The Arizona Cardinals are navigating a critical juncture of their season, with playoff hopes hanging in the balance.
Just weeks ago, those postseason dreams seemed within reach, but recent road losses have significantly complicated their trajectory.
Now, the Week 14 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks has transformed into a must-win scenario.
The stakes couldn’t be higher, as based on multiple projections, a victory would elevate the Cardinals’ playoff probability above 50 percent, while a defeat would push those chances under 20 percent.
The Seahawks find themselves in an equally precarious position, making this contest potentially the most pivotal game of NFL Week 14.
ESPN analyst Marcus Spears, a former NFL defensive end, recently pinpointed the key to the Cardinals’ offensive success.
“James Conner is the most important part to the Arizona Cardinals offense, and this run game,” Spears said, via NFL on ESPN. “Not only in the run game but the screen game as well. And they completely took him out of the game. And obviously, they had more backs and there was no explosive plays on the ground.”
“James Conner is the most important part to the Arizona Cardinals offense.”@MSpears96 lays out what the Cardinals need to do to combat Seattle’s D-line ? pic.twitter.com/2AWYgnuwQM
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 5, 2024
While the Seahawks surrender the fifth-most yards per carry to running backs, they’ve shown recent improvements.
Two weeks ago, they effectively neutralized Conner, limiting him to a mere eight yards on seven carries.
The trend continued as Breece Hall struggled to make an impact for the New York Jets in Seattle’s recent victory.
By comparison, Conner’s significance to Arizona’s offensive strategy remains undeniable.
He’s demonstrated remarkable consistency, logging at least 17 carries in four of his past six games and securing at least three in four consecutive matchups.
Though his longest run this season stands at just 22 yards, Conner’s volume and versatility make him a crucial offensive weapon.
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