If you ever need to know just how fortunate the Seahawks are to have a healthy No. 1 quarterback week in and week out, just look at the quarterback situation for the Arizona Cardinals this year.
The Cardinals have used three different starting quarterbacks this season and have had to deal with injuries to Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton. Ironically, both quarterbacks were injured in games against the Rams. Palmer went down for the year with a torn ACL last month when the Cardinals and Rams faced each other in Arizona. On Thursday, Stanton suffered a sprained MCL against the Rams in St. Louis and is expected to miss about four weeks, which should bring him back for the playoffs next month. The Cardinals locked up a playoff spot this weekend and hope to secure a first-round bye.
For next weekend's Sunday night showdown against the Seahawks, the Cardinals will turn to Ryan Lindley, fresh off the practice squad of the San Diego Chargers. The Cardinals signed Lindley when Palmer was lost for the year. Lindley had spent the previous two years with the Cardinals after being selected in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL draft.
Lindley's career numbers are nothing to write home about, however. In seven career games, Lindley has completed just over 50 percent of his passes for 181 yards with no touchdowns and seven interceptions. I repeat, no touchdowns and seven interceptions. Despite those numbers, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians appears to have confidence in the young quarterback.
Arians on his message to Ryan Lindley when he told him he was starting QB: "Go sling it, baby. There's a reason you're here."
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) December 15, 2014
Lindley has faced the Seahawks once in his career during his rookie season in 2012. In that game, the Seahawks forced eight turnovers in a 58-0 win. Lindley came into the game midway through the third quarter when Seattle already held a 48-0 lead. Lindley finished the day completing 8-of-17 passes for 58 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
Ryan Lindley's 1 career appearance against the #Seahawks: pic.twitter.com/ZKSJQYPmAY
— Tim Booth (@ByTimBooth) December 15, 2014
Lindley got the nod over rookie Logan Thomas. The rookie out of Virginia Tech made one appearance this year in a 40-21 loss to the Broncos back in October, filling in for Drew Stanton who left the game with a concussion. Thomas completed just one pass on eight attempts. His one completed pass was an 81-yard touchdown to Andre Ellington. According to Arians, Thomas will still be factored into the game plan.
Arizona HC Bruce Arians announced Ryan Lindley will start vs. Seattle, and there also will be a package of plays for rookie QB Logan Thomas.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 15, 2014
The Cardinals and Seahawks square off in Arizona on Sunday night, with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 PT. The winner will be in the driver's seat for a first-round bye. A win for Arizona would lock up the top seed in the NFC for the playoffs. A win for Seattle paired with a Cowboys loss would move the Seahawks into the NFC's top spot. So once again, the Seahawks find themselves in a must-win game.