A look at the highs and lows from the first half of the season for the Seattle Seahawks and what to expect in the second half:
Midseason MVP: He doesn't have an interception through the first eight games, but it doesn't matter. Cornerback Richard Sherman has been the Seahawks' MVP. Sherman has been asked to shadow opposing wide receivers more than ever before. He held A.J. Green in check for three-plus quarters in the team's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He shut down Torrey Smith (zero catches) in San Francisco. And he limited Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant to two catches for 12 yards in the Seahawks' latest win. Sherman is an irreplaceable cog in the Seahawks' defense, and coach Pete Carroll has credited him with being a great leader and teammate during the rocky 4-4 start.
Best moment: Safety Kam Chancellor knocking the ball out of Calvin Johnson's hands at the end of the Seahawks' win over the Detroit Lions in Week 4. Detroit was 1 yard away from completing a comeback with less than two minutes left when Chancellor forced the fumble. Linebacker K.J. Wright illegally swatted the ball out of the end zone, but the officials missed the call, and the Seahawks took home the victory. Had Chancellor not punched the ball out or had the refs flagged Wright, this might have ended up being the worst moment.
Worst moment: Cam Newton's game-winning touchdown pass to tight end Greg Olsen at the end of the Carolina Panthers' comeback victory in Week 6. The Seahawks blew a 20-7 lead in that game, but the last score was the low point of the year so far. The defensive players got two different calls on the play. As a result, both Sherman and safety Earl Thomas let Olsen race up the seam without any defenders nearby. That left a lasting image of Sherman, Thomas and Chancellor staring at each other in the end zone after the team's meltdown.
One reason to be optimistic: When the Seahawks take the field Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, they should have all 22 starters available. Not a lot of teams can say that. Seattle has dealt with a few injuries in the first half of the season, but the Seahawks are a healthy group going into the final eight games.
Key to second half: The Seahawks must find some semblance of consistency on offense. The defense still is loaded with talent and seems to be coming together. Even in losses to the Green Bay Packers, Bengals and Panthers, the defense looked like its old self for stretches at a time. But the offense needs to get its act together. It has averaged 17.38 points per game, which ranks 28th according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Seahawks need to get Marshawn Lynch (3.6 YPC) going, and the offensive line has to show improvement for this team to go on a run in the second half.