Pete Carroll impressed by "much-improved" Arizona Cardinals

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has heaped praise on the Arizona Cardinals ahead of the clash between the two sides on Sunday.

If Carroll's men can overcome their divisional rivals, they will seal the NFC West and secure home-field advantage for their playoff matches, but the Seahawks boss knows that it will not be easy against a strong Cardinals outfit.

With six wins in their last seven games and boasting the best run defense in the league, Bruce Arians still has hopes that Arizona themselves will make the post-season.

Carroll said of their opponents: "They're just cleaner, sharper, better at everything now. Their run defense is the best in the league, quarterback Carson Palmer is really hitting it. They've really come together. You can see how efficient he's been in the last couple of months.

"That said, we're going to run the football. That's what we do. We're not changing depending on the team we're playing."

The Seahawks ran out 34-22 victors when the teams last met back in week seven.