GLENDALE, Ariz. — Inconsistencies mount too high as the Arizona Cardinals fall to the Seattle Seahawks 31-21 on Sunday.
An unfortunate loss for Arizona (3-6) separates them even further from the top teams in the NFC West.
The Seahawks sacked Kyler Murray five times and held the offense to only 272 yards. Murray finished the game 25-for-35 on 175 yards passing and two touchdowns.
“We are just playing bad football,” Murray said after the game. “It is not winning football and that is the result you are going to get when you are out there doing stuff like that.”
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First quarter:
It took 13 games but the Cardinals finally scored a touchdown on its opening drive of the game.
Thanks to a solid run from Kyler Murray and efficient offensive production all-around. Murray then connected with DeAndre Hopkins to finish the drive and go up 7-3 early.
“The first drive was easy,” Murray said. “On time and on schedule.”
END OF 1: ARI 7, SEA 3
Second quarter:
Seattle answered back with a touchdown of their own to start the second quarter. Geno Smith connected with DK Metcalf after a 12-play drive to give the Seahawks a 10-7 lead.
The next four drives for both teams ended in three punts (2 from SEA, 1 from ARI) and a turnover on downs by Seattle.
On the final Cardinals drive, they had chances but a dropped pass by Robbie Anderson and a fumble on a fourth-and-four scramble by Murray ended the drive.
HALFTIME: SEA 10, ARI 7
Third quarter:
For the Cardinals, it's always been about the defense.
That is indeed how Arizona took the lead with 9:18 left in the third quarter. Zaven Collins read a pass perfectly and took it back to the endzone for the 14-10 lead.
It was Collins' first career interception and Arizona's 5th defensive touchdown of the season.
The lead however did not last long. To be exact it only lasted six and a half minutes.
Geno Smith connected with Tyler Lockett for six points and a 17-14 lead with 2:43 remaining in the quarter.
END OF 3: SEA 17, ARI 14
Fourth quarter:
Seattle extended the lead to two touchdowns with a 14-play drive ending in a short punch-in by Kenneth Walker III.
Despite struggling to get something going offensively outside of the opening drive, Arizona put together a timely drive to cut the deficit to three, late in the fourth quarter.
Murray connected with Zach Ertz for a short touchdown and handed the ball back to Seattle down 24-21 with 3:32 left.
Walker III shortly after recorded his second touchdown of the day, extending the lead to 11.
The Cardinals continue their stretch of games against division opponents with meetings with the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers over the next two weeks.
With the loss to Seattle, the next two weeks are ever important for Arizona if they have any hopes of seeing playoff football.
“This is the NFL and nobody is going to feel sorry for you," linebacker Markus Golden said. “You've got to get back to work and keep grinding.”
FINAL: SEA 31, ARI 21
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