1 The Seahawks are 2-7. Now what? Time to change goals, as coach Mike Holmgren put it this week. The goal now is to take each game at a time, now that the division and playoffs are out of reach barring a seven-game winning streak and a turn for the worse by today's opponent, the Cardinals. The coaches aren't going to coach any differently and Holmgren has pledged not to give up on the players, but it's time for the Seahawks to salvage some pride as Holmgren exits. The last time the Seahawks started 2-7 was in 2000. They finished that season 6-10, a record that this team would probably take at this point.

2 How will Matt Hasselbeck and Deion Branch fare in their first game back in weeks? Look for a little rust from Hasselbeck, who hasn't played since Oct. 5. He does know the Cardinals well and had a week of good practice, so that will help. "If anyone can pull it off, he can," Holmgren said. Branch needs to show, if nothing else, that he can run routes and catch the ball for an entire game after so much time away with injury this season. He's had 10 snaps all season. One can't expect the Hasselbeck-to-Branch connection to be in sync right away.

3 Can Arizona clinch the NFC West with a win today? No, but a win puts the Cardinals at 7-3 and 4-0 in the division and assures them of at least a four-game lead over the other teams in the division, five over the Seahawks. They would also have a two-game lead over Seattle in division games, which is a tiebreaker in the division. The Cardinals' path to the title won't be too easy with a tough remaining schedule.

4 Which former Seahawks are making an impact with Arizona? Chike Okeafor, a defensive end with the Seahawks in 2003 and 2004, is a starter at outside linebacker for the Cardinals and has 22 solo tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. Wide receiver Jerheme Urban, who was with the Seahawks from 2003 to 2005, is Arizona's fourth receiver and has 18 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns.

Notable Seahawks: Seahawks kicker Olindo Mare is 15 for 16 in field-goal attempts this season and is ranked fifth in the NFL among those with at least 10 attempts with a .938 percentage. He also ranks third in the NFC and seventh in the NFL with 11 touchbacks. ... John Carlson leads all NFL rookie TEs with 27 catches for 298 yards, also both team highs. He has a chance to join Steve Largent as the only rookies in team history to lead Seattle in both catches and yards. ... The overall series is tied at 9-9.

Cardinals: WR Larry Fitzgerald has 52 catches for 703 yards and eight TDs in the past seven games against NFC West opponents. ... Former Seahawks WR Jerheme Urban had his only career 100-yard game in the last meeting between the teams in Seattle. ... S Antrel Rolle has three interceptions, two returned for a TD in the past four games vs. NFC West. ... LB Karlos Dansby has a forced fumble in two of the past three games vs. the Seahawks.

Injury report Seahawks: DE Patrick Kerney (shoulder), LB David Hawthorne (calf) and S C.J. Wallace (hamstring) are out. DT Red Bryant (ankle) is doubtful. TE Will Heller (knee) and FB Leonard Weaver (ribs) are questionable. WR Deion Branch (foot), QB Matt Hasselbeck (back), WR Koren Robinson (knee), LB Lofa Tatupu (groin) and QB Seneca Wallace (groin) are probable.

Cardinals: CB Rod Hood (ribs) and CB Eric Green (knee) are questionable. OT Mike Gandy (ankle), TE Ben Patrick (knee), TE Leonard Pope (ankle) and TE Jerame Tuman (ankle) are probable.

Last game Seahawks: Seattle lost a tough one at Miami when TE John Carlson and QB Seneca Wallace couldn't connect on a fourth-down pass on the Seahawks' final drive, and the Dolphins hung on for a 21-19 win. Seattle was dominated early, falling behind 14-0 as the second quarter began, but the Seahawks got back into the game with defense. WR Koren Robinson dropped a sure touchdown pass in the third quarter. Seattle trailed 21-19 after a TD pass from Wallace to Robinson with 2:57 left in the game, but the two-point try failed after a false-start penalty on G Mike Wahle. The Seahawks ran out of downs after forcing a Dolphins punt, ending the game.

Cardinals: Arizona strengthened its hold on the NFC West with a thrilling 29-24 win over the San Francisco 49ers Monday night at home, thwarting the 49ers' last attempt at a game-winning touchdown in the closing seconds. The Cardinals came from behind as QB Kurt Warner passed for 328 yards and three TDs.

Jos? Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com