Daily Madden: Seattle-Arizona Left To Fight For The NFC West
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - The 49ers are no longer in the picture, but the NFC West title is still up for grabs. With two games to play, the 11-3 Cardinals meet the 10-4 Seahawks in Arizona Sunday.
Seattle is favored by more than a touchdown on the road, and John Madden understands why.
"I respect what the Cardinals are doing, I respect the job that the coaching staff is doing and Bruce Arians, but I just have a hard time seeing them as the best team in the NFC or as a Super Bowl team," Madden told the KCBS Radio crew.
"They're a good team. They've done a great job. They've gone through quarterback injury and adversity. Their defense has carried them. They play well as a team. They got that 'next man up' mentality, and they seem to buy into that. And it works. But to say that they're the best, I just can't do that. And to see them beating Seattle, I can't see that either."
That doesn't mean Arizona couldn't surprise the skeptics.
"I'm sure what Bruce Arians is going to say is take care of the ball," Madden said. "Don't fumble, don't give them any turnovers. If you don't give any turnovers, and then on the other end Arizona can get some, maybe that's how they can win the game... Through your running game, through a few passes here and there, and your defense playing very well and holding them down and staying in the game, there's a chance that you can win it. And that's how they play." (6:00)
(Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 and Monday and Friday mornings at 9:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.)