Cardinals erase a lot of good vibes with blowout loss to Seahawks

The Arizona Cardinals’ turnaround lasted one week.

Just as it looked like they had turned the page with a primetime win over the Dallas Cowboys, the Seattle Seahawks erased a lot of that thinking with a 44-22 throttling of the Cardinals.

Arizona (3-6) has now lost nine consecutive games against Seattle (7-2) and sits four games back of the NFC West lead. The Cardinals are 0-3 in the division.

A lot like Week 4’s loss to Seattle with Kyler Murray still running the show, this one felt over at halftime behind a 38-7 deficit.

Defensively, the Cardinals had no answer for quarterback Sam Darnold, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the rest of the Seahawks’ offense early on.

Scoring on just about every offensive possession in the first half to the tune of 24 points, Seattle got way out in front early and hit cruise control the rest of the way. A dominant rushing attack that finished with 198 yards and two touchdowns on 46 carries erased any comeback hopes Arizona might have had.

Seeing Dadrion “Rabbit” Taylor-Demerson (and others) go down with an injury didn’t help matters, neither did being down three defensive starters before the game even kicked off.

For all the carving up the duo did from the jump, Seattle’s defense was the true menace to Arizona’s chances throughout Sunday.

Having an unblocked pass rusher (or two) time and time again, Arizona’s offensive line and overall protection did zero favors for quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who ended with 258 yards and two touchdowns on 50% passing.

Five sacks and seven QB hits in the first half is a tough look in its own right. But it was the two scoop-and-score efforts from DeMarcus Lawrence in the first half that were the nails in Arizona’s coffin.

As for Arizona’s previous success on third down under Brissett? Arizona was an ugly 2-for-7 (27%) despite having a few advantageous looks of three yards or less. Arizona finished the day with a 6-of-16 mark (38%), the worst conversion rate with Brissett calling the shots the past four weeks.

Going 2-for-5 on fourth down (40%) only added to the inconsistencies.

Not even Trey McBride and his monster day of nine catches (13 targets) for 127 yards and a touchdown could turn the tide in the Pacific Northwest.

Arizona now heads into another divisional tilt against the San Francisco 49ers, who had their own blowout issues against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

Brissett will once again lead the offense with Murray currently on injured reserve. The earliest he can return to play is Week 14 against the Rams.

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