NFC Playoff Picture: #5 Seed Likely Out Of Play For Minnesota Vikings

That happened to be the last game Marshawn Lynch played. Willson and Sweezy are out with concussions, while Okung is listed as doubtful with a calf injury. Strong safety Kam Chancellor (pelvis/tailbone) was listed as questionable after being a full participant in practice on Friday, while Michael Bennett (toe) and Cliff Avril (back) were both probable.

-LB Kareem Martin, a second-year pro, got the start with outside linebacker Markus Golden out with a knee injury.

It was a turning point for the Seahawks as well.

The Panthers and Cardinals will be tabbed as the teams to beat in the NFC playoffs. If the Carolina Panthers lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a Cardinals win would have earned them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Carson Palmer was pulled at halftime for the Cardinals, who will get a bye as the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

The Cardinals emphasized they have two weeks to straighten things out and get back to playing the way they did in a 38-8 rout of Green Bay last week. Sherman’s most outstanding play ended Arizona’s first drive. He played not only 26 snaps on offense, he also joined the defense for 4 snaps, and continued in his role blocking on special teams for 6 snaps. “We keep working to improve every week, and that’s what we’re trying to do this week”. The Vikings were without their three-best defensive players for that game.

“This was a valuable lesson today because you could see it coming all week”, Arians said after the Cardinals were whipped, 36-6.

The Seattle set a couple more records of their own. On the receiving end, leading receiver Doug Baldwin was held in check for the most part, catching five balls for 46 yards. The Cardinals’ John Brown passed 1,000 yards receiving for the season….

Behind three Arizona (13-3) turnovers and a trio of Russell Wilson touchdown passes, Seattle (10-6) will go into next weekend’s playoffs on a high note and then some.

National Football League schedules consist of six divisional games, eight games against two other divisions – in Seattle’s case next season, the NFC South and AFC East – and two games against teams that finished in the same place in their respective divisions.

The Seahawks led the National Football League in fewest points allowed for the fourth consecutive season.

Tarvaris Jackson took over in the fourth Quarter.

Palmer and his offense were not on the same page at all and the Cards went 3-and-out punting right back to Lockett who ran it back another 42 yards giving the Hawks 1st and 10 from the 27. Seattle was initially hopeful Lynch might return this week, but he was not ready.

“Absolutely, this was a statement”, the Seahawks’ Christine Michael said.

The Cardinals’ other two losses this season – to St. Louis and Pittsburgh – were by a combined 14 points. They connected on 80.4 percent of their attempts this season, the best number by a passing pair in 10 years, according to ESPN. Will Tukuafu caught one.

The dates and times won’t be announced until April, but the home and away opponents on the Seahawks’ 2016 regular-season schedule are now set.

SACK FEST: The Cardinals, meanwhile, are hoping their pass rush picks up where it left off against Green Bay.