The Seahawks are heading into Week 9 with the Cardinals waiting on the other side, and one of the biggest storylines is Arizona’s reset at quarterback.
Arizona’s offense had gone stale with Brissett, who got the ball out fast and too often locked onto his first read. The move to bench him made sense, and Gardner Minshew wasted no time giving the Cardinals a jolt, stringing together four straight scoring drives right away.
That quick spark is part of why the quarterback change has people watching closely, but there’s still skepticism about how long it lasts. As Donnie Druin put it, “I’m still 50/50.
Many times we see a backup quarterback enter action and have immediate success, and it takes just a few weeks' worth of film for opposing defenses to get film and figure him out. The same goes for Minshew, who has starred in this movie before.”
He added, “Minshew Magic is fun but will eventually run out. I think the Cardinals will have plenty to offer in terms of different looks with an actual week to gameplan with him at quarterback, though Seattle's defense is incredibly tough and now has a chip on their shoulder entering this week.”
The Cardinals also come into the matchup dealing with injuries, something that has already hit hard with several big names landing on injured reserve. Druin pointed to that as one of the major concerns, along with the fact that Arizona’s offense has looked like what you’d expect from a first-year head coach while the defense has been poor.
There’s also the matter of familiarity. Arizona has fresh film on Seattle from this season, and Druin noted that the team that lost the first meeting often has a better shot in the rematch. He also said the Cardinals are not the kind of overlooked underdog they usually would be in this spot because of the quarterback change and the defense showing some recent improvement.
Even with that, the pick still leans Seattle. Druin expects Arizona to keep it competitive, but he sees the Seahawks finishing the job: SEA 28, AZ 21.
In Other News...
Cardinals Win Looks Even Better After What Followed For Dallas
The Cardinals overtime win over Dallas already carried plenty of weight in the standings and in the locker room, but the aftermath has only made it look more costly for the Cowboys. What followed was a wave of NFL discipline tied to the kind of sloppy, undisciplined play that can swing a tight game, and it added another layer to a loss Arizona had every reason to savor.
Three Cowboys players were fined for hits in that game, including helmet-to-helmet and unnecessary roughness violations that drew league attention after the fact. One of those plays left Cardinals running back Bam Knight in concussion protocol, while the others involved contact on Gardner Minshew and a hit in overtime, a rough finish that fit a broader pattern for Dallas as one of the league's most penalized teams this season. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Interest In Trey McBride Just Put Cardinals On The Spot
The trade deadline chatter around Trey McBride has only sharpened the spotlight on what he means to Arizona. Denver has been looking for more juice at tight end, with Evan Engrams contract set to expire after the season, and McBrides rise has made him exactly the kind of player other teams would at least call about. For the Cardinals, it is another reminder that one of their most valuable pieces has become a leaguewide talking point.
McBride has been central to Arizonas passing game this year, and interest from a contender only underscores how hard he would be to replace. The Cardinals have already made their stance clear by turning away Denvers inquiry, but the attention around him figures to linger as the deadline approaches and teams keep searching for impact help. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Get An O-Line Boost At A Critical Time
The Cardinals are getting some timely help up front for their Week 9 matchup with the Seahawks, with offensive guard Isaiah Adams set to come off injured reserve after missing time with an ankle injury. Arizona has been searching for stability along the offensive line, and Adams return gives the group a needed boost as the game week ramps up.
The roster moves did not stop there, either. Tight end Shawn Bowman and running back Jerome Ford were also elevated from the practice squad for the game, giving Arizona a little extra depth as it heads into a division test that could demand flexibility on both sides of the ball. [Read more 🡒]