The Arizona Cardinals entered Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks with everything on the line. This wasn’t just any game—it was a battle that could shape the trajectory of their season. The Seahawks, perched atop the NFC West, were coming into Arizona’s home turf just two weeks after handing the Cardinals a tough loss in Seattle. For the Cardinals, this was a shot at redemption—a chance to reclaim their position in the division, end a string of losses, and revive their playoff hopes.
But instead of rising to the occasion, the Cardinals delivered one of their most lackluster performances of the year. Unlike last week’s nail-biter against Minnesota, where a single point decided the outcome, this game was a 60-minute showcase of dominance by Seattle. From start to finish, the Seahawks controlled the tempo, leaving little doubt about who was the better team that day. By the final whistle, the scoreboard read 30-18, and the Cardinals’ season felt like it had slipped through their fingers.
The Season Hangs by a Thread
The Cardinals’ postseason dreams aren’t entirely extinguished yet, but they’re hanging by a thread. To stay alive, they must win their last four games, starting with matchups against the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers—teams they should theoretically beat. If they can manage this streak, they’ll finish at 10-7, which is typically enough to earn a playoff spot.
However, this season is proving to be anything but typical. The Seahawks, now 8-5, hold the NFC West lead, while the Washington Commanders, also at 8-5, occupy the final NFC wild-card spot. Both teams have critical tiebreakers over the Cardinals, meaning Arizona would need a significant collapse from one of them—a 1-3 finish—to even have a shot.
Just three weeks ago, the Cardinals were riding high, boasting a four-game win streak and sitting atop their division. Now, they’re staring down the barrel of an uphill battle that feels more like a Hail Mary.
Kyler Murray’s Struggles Take Center Stage
If the Cardinals hoped for a standout performance from their star quarterback, Kyler Murray, they were sorely disappointed. Early in the game, Murray made two costly mistakes that set the tone for the day. On the team’s second drive, he targeted Marvin Harrison Jr. over the middle but completely overlooked linebacker Ernest Jones IV lurking beneath the route. The result? An easy interception for Jones.
Murray’s next throw was just as disastrous—a deep ball intended for Zay Jones that failed to account for safety Coby Bryant, who stepped in for another pick. Both turnovers led directly to Seahawks touchdowns, putting the Cardinals in a hole they couldn’t climb out of.
Murray’s struggles didn’t stop there. A troubling pattern has emerged in recent weeks: his difficulty performing under pressure. Earlier in the season, Murray excelled in these situations, but since the bye week, his numbers have plummeted. Over the past three games, he’s completed just 9 of 30 passes for 78 yards and five interceptions when pressured. That’s a trend the Cardinals can ill afford as their season hangs in the balance.
Penalties: The Silent Saboteur
While turnovers stole the spotlight, penalties quietly undermined the Cardinals’ efforts yet again. Though the team was flagged only five times for 44 yards, the infractions were untimely and damaging. Center Hjalte Froholdt’s holding penalty in the first quarter wiped out a big play to Harrison, and on the very next snap, Murray threw his first interception.
Left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., who started the season strong, had a rough outing as well, with three holding calls against him. While one was declined, the other two derailed promising drives. One nullified a crucial fourth-down conversion, while the other forced a punt on a drive that began with momentum. These mistakes are the kind that can take a winnable game and put it out of reach.
A Defense That Couldn’t Hold the Line
Throughout the Cardinals’ recent struggles, their defense had been a silver lining—until Sunday. Seattle exploited the unit for 409 total yards, averaging a staggering 6.7 yards per play. While Murray’s turnovers gave the Seahawks favorable field position, the defense didn’t do much to mitigate the damage.
The run defense was particularly porous. Even with star running back Kenneth Walker sidelined, Seattle’s Zach Charbonnet ran wild, racking up 134 yards on 22 carries, including a 51-yard touchdown. By the end of the day, the Seahawks had amassed 176 rushing yards, the most Arizona has allowed since Week 6 against the Packers. Wide-open running lanes and missed assignments turned what could have been manageable plays into back-breaking gains.
Young Cornerbacks Face Growing Pains
One of the brighter spots of the Cardinals’ season has been the development of their young cornerbacks. Garrett Williams, Max Melton, and Starling Thomas V have all shown promise, stepping up to solidify a secondary that looked thin at the start of the year. But Sunday was a harsh reality check.
Seattle’s receivers, led by Jaxon Smith-Njigba and DK Metcalf, had their way with the Cardinals’ corners, especially on key third downs. Smith-Njigba beat Williams twice in one-on-one coverage, once for a touchdown and later on a crucial third-and-10 conversion that extended a Seahawks drive. Together, Smith-Njigba and Metcalf combined for 131 yards and a touchdown on just 11 targets.
Where Do the Cardinals Go From Here?
As the game wound down, State Farm Stadium felt less like home turf and more like a Seahawks fan fest. The stands echoed with chants of “Sea-Hawks!” as Cardinals fans quietly filed out, unsure of what lies ahead for their team.
The road forward is daunting. The Cardinals need near-perfection over the next four weeks and a little help from the football gods to keep their postseason hopes alive. But after Sunday’s performance, it’s hard to feel optimistic. They’ll need to address their weaknesses—from Murray’s struggles under pressure to the penalties and defensive lapses—if they want any chance of turning things around.
For now, the Cardinals sit on the brink of elimination, their fate no longer entirely in their hands. It’s a sobering place to be for a team that once seemed poised to make noise in the postseason.
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