Official Game Day Thread - ARZ @ SEA (TNF) November 19, 2020
Nov 16, 2020 5:14:41 GMT -7
BigRedFan likes this
Post by End Zone on Nov 16, 2020 5:14:41 GMT -7
Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Forum’s 10th Game Day thread of 2020. The Thursday Night Football (TNF) Game Day Thread is not dedicated to something historically significant this week.
This game is the 3rd and last special scheduled game of the year for the Cardinals—unless a future game is rescheduled into prime time. The Cardinals already won at the SNF and MNF, beating the Cowboys at Dallas and the Seahawks at Glendale. The nation now has an appetite for the NFCW Division-leading Cardinals, speedster QB Kyler Murray, and “Hail Mary Hero” DHop, and I predict that the NFL will switch 1-2 more games into prime time before all is said and done.
Here is some TNF background information that is perhaps interesting for TNF buffs. TNF started in 2006 with an 8-game schedule exclusively on NFL Network. By 2012, TNF had grown to a 13-game schedule exclusively on NFL Network, where it remained through the 2013 season. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, CBS partnered with NFL Network to present an expanded 16-game TNF schedule. For the 2016 and 2017 seasons, NBC and CBS partnered with NFL Network to present TNF with additional digital distribution via Twitter (2016 season) and Amazon (2017 season). In January 2018, FOX Sports announced it would produce TNF for the next 5 seasons. Then Amazon signed a 2-year extension to their original deal. The NFL has a bevy of broadcasting contracts expiring in 1-2 years. With COVID-19 impacts uncertain, some major broadcasting and fee changes may happen soon, affecting team CAP numbers and special scheduled games.
What is there to know about the Seattle Seahawks football team? Because the Cardinals are visiting the Seahawks and this is the second head-to-head game of the year, this discussion will be briefer than my usual spiel. The Seahawks, compared to the Cardinals, are new NFL members, joining the League in 1976 as an expansion team and then owned by the Nordstrom family. The team was initially aligned to the NFC in 1976. Then from 1977-2001, the Seahawks were re-aligned to the AFC and AFC West. The team was re-re-aligned (crazy stuff, eh?) to the NFC West in 2002. Team colors are college navy, action green, and wolf grey. Team nicknames have slightly changed over time: The Hawks, The Blue Wave (1984-86), and the Defensive backfield of the last decade -- the famous Legion of Boom (2011-2017). The team owner is Jody Allen (via Paul G. Allen Trust) and GM is John Schneider. The Head Coach is the colorful Pete Carroll since 2010. The team is a persistent playoffs contender and has made many playoff appearances (18 total) beginning in 1983 and through 2019. The Seahawks have played in the Super Bowl 3 times, winning it all one time in 2013.
The Seahawks have 11 former players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Franco Harris, Steve Largent, Carl Eller, Warren Moon, John Randle, Jerry Rice, Cortez Kennedy, Walter Jones, Kenny Easley, Kevin Mawae, and Steve Hutchinson. Who doesn’t remember those great’s names? Those names are the definition of NFL All-Pro!
Seattle fans are a likeable bunch, referred to by several names: 12th Man, 12th Fan, and the 12s. I’ve had multiple Seahawks friends across the decades and all were kind, generous, and respectful people. I’ve sat in their Seahawks’ bars wearing my Cardinals jersey and was as safe and comfortable as if sitting a Cardinals’ fan bar. The Seahawks are the only NFL team in the entire US Northwest, attracting fans from many western and northern tier states and many fans from western Canada. The team’s and fan’s biggest rivalries include the NFC West teams (Cardinals, 49ers, and Rams), the Green Bay Packers, and the Denver Broncos.
Okay, now for quick TNF game discussion. ESPN predicts a 59.8% chance of a Seattle (6-3) victory, a 39.9% chance of Arizona (6-3) victory, and 0.3% chance of a tie. ESPN doesn't bother with an explanation. Head-to-head records are tied at 21 wins each (plus that ugly-as-sin 6-6 tie OT game). 2020 records are tied at 6-3 each. The Cardinals won the first game this year in OT. At the first game, ESPN also awarded Seattle a 58% chance of winning. Per ESPN, the Seattle home field is worth 1.8% more this game. All this looks like just sports media paper-mâché data and no work. ESPN generally does a poor analytics job anyway, and here we see them again demonstrating media marketing vice true sports analytics. Another website, www.covers.com, that highlights Seahawks performances, is sanguine about the matchup, calling the Cardinals win chances at 53% and Seahawks win chances at 47%. QB Wilson is back home after two road stops, and boasts a league-best 126.2 passer rating inside CenturyLink Field, compared to just 98.3 on the road.
QB Wilson is 233-354, 2789 yards, 28 TD, 10 INT. Those are awesome numbers. QB Murray is 212-311, 2375 yards, 17 TD, 8 INT. Those are also very good numbers. Top rushers are QB Wilson, 45 carries for 325 yards, 1 TD, and RB Drake, 135 carries, 612 yards, 4 TD. Top receivers are WR Metcalf, 45 rec, 816 yards, 8 TD. And Hopkins, 67 rec, 861 yards, 4 TD. Overall the team’s statistics are impressive. Seattle PPG 32.2. Arizona PPG 29.6. Seattle points allowed 29.6. Arizona points allowed 23.3. Seattle total yards 426.3. Arizona total yards 432.8. Seattle yards allowed 459.7. Arizona yards allowed 389.2. Arizona is 4-1 in their last 5 games while Seattle is 2-3 in their last 5 games. However, Seattle is 4-0 at home while visitor Arizona is 3-1 on the road. Bottom line: the two teams are almost evenly matched by statistics and exactly matched by records. A hell of a game will be played on TNF. No doubt about it. For the money guys, Vegas is giving the Seahawks -3 points. The current O/U is 58 points. I predict O/U at 68 points, if the weather is dry and both Offenses get hot. A few years back on TNF, QB Wilson and QB Palmer tangled. That "Wild West Shootout" resulted in this: www.seahawks.com/video/nfl-replay-cardinals-vs-seahawks-wild-west-shootout-140036
Again, I strongly caution fans on the 2020 season statistics. Historically, the four NFCW teams play each other the hardest and statistics and records go out the window at the kickoff. For the curious, here is the NFL Gamebook from the last Seahawks @ Cardinals meeting on October 25, 2020: SEA ARI Gamebook October 25 2020.pdf (149.86 KB). Wilson & Company torched the Cardinals Defense for a whopping 588 yards that night. But, a key LB Simmons INT of an errant Wilson pass turned the tide for the Cardinals, allowing Kicker Gonzalez to kick a game-winning FG to win the game in OT.
What do I expect at this TNF game, the 44th game between the teams? First, more Seahawks and Cardinals surprises. These two teams rarely play boring football, and almost always call 1 trick play. Second, we will see Seahawks and Cardinals HC’s head-scratcher decisions involving clock management, time outs, and substitutions. Third, the trend line points to at least several exciting 4th calls by HC Kingsbury. KK is killing the NFL’s average on making needed yards on 4th downs. Fourth, I doubt anyone is up for another Hail Mary pass to DHop, but we never know with the two teams fighting to the death every game. Fifth, another OT game is a real possibility due to the team’s similarities and abilities to score fast. And sixth, a hard-fought physical and emotional game is guaranteed. The NFCW Division lead is the night’s prize. All players know what is on the line. The Cardinals are on the rise, winning 4 of 5, while the Seahawks are struggling now, losing 3 of 5. Kliff Kingsbury does not take his foot off the gas ever and his truck has no brakes (aka The Big Red Express!). KK will call another imaginative game--I often wonder where he gets ideas. For certain, I really like what he’s doing with the offense in 2020 compared to 2019, his rookie HC year. Expect the unexpected from these two teams at TNF.
I’ll ensure the injury report and active roster are posted prior to 8:20 pm kickoff. At this point in the season, the player active roster-PS roster merry-go-round is spinning fast. Injuries can be about possible COVID disease too. Players must pass game day and pre-game COVID tests. Predict much roster churn at the last minute.
Thursday night November 19 weather at Seattle, WA, will be unpleasant compared to Glendale, AZ, with kickoff temperature at low 40s, 50% chance of cold rain showers, and a 10-mph breeze. CenturyLink Field has no roof over the artificial turf field. Seattle announced on Monday that, again, no fans will be allowed in the stadium due to COVID-19 concerns. Without the 12th man, and no one raising a loud ruckus in the grandstands, the Seahawks are still 4-0 at home.
Game kickoff is at 8:20pm EDT. Watch on FOX and NFL’s Network and Red Zone. Listen to local AZ radio and mobile devices at Sirrus FM. The game is broadcast nationally.
Just checked in with Zebra.com on Tuesday morning. The NFL announced that #99 Mr. Tony Corrente, just 69 years old on November 12th, will be the referee for the NFC West battle between the Cardinals and Seahawks in Seattle. Happy Birthday, Mr. Corrente! Tony has worked NFL games since 1995 and was the Referee at Super Bowl XLI. He's probably the best of the best among Referees.
As the old saying goes, the NFL’s best teams play their best football in November and December. The Cardinals are indeed a good and lucky football team now. But the team needs to greatly reduce the mental errors in the next 7 games, or the team will not be going anywhere except back home in January. No major injuries to any players at TNF. Go Cardinals! Win #7 @ SEA.
This game is the 3rd and last special scheduled game of the year for the Cardinals—unless a future game is rescheduled into prime time. The Cardinals already won at the SNF and MNF, beating the Cowboys at Dallas and the Seahawks at Glendale. The nation now has an appetite for the NFCW Division-leading Cardinals, speedster QB Kyler Murray, and “Hail Mary Hero” DHop, and I predict that the NFL will switch 1-2 more games into prime time before all is said and done.
Here is some TNF background information that is perhaps interesting for TNF buffs. TNF started in 2006 with an 8-game schedule exclusively on NFL Network. By 2012, TNF had grown to a 13-game schedule exclusively on NFL Network, where it remained through the 2013 season. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, CBS partnered with NFL Network to present an expanded 16-game TNF schedule. For the 2016 and 2017 seasons, NBC and CBS partnered with NFL Network to present TNF with additional digital distribution via Twitter (2016 season) and Amazon (2017 season). In January 2018, FOX Sports announced it would produce TNF for the next 5 seasons. Then Amazon signed a 2-year extension to their original deal. The NFL has a bevy of broadcasting contracts expiring in 1-2 years. With COVID-19 impacts uncertain, some major broadcasting and fee changes may happen soon, affecting team CAP numbers and special scheduled games.
What is there to know about the Seattle Seahawks football team? Because the Cardinals are visiting the Seahawks and this is the second head-to-head game of the year, this discussion will be briefer than my usual spiel. The Seahawks, compared to the Cardinals, are new NFL members, joining the League in 1976 as an expansion team and then owned by the Nordstrom family. The team was initially aligned to the NFC in 1976. Then from 1977-2001, the Seahawks were re-aligned to the AFC and AFC West. The team was re-re-aligned (crazy stuff, eh?) to the NFC West in 2002. Team colors are college navy, action green, and wolf grey. Team nicknames have slightly changed over time: The Hawks, The Blue Wave (1984-86), and the Defensive backfield of the last decade -- the famous Legion of Boom (2011-2017). The team owner is Jody Allen (via Paul G. Allen Trust) and GM is John Schneider. The Head Coach is the colorful Pete Carroll since 2010. The team is a persistent playoffs contender and has made many playoff appearances (18 total) beginning in 1983 and through 2019. The Seahawks have played in the Super Bowl 3 times, winning it all one time in 2013.
The Seahawks have 11 former players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Franco Harris, Steve Largent, Carl Eller, Warren Moon, John Randle, Jerry Rice, Cortez Kennedy, Walter Jones, Kenny Easley, Kevin Mawae, and Steve Hutchinson. Who doesn’t remember those great’s names? Those names are the definition of NFL All-Pro!
Seattle fans are a likeable bunch, referred to by several names: 12th Man, 12th Fan, and the 12s. I’ve had multiple Seahawks friends across the decades and all were kind, generous, and respectful people. I’ve sat in their Seahawks’ bars wearing my Cardinals jersey and was as safe and comfortable as if sitting a Cardinals’ fan bar. The Seahawks are the only NFL team in the entire US Northwest, attracting fans from many western and northern tier states and many fans from western Canada. The team’s and fan’s biggest rivalries include the NFC West teams (Cardinals, 49ers, and Rams), the Green Bay Packers, and the Denver Broncos.
Okay, now for quick TNF game discussion. ESPN predicts a 59.8% chance of a Seattle (6-3) victory, a 39.9% chance of Arizona (6-3) victory, and 0.3% chance of a tie. ESPN doesn't bother with an explanation. Head-to-head records are tied at 21 wins each (plus that ugly-as-sin 6-6 tie OT game). 2020 records are tied at 6-3 each. The Cardinals won the first game this year in OT. At the first game, ESPN also awarded Seattle a 58% chance of winning. Per ESPN, the Seattle home field is worth 1.8% more this game. All this looks like just sports media paper-mâché data and no work. ESPN generally does a poor analytics job anyway, and here we see them again demonstrating media marketing vice true sports analytics. Another website, www.covers.com, that highlights Seahawks performances, is sanguine about the matchup, calling the Cardinals win chances at 53% and Seahawks win chances at 47%. QB Wilson is back home after two road stops, and boasts a league-best 126.2 passer rating inside CenturyLink Field, compared to just 98.3 on the road.
QB Wilson is 233-354, 2789 yards, 28 TD, 10 INT. Those are awesome numbers. QB Murray is 212-311, 2375 yards, 17 TD, 8 INT. Those are also very good numbers. Top rushers are QB Wilson, 45 carries for 325 yards, 1 TD, and RB Drake, 135 carries, 612 yards, 4 TD. Top receivers are WR Metcalf, 45 rec, 816 yards, 8 TD. And Hopkins, 67 rec, 861 yards, 4 TD. Overall the team’s statistics are impressive. Seattle PPG 32.2. Arizona PPG 29.6. Seattle points allowed 29.6. Arizona points allowed 23.3. Seattle total yards 426.3. Arizona total yards 432.8. Seattle yards allowed 459.7. Arizona yards allowed 389.2. Arizona is 4-1 in their last 5 games while Seattle is 2-3 in their last 5 games. However, Seattle is 4-0 at home while visitor Arizona is 3-1 on the road. Bottom line: the two teams are almost evenly matched by statistics and exactly matched by records. A hell of a game will be played on TNF. No doubt about it. For the money guys, Vegas is giving the Seahawks -3 points. The current O/U is 58 points. I predict O/U at 68 points, if the weather is dry and both Offenses get hot. A few years back on TNF, QB Wilson and QB Palmer tangled. That "Wild West Shootout" resulted in this: www.seahawks.com/video/nfl-replay-cardinals-vs-seahawks-wild-west-shootout-140036
Again, I strongly caution fans on the 2020 season statistics. Historically, the four NFCW teams play each other the hardest and statistics and records go out the window at the kickoff. For the curious, here is the NFL Gamebook from the last Seahawks @ Cardinals meeting on October 25, 2020: SEA ARI Gamebook October 25 2020.pdf (149.86 KB). Wilson & Company torched the Cardinals Defense for a whopping 588 yards that night. But, a key LB Simmons INT of an errant Wilson pass turned the tide for the Cardinals, allowing Kicker Gonzalez to kick a game-winning FG to win the game in OT.
What do I expect at this TNF game, the 44th game between the teams? First, more Seahawks and Cardinals surprises. These two teams rarely play boring football, and almost always call 1 trick play. Second, we will see Seahawks and Cardinals HC’s head-scratcher decisions involving clock management, time outs, and substitutions. Third, the trend line points to at least several exciting 4th calls by HC Kingsbury. KK is killing the NFL’s average on making needed yards on 4th downs. Fourth, I doubt anyone is up for another Hail Mary pass to DHop, but we never know with the two teams fighting to the death every game. Fifth, another OT game is a real possibility due to the team’s similarities and abilities to score fast. And sixth, a hard-fought physical and emotional game is guaranteed. The NFCW Division lead is the night’s prize. All players know what is on the line. The Cardinals are on the rise, winning 4 of 5, while the Seahawks are struggling now, losing 3 of 5. Kliff Kingsbury does not take his foot off the gas ever and his truck has no brakes (aka The Big Red Express!). KK will call another imaginative game--I often wonder where he gets ideas. For certain, I really like what he’s doing with the offense in 2020 compared to 2019, his rookie HC year. Expect the unexpected from these two teams at TNF.
I’ll ensure the injury report and active roster are posted prior to 8:20 pm kickoff. At this point in the season, the player active roster-PS roster merry-go-round is spinning fast. Injuries can be about possible COVID disease too. Players must pass game day and pre-game COVID tests. Predict much roster churn at the last minute.
Thursday night November 19 weather at Seattle, WA, will be unpleasant compared to Glendale, AZ, with kickoff temperature at low 40s, 50% chance of cold rain showers, and a 10-mph breeze. CenturyLink Field has no roof over the artificial turf field. Seattle announced on Monday that, again, no fans will be allowed in the stadium due to COVID-19 concerns. Without the 12th man, and no one raising a loud ruckus in the grandstands, the Seahawks are still 4-0 at home.
Game kickoff is at 8:20pm EDT. Watch on FOX and NFL’s Network and Red Zone. Listen to local AZ radio and mobile devices at Sirrus FM. The game is broadcast nationally.
Just checked in with Zebra.com on Tuesday morning. The NFL announced that #99 Mr. Tony Corrente, just 69 years old on November 12th, will be the referee for the NFC West battle between the Cardinals and Seahawks in Seattle. Happy Birthday, Mr. Corrente! Tony has worked NFL games since 1995 and was the Referee at Super Bowl XLI. He's probably the best of the best among Referees.
As the old saying goes, the NFL’s best teams play their best football in November and December. The Cardinals are indeed a good and lucky football team now. But the team needs to greatly reduce the mental errors in the next 7 games, or the team will not be going anywhere except back home in January. No major injuries to any players at TNF. Go Cardinals! Win #7 @ SEA.