Gardner Minshew’s 1st Cardinals start does not bring the madness vs. Seahawks

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew racked up fewer passing yards in his first start on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks than he did last week, when he entered late in the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys.

Minshew provided a spark of excitement by leading a comeback in Dallas after replacing Jacoby Brissett, but the fire was out on Sunday against a much more capable Seahawks defense.

Minshew threw for 166 yards after a 188-yard performance a week ago, as the Seahawks defeated the Cardinals, 17-3. The quarterback completed 21 of 30 passes with no touchdowns or interceptions, and he was sacked three times.

No Cardinals pass catcher gained more than 60 yards, and the offensive line was outmatched up front.

Arizona has lost 11 straight games against Seattle dating back to 2021, and Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur has lost his last four battles with Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald going back to the former’s days as the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive coordinator.

The Cardinals have scored 10 points across two games against the defending Super Bowl champions this season.

The offense got off to a promising start under Minshew with an 89-yard first drive that resulted in a field goal. Its ensuing drives went punt, punt, punt, punt, end of half, punt and punt, stretching all the way through the third quarter.

Arizona finally put an effective drive together in the fourth, but the 14-play series ended with a turnover on downs inside the Seahawks’ 3-yard line.

Minshew looked like he had a lane to the end zone on second down, but he hit the deck to avoid getting hit by Devon Witherspoon. An incomplete pass to tight end Trey McBride in the end zone sealed the deal.

The Seahawks entered the game with the worst red zone defense in the NFL at 83%, but they stopped the Cardinals twice down there on Sunday.

Arizona’s defense held its own, keeping Seattle to 17 points despite the offense giving very little assistance. The Seahawks started backup quarterback Drew Lock in place of Sam Darnold due to a calf injury, and Lock improved to 2-0 this year versus Arizona.

Seattle scored a touchdown in the final 20 seconds of the first half on a catch from tight end A.J. Barner that appeared to have hit the ground, but the call on the field stood — a potential McBride fumble earlier in the half was blown dead, so there were questionable calls on both sides.

The touchdown was set up by a defensive pass interference call, another narrative of this game for Arizona. The Cardinals committed nine penalties for 97 yards.

They fell to 3-6 with the trade deadline on Tuesday.

The Cardinals return home next Sunday to host the Rams.

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