Marshall, Seahawks poised for payback

Now that quarterback Matt Hasselbeck successfully has returned from fractured ribs and a sore shoulder, his next challenge is to lead the Seattle Seahawks back into the NFC West race.

The Seahawks (3-5) get a shot at revenge against the Arizona Cardinals (5-3) today. The good news for the Cardinals is they are 81/2-point home favorites. The bad news is they are 1-3 straight up on their home field.

The underdog is 7-1 straight up and against the spread in Arizona games this season, and The Gold Sheet handicapper Bruce Marshall is siding with the Seahawks.

"I still think the Seahawks have a shot to win the division with Hasselbeck in there," Marshall said. "The 'dog has been getting it done in Arizona's games. I think it's too many points to lay for Arizona, which is too erratic. This is a spot where Seattle can do something."

When Marshall says the Cardinals "have been bipolar," he's pointing out one of the NFL's oddest trends.

Arizona, a solid home team and terrible road team for years, is 4-0 on the road, with victories over Chicago, Jacksonville, Seattle and the New York Giants. But the Cardinals lost their last home game 34-21 to Carolina on Nov. 1 as Kurt Warner threw five interceptions.

In the first meeting at Seattle on Oct. 18, the Seahawks fumbled a kickoff return and trailed 14-0 before running an offensive play. The Cardinals coasted to a 27-3 win as 3-point underdogs.

"The first game was really a fluke," Marshall said. "That was one of Warner's better games."

A healthier Hasselbeck completed 39 of 51 passes last week, bringing Seattle back from a 17-point hole to beat Detroit, 32-20.

Hasselbeck is focused on Arizona, making this comment to the media: "It needs to be known that this game is way more important. We really have faced our fair share of adversity already. So because of that ... we've got a game here that we've basically got to win."

Marshall (goldsheet.com) analyzes the rest of today's Week 10 lineup:

• Jacksonville at N.Y. Jets (-61/2): The Jaguars probably are the worst of the league's four 4-4 teams, and they really could flame out in the season's second half. They are not generating any pass rush, and the secondary has injury problems. That will make it easier on Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. You're going to see receiver Braylon Edwards make more of an impact, and Jerricho Cotchery is back healthy. Jets coach Rex Ryan's defense can slow running back Maurice Jones-Drew. The Jaguars' David Garrard has only six touchdown passes in eight games. I'll go with the Jets and might look under the total (41).

• Denver (-3) at Washington: It's not panic time yet for the Broncos, but this is one they need to win. They have not established the run the past two weeks, and they need to do that to give quarterback Kyle Orton that extra dimension for the play-action pass to work. This is a tough scheduling stretch for the Broncos. But there is no way I would take the Redskins with all their problems. Denver is 7-1 under the total this season and 15-5 under in the past 20 games. Washington is 17-6-1 under with coach Jim Zorn. I'll look to the Broncos and under the total (37).

• Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (-7): I'm surprised this number is a little high. The public is slow to buy the Bengals, but I'm all-in. Cincinnati is 3-0 against the Ravens and Steelers and can establish itself in the AFC North with a win. Cedric Benson is second in the league with 837 yards rushing. The Bengals know the Steelers well, and they can win this, so I'll take the points.

• Buffalo at Tennessee (-71/2): Maybe the Titans have turned things around. It's not as much Vince Young as it is the Tennessee defense getting key guys, including cornerback Cortland Finnegan, back in the lineup. Buffalo coach Dick Jauron could lose his job. But the Bills had a week off and get quarterback Trent Edwards back. Titans running back Chris Johnson might break runs against a Bills defense giving up 5.1 yards per carry. But I don't want to lay significant points with Tennessee. Jauron is 5-1 ATS in his past six as a road underdog. I'm leaning to Buffalo.

• Detroit at Minnesota (-17): I don't know if I have the nerve to make a play on the Lions, but I'm not thrilled about laying all those points. The week off should have helped the Vikings and 40-year-old quarterback Brett Favre. The Lions have not been doing it on the road, going 0-4 ATS, and have lost their past 11 at the Metrodome. The Lions are 12-4 over in their past 16 away, so I'll look over (47).

• New Orleans (-14) at St. Louis: A couple of teams might be worse than the Rams, but this is a gross mismatch. Marc Bulger has only three touchdown passes and can't trade points with the Saints and Drew Brees. Steven Jackson is having a big year, rushing for 784 yards, but that's about it for a St. Louis offense averaging 9.6 points per game. New Orleans averages 37.9 points, highest in the league. The Saints are doing a great job forcing turnovers, getting 24 in eight games. This is not a featured pick, but I lean to the Saints' offensive options.

• Atlanta (-11/2) at Carolina: The Panthers are better since their 0-3 start. They rushed for 270 and 182 yards in their past two games as DeAngelo Williams is finding traction. Atlanta's defense has holes. I'm not convinced the Falcons will get back to the playoffs. I lean to Carolina, which is 9-4 under the total in its past 13 at home.

• Tampa Bay at Miami (-10): Rookie quarterback Josh Freeman looked good last week with three touchdown passes for Tampa Bay, but I can't believe he can keep that going. Teams have been running on the Buccaneers, who are allowing 4.8 yards per carry, and Ronnie Brown and the Dolphins will run. Miami's Chad Henne is further along than Freeman. There will be chances for the Dolphins to extend the margin in this game. Miami is 4-0 over the total at home.

• Kansas City at Oakland (-2): The Chiefs might be better off without running back Larry Johnson, but they still have offensive line problems. Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel has shown signs of coming around in recent weeks. I just don't trust the Raiders. The road team is 12-0-1 in the past 13 in this series, and Oakland has no covers in its past nine as a home favorite. I've got to respect the technical numbers here, and there's no reason to lay points with the Raiders.

• Philadelphia at San Diego (-1): This has kind of been Eagles coach Andy Reid's role. He's 10-2 ATS in his past 12 as a road underdog. The Chargers are starting to win, but it's not all that convincing, and they're catching the Eagles looking to rebound off a loss. The Philadelphia pass rush can get in Philip Rivers' face and hurt San Diego. Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is erratic, and that's a concern. But I'll stick with Reid and Philadelphia to win outright.

• Dallas (-3) at Green Bay: I didn't think I would say this, but the Cowboys might become the team to beat in the NFC. The presence of receiver Miles Austin is stretching the field and opening more things for quarterback Tony Romo. Running back Felix Jones helps give Dallas a loaded gun on offense. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has good statistics, but he loses a lot of these close games. Green Bay is 12-5 over the total in its past 17 at home. I'm leaning to Dallas.

• New England at Indianapolis (-3): I think the Colts' winning streak is going to end this week. They caught some breaks in wins over Houston and San Francisco. Indianapolis is not running the ball that well, so Peyton Manning attempted 40 passes in the first half last week. The Colts have secondary injuries and are forced to play rookie defensive backs, which is tough against the New England receivers. Patriots coach Bill Belichick is 5-2 as an underdog the past three-plus seasons. I'll go with New England.

Compiled by Las Vegas Review-Journal sports writer Matt Youmans.