THE STORY: SEATTLE – All along, the Cardinals have insisted on talking about their season on a game-to-game basis, refusing to get involved in the big picture.
Sunday proved to be an example why, as their first game out of their bye looked nothing like how they had been playing of late, a 16-6 loss to the Seahawks at Lumen Field dramatically changing the dynamic of the crowded NFC West.
"Not our best game," coach Jonathan Gannon said in an understatement, yet underscoring how the Cardinals have tried to approach each game's result as emotionless as possible.
The Cardinals (6-5) had been in first place for a few weeks but found themselves in second losing to the Seahawks (6-5), knowing the teams will meet again in two weeks at State Farm Stadium.
(The 5-5 Rams play later Sunday against the Eagles, while the 49ers fell to 5-6 with a loss in Green Bay.)
Nothing has been lost, although the Cardinals play another difficult game on the road next week against the 9-2 Minnesota Vikings. And against anyone, whether it be against the Vikings or the Seahawks, the Cardinals can't have the offense go dormant.
"It was a frustrating day," quarterback Kyler Murray said. "A frustrating day to come out here and lay an egg."
Chad Ryland missed a 47-yard field goal late – his first miss since a try was blocked in San Francisco in his first game – that would have sliced the lead to one score, but the way the offense had played, it was difficult to fathom the Cardinals being able to follow up.
The Cardinals hadn't been held under 300 total yards since the loss to Washington in Week 4, and they ended up with season lows in points, first downs and rushing yards.
It spoiled a great defensive performance, with the Cardinals sacking Geno Smith five times and holding Seattle to only 285 offensive yards. The Cardinals finally gave up a touchdown on defense for the first time since their trip to Miami Oct. 27 but only one.
Yet that side of the ball wasn't proclaiming excellence postgame either.
"We played really sloppy on defense, honestly," said cornerback Garrett Williams, who made a crucial end zone interception to thwart what looked like a sure Seahawks scoring drive. "It's a testament to how talented we are though to be as sloppy as we played and stay within 10 points."
The defense allowed only 10 points – six of the Seahawks' points came on a Coby Bryant 69-yard interception return that was one of many Murray laments after the game.
"We'd get a chunk here or there and then … self-inflicted, whether it was penalties, negative run, obviously I can't give them seven points. We just couldn't keep going in critical times. We didn't stay on the field."
The Cardinals are built to run the ball, but they couldn't Sunday. Trey Benson led the way with 18 yards out of the 49 the Cardinals gained; James Conner gained only eight yards on seven carries. It's not like the Seahawks did anything on the ground – 65 yards, 2.6 per carry – but it was enough.
"It felt like we never could get any flow," said wide receiver Michael Wilson, who had a TD reception called back after a holding penalty. "The flow of the game wasn't in our favor, and some games go like that. We didn't execute enough to make up for it."
Murray was under constant pressure; Gannon emphasized that was on the entire offense and not just the line, with right tackle Jonah Williams returning to the lineup for the first time since Week 1. Murray was sacked five times.
But Gannon has a process. And just like he wasn't going to celebrate the winning streak much, he wasn't going to dwell on one bad game Sunday.
"I told the team," Gannon said, "'We're going to learn a lot from this game.'"
TURNING POINT: The Cardinals were driving down only 7-3 when they were faced with a fourth-and-1 at the Seattle 40. Their running game struggling, the Cardinals tried a quick slant to wide receiver Michael Wilson that was incomplete – except the Seahawks called a timeout just before the snap, negating the play.
With a second chance, the Cardinals tried a play-action bootleg to the right for Murray, but Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon did a great job cutting off Murray's path to the line to gain, and when Murray tried to lob a throw to an open Wilson on the run, it went over his head to Seahawks safety Coby Bryant, who raced 69 yards for a touchdown.
"It was a play we had successfully run in the past," Murray said. "(Witherspoon) did a good job redirecting. He made it tough to get the corner and once I felt I wasn't going to get the corner, obviously, it's on me. Can't give them seven points, especially when our defense is playing the way they are playing."
THE STANDOUTS: The defense was excellent all day. Cornerback Garrett Williams had a key interception in the end zone to stall a Seattle drive, and Zaven Collins had one of five sacks and played well all around. McBride set career-highs in both catches (12) and receiving yards (133), but he was the only one on offense who found any rhythm.
GANNON LOSES FIRST CHALLENGE: Gannon had not lost a challenge in his brief head coaching career until Sunday. Marvin Harrison Jr. made a wonderful reception in the front corner of the end zone on the Cardinals' first scoring drive, but after getting one foot in, his second foot only kicked the orange pylon and did not get down. Gannon challenged that Harrison was indeed in but lost in his request. The play before, a Michael Wilson touchdown catch was nullified when tackle Paris Johnson Jr. was flagged for holding.
