ARIZONA CARDINALS

Arians to Cardinals: ‘If you’re scared, don’t get on the plane’

Dec 24, 2013, 12:15 AM | Updated: 12:53 am

LISTEN: Bruce Arians, Cardinals head coach

Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians had a simple message for his team heading into Sunday’s game at the Seattle Seahawks.

Although the Cardinals are in the playoff race, they hadn’t beaten either of the NFC West’s top two teams — Seattle and San Francisco — since the opening game of the 2012 season, and hadn’t beaten either on the road since Oct. 18, 2009.

“Forget the playoffs, forget everything else,” Arians told Arizona Sports 620’s Bickley and Marotta Monday. “If we ever want to win this division again, we have to match their intensity. They’re both physical, bully-type football teams. The only way to handle that is to be the same thing.

“You’re either going to kick someone’s butt or you’re going to get your butt kicked. If you’re scared, don’t get on the plane.”

Consider the message received.

The Cardinals’ defense physically abused Seattle en route to a 17-10 win despite four turnovers from Arizona’s offense. The Cardinals held Seattle to just 192 total yards while limiting dual-threat quarterback Russell Wilson to 32 yards on two carries and sacking him four times.

Seattle gained just four total yards in the second quarter, didn’t gain a single yard on five of their 13 drives and gained less than 10 yards on four others.

“You love winning at home,” Arians said. “But to go to Seattle … you go to some of the great venues that are tough on the road and win in that fashion — it’s why you play the game.”

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

1 day ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

1 day ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Arians to Cardinals: ‘If you’re scared, don’t get on the plane’