GLENDALE, Ariz. — Following a tough loss on the road against the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon barely had time to settle in on the flight home before he was approached by quarterback Kyler Murray. The young coach praised Murray’s competitive nature and his determination to improve.
With a record of 6-6, the Cardinals are eager to bounce back from two consecutive losses as they prepare to host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in an essential NFC West clash. Seattle currently tops the division, holding a one-game lead over both the Cardinals and the Rams, while the 49ers trail closely behind, just two games back.
The Seahawks enter this matchup with confidence, having won their last three games, including a six-game winning streak in their rivalry with the Cardinals. This will be the second matchup in three weeks, following Seattle’s victory over Arizona with a score of 16-6 on November 24.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf commented that both teams have plenty of notes from their previous encounter, akin to a halftime adjustment. He noted, “They’re going to make adjustments. We make adjustments, and may the best team win. It’s about recovering quickly and fixing mistakes from the last game.”
The Cardinals have faced a challenging schedule this season, with their six losses against squads that boast a combined record of 55-18. The heartbreak against the Vikings, which ended in a narrow 23-22 defeat, came as they led until the final moments, where Sam Darnold’s touchdown pass gave Minnesota the edge.
“Great teams find a way to win those close games,” Murray reflected. “Every match is tight. There are no teams that you can look at and say, ‘They’re terrible.’”
On a defensive note, Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams was recognized as the NFC Defensive Player of the Week following back-to-back impressive performances. Last week against the Jets, he recorded two sacks, three tackles for loss, a blocked extra point, and returned an interception for a touchdown—setting an NFL record for the longest interception return by a defensive lineman at 92 yards. Over the last two weeks, Williams has accumulated 4 1/2 sacks and six quarterback hits.
Coach Mike Macdonald praised Williams’ elite level of play all season and acknowledged that other teams will now take him into account when planning their game strategy. “He’s got to keep doing what he’s doing and stay aggressive,” Macdonald emphasized.
On the Cardinals’ offensive side, tight end Trey McBride is experiencing a breakout year, showcasing his skills with 12 catches for the second consecutive game. This unprecedented feat makes him the first tight end in NFL history to achieve at least 12 catches in back-to-back games, a milestone also unmatched by any Cardinals player at any position.
McBride has caught 73 passes for a total of 781 yards this season but still hasn’t found the end zone. Murray acknowledged this oddity: “That’s a weird stat considering how well he’s playing. We’ve had some opportunities that we just weren’t able to capitalize on. But it will happen.”
In response to a rough outing in special teams, the Seahawks have made changes, releasing WR/KR Laviska Shenault after he muffed two kickoffs and fumbled in their previous game against the Jets. Another player, Dee Williams, also had a fumble, contributing to a disappointing performance that included a 99-yard kickoff return allowed.
Macdonald is evaluating a mix of options for the special teams unit and hasn’t settled on a final decision yet. “We’re still working through the punt and kickoff return spots, so no definitive answers at this moment,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals have been among the least penalized teams this season, with just 61 penalties—a league-low. However, their match against the Vikings marked a stark contrast to this trend, as they committed 10 penalties totaling 96 yards, which proved detrimental. Both rookie tight end Tip Reiman and Murray faced penalties that disrupted crucial drives.
“It’s a learning experience for us, but we need to avoid self-inflicted wounds,” Gannon stated, stressing the need for improvement.
On the defensive front, the Cardinals are seeing significant progress, particularly in their pass rush. They have accumulated 23 sacks over the last six games, ranking third in the NFL in that span. Players Mack Wilson and L.J. Collier each notched two sacks in the previous game, indicating a well-rounded team effort as ten players have at least two sacks this season, with Dante Stills leading the way at 4 1/2 sacks.
“I believe we’ve done enough in most games to give ourselves a chance to win,” Gannon said, looking to continue building on that foundation moving forward.
