Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians: Win in Seattle about ‘resiliency of our team’

Dec 23, 2013, 2:10 AM | Updated: 2:11 am

‘There’s no way to win.’

That’s the response Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians gave in his post-game interview Sunday when asked what he would have said if someone had told him that his quarterback would throw four interceptions and his team lose the turnover battle by a wide margin on the road against the best squad in the conference.

Yet despite all the odds stacked against them — both internally because of mistakes and externally given the elements and notoriously loud home crowd — the Cardinals found a way to win Sunday by a final of 17-10.

It wasn’t always pretty, in fact for large stretches it was nothing but a battle for field position, but Arians and Co. kept their playoff hopes alive thanks to a 60-minute from the defense and a timely touchdown pass from Carson Palmer.

“[This win was about] the resiliency of our football team,” Arians said. “We started off getting big plays, and then gave it away. Our defense played well the whole game.

“They had been playing super and then they gave up a touchdown. It looked like, ‘Hey, here we go.’ And then the offense rebounds, goes and gets the score. The two-point play was huge to get the lead to seven. And then the turnover. It’s over when we put Stepfan [Taylor] and he busts the run. Game, set and match.”

In the come-from-behind road victory, Arizona allowed 192 total yards and limited Russell Wilson to career lows in multiple categories including passing yards and completion percentage.

“They were dominating,” Arians said of the defense. “It was fun to watch. And the next man steps up every week. Tony Jefferson [in place of Rashad Johnson] lit up and played great like I knew he would. Each man that plays, plays fast, hard and physical. That’s how we want to play.”

It’s a mindset that has allowed the Cardinals to beat up on several playoff-bound teams like the Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts and Seahawks.

Asked what this latest statement win should signal to the rest of the league, Arians didn’t hesitate.

“They just better hope they don’t let us in the dance.”

Even though the Cardinals have clinched their first 10-win season since 2009 with Sunday’s win, reaching the dance won’t be entirely up to them.

Arizona can reach the playoffs with a win next Sunday and a San Francisco 49ers’ loss on Monday or a win next Sunday and a New Orleans Saints’ loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Still, becoming the first team since Dec. 24, 2011 to win at CenturyLink Field was pretty gratifying for the first-year head coach to say the least.

“This goes up there pretty high,” said Arians on where the win ranks in his career. “I wish it was a playoff game. You wish you were going home for the second round of the playoffs having beaten a team like this on the road.

“This is a huge win, and I’ve been lucky to be a part of a bunch of them.”

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) runs for a 20-yard touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/John Froschauer) Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane (92) and outside linebacker K.J. Wright (50) tackle Arizona Cardinals running back LaRod Stephens-Howling (36) during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/John Froschauer) Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll congratulates running back Marshawn Lynch (24) after Lynch scored on a 20-yard touchdown run during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)	Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) returns an interception from Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton for a 19-yard touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) celebrates with wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) after returning an interception from Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton for a 19-yard touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/John Froschauer) Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) runs past Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) as he returns an interception for a 19-yard touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/John Froschauer) Seattle Seahawks tight end Zach Miller (86) is hit by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Rashad Johnson (49) as he scores on a 24-yard touchdown reception during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks tight end Zach Miller (86) celebrates in front of Arizona Cardinals strong safety Rashad Johnson (49) after scoring on a 24-yard touchdown reception during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) runs for a 33-yard touchdown past Arizona Cardinals strong safety Rashad Johnson (49) and inside linebacker Daryl Washington (58) during the third quarterof an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) runs for a 33-yard touchdown past Arizona Cardinals strong safety Rashad Johnson (49) and inside linebacker Daryl Washington (58) during the third quarterof an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/John Froschauer) Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton (19) walks off the field during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) is congratulated by wide receiver Sidney Rice after scoring on a 33-yard touchdown run against the Arizona Cardinals during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/John Froschauer) Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) bows against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. The Seahawks won 58-0. (AP Photo/John Froschauer) Seattle Seahawks running back Leon Washington (33) celebrates with fullback Michael Robinson (26) after scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run against the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. The Seahawks won 58-0. (AP Photo/John Froschauer) Seattle Seahawks running back Leon Washington (33) scores on a 3-yard touchdown run against the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. The Seahawks won 58-0. (AP Photo/John Froschauer) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) and wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) sit on the bench during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. The Seahawks won 58-0. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt, left, shakes hands with Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll after an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. The Seahawks won 58-0. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

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