ADAM GREEN

Cardinals show road to NFC West title goes through Glendale

Nov 16, 2015, 11:03 AM | Updated: 3:06 pm

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, left, greets Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palm...

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, left, greets Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, right, after an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Seattle. The Cardinals beat the Seahawks 39-32. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Through 25 minutes and 58 seconds, the Arizona Cardinals looks as though they were going to go into Seattle and not only beat the Seahawks, but destroy them.

Michael Floyd had just scored on a 35-yard catch — his second touchdown of the night — and the road team had taken what looked like a commanding 19-0 lead.

But of course, you knew it would not be easy. You had to. And if you didn’t, shame on you.

The Seahawks would go on to outscore the Cardinals by a 29-6 margin over the next 21 minutes and two seconds, with a pair of Carson Palmer fumbles aiding the collapse, and just like that all the good vibes the team had generated were gone.

It wasn’t quite Waterboy “Oh no, we suck again” territory, but it seemed close.

Then, something amazing happened.

Palmer and his teammates rallied and put together a 10-play, 89-yard touchdown drive that featured an amazing catch by Jaron Brown and a touchdown reception by Jermaine Gresham that gave Arizona the lead. The defense got another stop, Andre Ellington scored on a long touchdown, Drew Stanton danced and the Cardinals left the Emerald City with a 39-32 win as well as a 7-2 record and a three-game lead in the NFC West.

Exactly how they drew it up? Doubtful, but in the end, the end is all that matters.

“I can’t be prouder of a bunch of guys the way we won it and how we won it,” Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said. “We go down and take the lead and finish them off. We got the onside kick and ice it out. To come back after some disastrous drives, basically giving them 14 points. To come right back speaks volumes about the character we have in that locker room.”

Volumes? The speakers were blown and must be replaced.

Prior to the game there was plenty of talk about how the Cardinals had yet to beat a winning team and were not nearly as good as their record may have indicated. Technically they still have not yet beat a winning team — the Seahawks were .500 entering the game — but there should be no doubting just how good this team can be.

Not that they are without flaw, as the Cardinals turned the ball over three times, were just 1-of-3 in the red zone, struggled to run the ball and couldn’t keep Palmer upright for much of the game. But in the glow of Sunday night’s win little of that matters.

The Cardinals went into Seattle and beat the two-time defending NFC champions in their own building, serving notice that the road to the NFC West title may now run through Glendale.

“We wanted to show the nation that we’re for real this year,” cornerback Patrick Peterson said. “We thought this was an opportunity for us to come in here and show the world that we are a contender, not a pretender.

“For the most part, we did what we needed to do to come out on top today. The game plan was awesome. We got to get back home and look forward to playing Cincinnati. Definitely, wasn’t just another game.”

No, it was not.

A glance at the box score would show what you probably would have gathered from watching the game Sunday night: the Cardinals were the better team.

“They played really well, they’re a good football team,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “I thought Carson was phenomenal, and their receivers did great. They’re in good shape right now, I know they’re feeling good about it, and they should. That was a good ballgame for them, a good win.”

Arizona gained more yards, was significantly better on third down and possessed the football for nearly 39 minutes. That the Seahawks were even in the game was a testament to how talented they are and, of course, the Cardinals’ own miscues. But it’s the NFL and rarely does a team play a perfect 60 minutes, especially when you are facing an opponent who is also, you know, playing hard.

And the schedule does not get any easier, as Arizona’s next game will be at home against a Bengals team that is a perfect 8-0 entering their Monday Night Football matchup with Houston. But if the Cardinals are really the Super Bowl contender they appear to be, then, well, that should not be a problem.

Besides, at least it gives them a chance to finally beat a team with a winning record, right?

“What’s our reward?” receiver Larry Fitzgerald asked, rhetorically, after talking about how big Sunday’s win over the Seahawks was. “Another game on Sunday Night Football next week against undefeated Cincinnati. It’s the NFL. We love it.”

Presented By
Western Governors University

Adam Green

Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zack Greinke adjusts his cap between pitches against the Colorado Rock...

Adam Green

Concerned about Zack Greinke? Yes, I am

It's early, yes, but Zack Greinke's struggles this season are unexpected and concerning.

8 years ago

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones, who was acquired in a trade with the New England Patri...

Adam Green

Chandler Jones is the most exciting addition in Arizona Cardinals history

The Cardinals added Chandler Jones not to make them good, but to get them to the Super Bowl.

8 years ago

Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers Zack Greinke and Patrick Corbin (46) prepare to hit during a spring t...

Adam Green

Money, expectations change the game for Diamondbacks

If the Diamondbacks are concerned about big heads due to being "offseason winners," they need look no further than to a division rival as a cautionary tale.

8 years ago

Phoenix Suns' P.J. Tucker (17) and Devin Booker (1) react to a foul call during the second half of ...

Adam Green

Who knew the Suns bottoming out could feel so terrible?

While the Phoenix Suns being bad may actually be a very good thing, the way they have hit the bottom is difficult to stomach.

8 years ago

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians watches during the second half of an NFL football game ag...

Adam Green

Trust leads to Arians’ aggressive approach with Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals had just coughed up a 14-point fourth quarter lead and had the ball at their own 16 with just 58 seconds left in a tied game.

8 years ago

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) celebrates his touchdown against the San Diego Char...

Adam Green

Neither John Brown nor Arizona Cardinals owe an apology

Fantasy owners who had Brown in their lineups got a big fat zero from one of the game's more productive receivers, and may have lost a crucial game because of it.

8 years ago

Cardinals show road to NFC West title goes through Glendale