The Cardinals left Week 9 with a 17-3 loss to the Seahawks and a lot more questions on offense than answers. Arizona fell to 3-6, and while the defense did enough to keep things respectable, the rest of the day was a grind for Mike LaFleur’s side of the ball.
Gardner Minshew’s first start in Arizona brought some buzz, but it never had much of a chance to breathe. The protection was shaky from the jump, and Minshew was sacked three times while taking plenty of other hits and pressures.
One of the roughest moments came late in the second quarter, when he was strip-sacked on an end-of-half play and briefly hurt before returning. With backup linemen all over the place, the offense had a hard time finding any rhythm, and Seattle’s four-man rush still had Arizona on the back foot.
The Cardinals also kept getting hammered by injuries at receiver, which has opened the door for fifth-round rookie Reggie Virgil to see more snaps. His stat line didn’t jump off the page, but he did flash with a 25-yard toe-tap catch in the first half, a play that hinted at the upside he showed in college.
Arizona did get Walter Nolen III back, but it lost Roy Lopez, and that was a major blow to the defensive front. Lopez had been a steady part of the run defense, but he exited in the first half with a toe injury and didn’t return. Once he was out, Seattle was able to wear down the line and start opening up rushing lanes for its backs.
Even with the loss, the Cardinals’ defense had plenty of bright spots. Max Melton was hit with a questionable pass interference call that helped set up a Seahawks touchdown, but he also broke up multiple passes. He, along with Kalen King and Kei’Trel Clark, stood out in run support, making open-field tackles and helping keep Seattle’s short passing game under control for most of the afternoon.
The discipline wasn’t there, though, and that became a problem fast. Arizona finished with nine penalties for 97 yards, with several coming before the snap. LaFleur has talked all season about playing clean and avoiding mental mistakes, but this was one of the sloppier outings of the year, and it hurt the Cardinals when they were trying to mount a second-half push.
Trey McBride was one of the few offensive players who consistently gave Arizona something to work with. He didn’t post a monster game against Seattle’s defense, but he still caught seven of eight targets for 54 yards.
His biggest moment came on a fourth-down toe-drag grab late in the fourth quarter to keep the comeback alive. On the final drive, McBride would have scored if Minshew had put the ball in a better spot.
The red zone issues LaFleur said weren’t a problem this week showed up quickly. Arizona went 0-for-2 inside the 20, settling for a field goal on its opening drive and later turning it over on downs late in the fourth quarter. Seattle’s defense deserves credit, but the Cardinals still left points out there.
The final box score won’t fully capture it, but Arizona’s defense played well enough to win more often than not. The game plan was sound, the execution was there for long stretches, and Rallis deserves credit for keeping a dangerous Seahawks offense in check on the road. The offense just couldn’t match it.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Week 10 Quarterback Problem Again
Drew Lock took another hit to Seattles quarterback depth chart in the game against Arizona, leaving with a new injury to his right hip area but staying in the contest. Mike Macdonald said Locks status is still uncertain as the team waits to evaluate an oblique injury, adding another layer of concern to a position group that has already been under pressure.
Sam Darnolds situation only sharpens the uncertainty, with the veteran reportedly at risk of missing Week 10 because of quad and rib injuries. His status is being treated as week-to-week, which leaves the Seahawks bracing for another stretch where the quarterback plan may be changing on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Lock Just Gave Seahawks Fans A Real QB Debate
The Seahawks got through a lopsided 17-3 win over the Cardinals in Week 9 without Leonard Williams or Uchenna Nwosu on defense, and the result still felt like it had a little extra weight because of who was under center. Drew Lock started at quarterback and, even while dealing with injuries, kept the offense steady enough to avoid turnovers and help Seattle control the game. Dante Fowler Jr. supplied some timely defensive plays, AJ Barner found the end zone, and the Seahawks left the afternoon with a win that looked cleaner than the injury report suggested.
What makes the conversation linger is the quarterback picture around Lock and Sam Darnold. Darnold did not play, and his season has already included turnover issues, which only sharpens the contrast with a backup who came in and handled his business without giving the ball away. For a team trying to sort out its offensive identity, a game like this does not settle the debate so much as make it harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Head Into Cardinals Game With One Brutal Problem
The Seahawks head into their bye week in a far different place than they expected after dropping three of their last four, and the timing could hardly be worse with Arizona waiting next. Seattles injury report has turned into a weekly storyline, and this one is especially harsh, with seven players ruled out and the offensive line needing another round of adjustments.
Mike Macdonald also confirmed Drew Lock will start at quarterback despite limited practice, adding another layer of uncertainty to a team already trying to stabilize itself. On the other side of the ball, Seattle will be missing Leonard Williams and Uchenna Nwosu against the Cardinals, leaving the defense shorthanded at a time when the Seahawks could use as much continuity as possible. [Read more 🡒]