3. Cardinals clinch playoff berth, face Seahawks in pivotal Week 16 showdown; Stanton hurt
With a 12-6 defeat of the Rams Sunday, the Cardinals notched their second win in as many games and became the first NFC team to clinch a playoff spot.
However, the win did not come without consequence. Backup quarterback Drew Stanton injured his right knee following a sack from rookie Aaron Donald. The Rams were also the team Carson Palmer was hurt against earlier this season.
Stanton was already dealing with a knee injury and is set to undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the damage. Stanton was relieved by Ryan Lindley instead of rookie Logan Thomas. We await a starter for the all-important Week 16 contest against Seattle with bated breath.
Speaking of that showdown, Seattle’s fourth consecutive victory has propelled the defending Super Bowl champions to within a game of Arizona’s lead in the division. The Cardinals host Seattle in Week 16 in primetime on Sunday night, four weeks removed from a 19-3 loss at the hands of their NFC West rival.
The Cardinals’ schedule is the third-toughest in the NFL over the next two weeks, according to their opponents’ winning percentage, which is at 63 percent. Seattle’s is fourth at 60 percent. The Cardinals travel to San Francisco Week 17, while the Seahawks host the Rams.
