The Arizona Cardinals’ 17-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday continued a troubling pattern: their 11th straight defeat to the division rival. Over the last three matchups alone, the Cardinals have been outscored by 60 points. This streak stretches back to Kliff Kingsbury’s tenure, underscoring the gap between the teams amid Arizona’s slide toward a fifth consecutive losing season.
Mike LaFleur’s Cardinals entered this clash with a roster depleted by injuries and forced to start several backups. Gardner Minshew took the quarterback role, with Josh Fryar at left tackle, Tyler Allgeier at running back, and wide receivers Simi Fehoko and Devin Duvernay filling in. Against a Seattle defense stocked with players like Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy, DeMarcus Lawrence, Ernest Jones, Devon Witherspoon, and Nick Emmanwori, the Cardinals struggled to move the ball consistently.
The Seahawks’ defense limited Arizona to just three points, exposing the Cardinals’ lack of offensive firepower. There was no single player or coach to blame, but the talent gap was clear. The Cardinals failed to generate momentum, with their offense stalling repeatedly under pressure.
Despite the loss, tight end Trey McBride offered a rare moment of brilliance. Late in the fourth quarter, facing a fourth-and-1 with the team trailing by 14, Minshew launched a desperate pass to McBride. The tight end made a difficult, leaping, back-shoulder catch along the right sideline that kept a slim hope alive. The play did not lead to a touchdown, as Minshew missed McBride on the subsequent fourth-down attempt at the 2-yard line, but it reminded fans why the team reportedly declined trade offers for McBride from the Denver Broncos this week. His performance remained a bright spot in an otherwise bleak outing.
The game was also marred by the Cardinals’ own mistakes. Penalties disrupted their rhythm throughout, with nine infractions costing 97 yards. A 29-yard defensive pass interference call against Max Melton late in the first half allowed Seattle to extend its lead to 14-3. That call came on a borderline play where Melton failed to turn his head toward the ball.
The second half opened with a series of costly errors. Baron Browning jumped offside on a third-and-9, giving Seattle a free play that ended with Denzel Burke committing pass interference downfield for 20 yards. Later, Darius Robinson also jumped offside on third-and-12, prolonging a Seahawks drive. These mental lapses helped Seattle maintain control and prevented Arizona from mounting any serious comeback.
Missed tackles, blocking breakdowns, and issues with ball security also contributed to the Cardinals’ struggles. The team’s lack of discipline and cohesion echoed problems that first emerged in September, notably in a Week 3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. After a brief period of improvement, those issues reappeared under the pressure of a hostile Seattle crowd.
Mike LaFleur’s record against NFC West opponents stands at 1-3, highlighting the challenge he faces in raising Arizona’s competitiveness within a division featuring the reigning Super Bowl champions. The Seahawks’ win Sunday reinforced the gap in talent and execution that Arizona must overcome to change the course of its recent history.
According to Yahoo Sports.
