GLENDALE, Ariz. - The Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals have seasons that mirror each - an awful beginning and strong finish.

They will meet in their season finale today, the winner finishing at 8-8, a satisfying result considering what things looked like a couple of months ago.

"It's enough incentive to be jacked up to end your season with .500 at least," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "That's not anywhere near where we wanted to be, but it's what we have available and we're going for it. I know that those guys feel the same way. That's just a natural way for all of us, so it's going to be a big battle."

John Skelton, who probably will be back at quarterback for Arizona, said the difference between 7-9 and 8-8 is far more than just one game.

"No one wants to have a losing record going into the offseason," he said. "It kind of puts a bad taste in your mouth. 8-8 is kind of something to build on for the future."

Seattle was 2-6 after a loss to Dallas on Nov. 6. Arizona was 1-6 after a 30-27 loss at Baltimore on Oct. 30. Seattle won five of six, capped by an impressive 34-14 road win over Chicago, to climb to 7-7. The Cardinals won six of seven, including home wins over Dallas and San Francisco, to hit 7-7 with a 20-17 overtime win at home over Cleveland leaving them 7-7.

The slim playoff hopes of both teams were dashed a week ago when the Seahawks lost at home to NFC West champ San Francisco 19-17 and the Cardinals were beaten at Cincinnati 23-16. That the teams were in it that long is remarkable considering the way they started.

The Cardinals have lived on the edge in nearly every game.

Five of their losses were by seven points or less. They have trailed at the half in all seven of their victories. They have won six of their last eight, three in overtime, the other three by four points, three points and two points. Last week, they trailed the Bengals 23-0 entering the fourth quarter but had a chance to win it late. Wide receiver Early Doucet broke wide open on a fourth-and-five play and was surely headed for a touchdown when he slipped and fell, Skelton's pass sailing harmlessly over his head.

Slow starts have plagued Arizona all season. Over the last eight games, the Cardinals have been outscored 94-30 in the first two quarters, then have outscored opponents 116-51 in the second half and overtimes. Skelton isn't sure why he has had so much trouble early in games.

"There are mistakes that even a rookie shouldn't be making that I'm making out there sometimes. I think it is just consistency," he said. "We'll have maybe the first two plays of a drive go well and then the third one someone messes up. Those are the things that we have to eliminate, the mistake here and the mistake there. Eventually those add up and they hurt an offense."

Kevin Kolb, brought in to be the Cardinals' franchise quarterback, struggled through the team's six-game losing streak early in the season, then was sidelined for four games with a right turf toe. He returned and directed the team to a comeback victory over Dallas, only to go down with a concussion when he took a knee to the head on Arizona's first play the following week against San Francisco.

Skelton came on to lead the team to a 21-19 victory over the 49ers. The second-year pro from Fordham is 4-2 as a starter this season, 5-2 if the San Francisco victory is counted.

The No. 1 challenge for Arizona's vastly improved defense will be slowing down Marshawn Lynch, who has topped 100 yards rushing in six of his last eight games. But Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt reminded everyone that he has a pretty good back in Beanie Wells. Lynch has rushed for 1,118 yards and averaged 4.2 yards per carry. Wells, despite a season-long knee problem, has 1,047 yards, picking up 4.3 per attempt.

"If you look at Beanie vs. Marshawn, they're almost identical statistically," Whisenhunt said.

The Seahawks led 17-16 entering the fourth quarter last week against San Francisco only to lose on David Akers' 39-yard field goal with 3:44 to play. Jackson's fumble on Seattle's next possession sealed the 49ers' win.

The Seahawks believe they are a better team than they were a year ago, when their 7-9 record was good enough to win the NFC West, then they stunned New Orleans in the first round of the playoffs.

"Even though we have a similar record as last year, I think we took stuff forward this year - defense, offense, running game, and special teams," Seattle strong safety Kam Chancellor said. "There are new guys on the team now and we just have to take time to feel each other out and see where we're going."