be one on one, we have to make our matchups, we have to win. That's what we look forward to, and that's why it's so exciting every time."
Cornerback Richard Sherman
(On how different this Arizona team is from the last time they played...) "I think they're a little more beat up than they were last time. I think they were healthier the last time we played them, they had more guys going for them. I think their O-line is a little beat up. [David] Johnson is playing well, but he's been playing well all season. I think [Michael] Floyd is not with them no more because of that incident. There's some differences there but overall they're still big-play, still go down the field and things like that."
(On if the tie with Arizona could be advantageous now in the playoff standings...)"I think a win would have been better, but it is advantageous I guess in some respects. It's giving us a tie breaker in some situations, but a win would have given us an even bigger tie breaker. There are some benefits, but as a competitor you always want the win."
Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell
(On this week's game against Arizona…) "Arizona coming in here we get to play them the second time this season. We've got some things to clean up from the first time we played them obviously. It was a hard fought fame, they have a really good, stout defense, one that creates a lot of havoc for us. They bring a lot of pressure, have a lot of great players. One guy to mention is [Cardinals defensive lineman] Calais Campbell, I think he's playing about as well as anybody is playing right now. He's a beast, he's big, he's strong, he's playing really well, so we have to make sure we can handle him.
(On where their offense is now versus last time they played Arizona...) "Each week is a new week and it brings about new challenges. We're continuing to try to get better in every way. The last three weeks our third-down conversions have kind of come up. That's been a focus that we've talked about. Our run game has come up and then last week we didn't run the ball very well. It's just continually trying to improve in each and every area and try to become as consistent as we can offensively."
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach Tom Cable
(On where the offense line is now compared to last time they played Arizona...) "I'm excited for Saturday. They're very good, so it will be a nice challenge. Coming off the LA thing, very talented group, this group is similar to it. I think going into last week they were number one in the NFL in defense. A cool challenge for us again. I'm looking forward to it because I think we're improved and so we'll find out how much on Saturday."
Defensive Coordinator Kris Richard
(On Arizona's offense...)"They're still an explosive offense, they're more than capable, the attempts are there. Carson [Palmer] can still let that thing fly, is still a powerful quarterback, precision thrower. David Johnson in the backfield is a phenomenal football player, he can do everything well. Run the ball, catch the ball, he's a route runner. They're still more than capable, a very good offense."
(On Cardinals running back David Johnson...) "He's the epitome of consistency which you absolutely have to have the most respect for. From first play to last, he's a hard runner, big, strong, fast, good forward body lean, always going forward. Route runner, can catch the football, poised player, every great adjective that you could think of, he fits that profile."
