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TEMPE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Three weeks ago, the
Seattle Seahawks
looked like one of the NFL's elite teams.
But entering Sunday's game against the NFC West rival
Arizona Cardinals
, the Seahawks look like a team in desperate need of a victory.
For the second straight season, the Seahawks started by winning their first three games. They looked to be on their way to their first 4-0 start in club history, but squandered a 17-point lead with under eight minutes left in a 33-27 overtime loss to St. Louis two weeks ago.
Last week, the Seahawks tried to rally from a 14-point second-half deficit before falling, 30-20, at New England.
Matt Hasselbeck
threw for 349 yards but was intercepted twice.
Hasselbeck will have another target to work with after the Seahawks acquired 42-year-old
Jerry Rice
, the NFL's all-time leading receiver, from the
Oakland Raiders
for a conditional seventh-round pick. Rice has gone without a catch in three games this season and has just five receptions for 67 yards in six games.
On the opposite side of the field of Rice will be
Emmitt Smith
, the NFL's all-time leading rusher. It marks the first time since 1984 that the NFL's all-time leading rusher and receiver will be on the same field.
In 1984, wide receiver Charlie Joiner of the
San Diego Chargers
and Walter Payton matched up. Joiner had 651 catches at the time while Payton had rushed for 12,980 yards.
After allowing a total of 13 points in their first three games, the Seahawks have surrendered 63 the last two weeks.
Seattle enjoyed its best defensive performance here last season, forcing Arizona into a turnover on each of its first four possessions in a 38-0 rout.
In the second meeting between the teams last season,
Shaun Alexander
rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, leading the Seahawks to a 28-10 victory.
Coming off their bye, the Cardinals will be looking to bounce back after squandering a 16-point fourth-quarter lead in a 31-28 loss at San Francisco two weeks ago.
Arizona also is trying to avoid starting 1-5 for the second straight season.
Cardinals coach Dennis Green has an 8-2 record following the bye week. But of course that was with the
Minnesota Vikings
.
Emmitt Smith
, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, has been one of the bright spots for the Cardinals. He has rushed for 353 yards - 97 more than he had all of last season - and four touchdowns.
Matchup to watch: Cardinals rookie receiver
Larry Fitzgerald
against left cornerback
Marcus Trufant
.
Series: Arizona leads, 6-4, but Seattle has won the last three meetings.
Next week: Seattle hosts Carolina on October 31 Arizona visits Buffalo on October 31
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