Quarterback Drew Stanton started for the Cardinals in a 2014 loss in Seattle.
The Cardinals have played well in Seattle since Bruce Arians arrived as head coach, winning three of the four trips the team has made there since 2013.
Carson Palmer was quarterback in the three wins, but Palmer won't play this week. Drew Stanton will.
"You look at Carson's history up there, he's played phenomenally well," Stanton said Wednesday. "I think the only time we lost up there is when I played, huh?"
That is indeed fact, with Stanton's start in 2014 – after Palmer went down with a season-ending ACL injury – ending with a 19-3 loss to the Seahawks. The Cardinals also didn't have wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in that
game, one of only six games Fitzgerald has missed in his 14-year career.
Stanton was 14-for-26 for 149 yards, an interception and a crucial end-zone drop from wide receiver Jaron Brown that changed the complexion of the game.
"I remember going up there and saying, 'I'm going to try and yell as loud as I can' and I couldn't even hear myself in the huddle, much less break the huddle and get out there," said Stanton, who was behind center for the Cardinals in their 22-16 home loss to the Seahawks earlier this season. "We are prepared for that."
Fitzgerald is playing this time, of course, coming off his own nine-catch game and good chemistry with Stanton. It'll be needed in a series where the visitor as dominated of late – although Seahawks coach Pete Carroll insisted "I haven't thought about that."
In the Arians era, the Cardinals are 0-4-1 at home against the Seahawks, with their 3-1 mark in Seattle. Arians said the games usually come down to a game-changing play, like quarterback Russell Wilson's scrambling pass to Doug Baldwin earlier this season, or J.J. Nelson's catch-and-run in Seattle last season.
"There are going to be four or five opportunities for big plays," Arians said. "You've got to hit them. You can't miss them."
The Seahawks must win and have the Falcons lose to get in the playoffs. Arians said he'd rather be the one playing for a postseason spot, but that a game against the Seahawks does mean more than playing someone else to finish out the season.
"(Knocking out the Seahawks) might motivate you a little bit more, but at the end of the day we are professionals and we are paid to do a job," Stanton said. "The icing on the cake might be spoiling their chance to make the playoffs, but at the end of the day I don't think that's the biggest thing we are playing for."
ARIANS' CHANCE AT 50
If the Cardinals win Sunday, Arians would notch his 50th win as Cardinals coach – 49 in the regular season and
one in the postseason – and become the leader in franchise history. The victory over the Giants tied Arians with Ken Whisenhunt at 49 (45 in the regular season, four in the postseason).
Arians, however, shrugged off the possibility.
"It means we'd be 8-8," Arians said. "That's about it. The rest of that stuff, I don't put much stock in. It'd be nice to be 8-8 because we are 7-8, but it isn't what we wanted when we started this journey this year."
PETERSON SITS BUT SHOULD BE OK
Cornerback Patrick Peterson (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday, but Arians said he should be fine and is expected to practice Thursday. The rest of the DNP group included wide receiver John Brown (toe), linebacker Josh Bynes (ankle), tight end Troy Niklas (ankle) and guard Earl Watford (ankle). Sitting out with vet days were wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, linebacker Karlos Dansby and defensive lineman Frostee Rucker.
Running back Kerwynn Williams (quad/ribs), running back Elijhaa Penny (hand/groin) and tackle Will Holden (thumb) were all limited.
For the Seahawks, defensive end Michael Bennett (knee), tight end Jimmy Graham (knee), guard Luke Joeckel (foot), defensive tackle Naziar Jones (ankle) and linebacker Bobby Wagner (hamstring) didn't practice. Linebacker D.J. Alexander (concussion) and defensive tackle Jarran Reed (back) were limited.
MOXEY ADDED TO PRACTICE SQUAD
With an open spot on the practice squad, the Cardinals signed cornerback Jonathan Moxey Wednesday. Moxey is an undrafted rookie who was on the Buccaneers' practice squad the first two weeks of the season before being released.