ARIZONA CARDINALS

ESPN’s Mark Schlereth: Seattle a desperate, depleted team vs. Cardinals

Nov 22, 2014, 12:07 AM | Updated: 12:07 am

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The Arizona Cardinals currently hold a three-game lead over their Sunday opponent, the Seattle Seahawks, in the NFC West standings.

For the reigning Super Bowl champions, this game is a must-win if they want to win the division, or even make the playoffs.

ESPN NFL analyst Mark Schlereth said that desperation is a big factor with the Seahawks this week.

“Seattle looks at themselves as the world champions, and if they don’t win this game, they’re going to fall — what are they three games behind right now? — four games behind,” Schlereth told Bickley and Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Friday. “It’s such an uphill battle, especially in that division. So there is that desperation factor, ‘we’ve got to win this.'”

After a 13-3 season last year and dominating performance in the Super Bowl, Seattle finds themselves sitting at 6-4, tied with the San Francisco 49ers for second place in the division.

But as Schlereth points out, this team is not the same as last year’s champions.

“But I will say this, they’re depleted. They’re not the same football team. No Golden Tate really hurts that team, as a third-down conversion guy…

“The rotation on that defensive line last year was huge for them: Red Bryant is gone, now (Brandon) Mebane’s out for the year with a torn hamstring. They lose guys in free agency. They just don’t have the same depth, the same rotation.”

Another key loss for Seattle is wide receiver Percy Harvin, whom the Seahawks traded to the New Jets in October for a 2015 draft pick.

Many issues surrounded Harvin’s attitude and locker room presence in Seattle, but he is a player that “affects every play as a defensive coordinator,” Schlereth said.

“He’s a guy you have to account for. I understand that from a chemistry standpoint, they were tired of him, I get that. Minnesota felt the same way when they traded him off. But it’s been a difference maker for that offense because nobody else threatens them that way… they’re just a shadow of their former selves.”

As dire as the situation may be for the Seahawks at this point in the season, there have even been rumors about cornerback Richard Sherman playing wide receiver against Arizona.

When asked how the Cardinals would react to that move, Schlereth said, “They’d punch him in the face.”

Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.

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ESPN’s Mark Schlereth: Seattle a desperate, depleted team vs. Cardinals