Arizona Cardinals (9-1) at Seattle Seahawks (6-4)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, at CenturyLink Field, Seattle – TV: FOX

*TV announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, Pam Oliver

*Keys to the game: The first quarter will be critical to the Cardinals’ game plan. Last week, head coach Bruce Arians came out and aggressively attacked the Lions through the air. Once Arizona had built a 14-point lead, he dialed it back in as QB Drew Stanton threw a pair of interceptions and had a few others narrowly missed by Detroit defenders.

If the Cardinals can build an early lead, expect a replica. But if they fall behind, Stanton could find himself in a whirlwind of oncoming pass rushers while attempting to avoid a meltdown against the Legion of Boom – unless RB Andre Ellington is able to dent a run defense sorely missing DT Brandon Mebane and create medium-range third downs.

Arizona’s run defense was gashed a bit by Detroit, but still enters ranked No. 3 in the league. Seattle owns the top-ranked ground game, so the battle in the trenches could determine the outcome. Can RB Marshawn Lynch get a head of steam without C Max Unger? Can QB Russell Wilson run the read-option efficiently and find some big plays around the edge? Seattle must get that protection, because Arizona should be able to man CBs Patrick Peterson and Antonio Cromartie against the Seahawks’ mediocre wide receivers and throw eight and nine defenders at the ground game.

*Matchup to watch – Cardinals SLB Alex Okafor vs. Seahawks RT Justin Britt: Okafor has 5.0 sacks since entering the starting lineup in Week 6, and Arians said he has narrowly missed several more due to minor technique issues he’s working to correct. Britt has started since Week 1 and held up adequately, but was beaten cleanly several times by Chiefs OLB Justin Houston last week.

*Player spotlight – Seahawks C Lemuel Jeanpierre: Cut with an injury settlement after training camp, Jeanpierre was re-signed Tuesday with Unger out several weeks and Seattle down to its fourth-string option in Patrick Lewis, who was a turnstile against K.C. Jeanpierre has missed 10 weeks, but knows the offense and immediately was thrust into a competition with Lewis to start this week.

*Fast facts: The Cardinals are 9-1 for the second time in team history (1948). … Seahawks CB Richard Sherman has six interceptions in the past five meetings, including four in the past two at home.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

The Seahawks have lost only two home games over the past three years. One was in Week 16 last season to Arizona, a game Arians has pointed to as a turning point for his team. This time it’s the Seahawks who face the proving grounds, and they keep their slim division hopes alive in a hard-fought defensive battle in the din of CenturyLink Field.

*Our pick: Seahawks 23-20