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Why the Cardinals Aren’t in Trouble After Their Ugly Defeat to the Seahawks
The Arizona Cardinals’ Week 12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks was a missed opportunity to create distance in the NFC West. However, this defeat doesn’t spell doom for the Cardinals.
Ahead of their matchup against the Seahawks, the Cardinals were riding a four-game winning streak and had just come off a bye week. Despite this, they failed to capitalize on the chance to separate themselves from the rest of the division.
The Cardinals’ 16-6 loss to the Seahawks dropped their record to 6-5, tying them with Seattle for the top spot in the NFC West. This loss also dealt a blow to their postseason hopes, with (link unavailable)’s playoff picture projecting them to be just outside the top seven conference teams.
Several factors contributed to the Cardinals’ struggles against the Seahawks, including O-line issues and a nonexistent run attack. The Seahawks’ defense overwhelmed Arizona, and a Coby Bryant pick-six in the third quarter gave Seattle a double-digit lead.
Despite this loss, the Cardinals are not in trouble. They still have a good chance of claiming the NFC West crown and securing a playoff spot.
The Cardinals’ Remaining Schedule is Manageable
While the Cardinals face the Minnesota Vikings (9-2) this weekend, their subsequent schedule is more favorable. Their remaining games include rematches against the Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams (5-6), and San Francisco 49ers (5-6), as well as non-division matchups against the New England Patriots (3-9) and the Carolina Panthers (3-8).
These opponents present opportunities for the Cardinals to bounce back. The Patriots have a regressing defense, while the Panthers struggle against the run, which could play to James Conner’s advantage.
The Cardinals have also shown promise against their NFC West rivals. They dominated the Rams in Week 2, with Kyler Murray throwing for 266 yards and three touchdowns. The Cardinals also rushed for 231 yards in that game.
A Resurging Passing Game
While the Cardinals excel at running the ball, their passing attack has been improving lately. In their last four games, Kyler Murray has averaged 253 passing yards per game, completing 72.65% of his passes with a 103.7 passer rating.
Trey McBride has been Murray’s primary target, with two 100-receiving-yard performances in the same span. Against the Miami Dolphins in Week 8, Murray threw for a season-high 307 passing yards, carving up a top-10 ranked Miami pass defense.
While there’s still room for improvement, particularly in endzone conversions and O-line protection, the Cardinals have shown potential to become a more balanced offense.