The Seahawks host the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at Lumen Field, a game between a pair of hungry teams looking to bounce back from a loss. At 3-6, the Seahawks know every game from here on out is big if they're going to get back in the playoff hunt, while the Cardinals have lost 2 of 3 since starting the season 7-0. To learn more about this week's opponent, we reached out to AZCardinals.com senior writer Darren Urban with five questions about the Cardinals:
What were expectations for this team like heading into Year 3 under Kliff Kingsbury, and did they become even higher after a 7-0 start?
Urban: There was no question that after last season, there was significant expectations that this team needed to make the postseason. Now, did they grow after 7-0? Perhaps. But then some injuries hit, and it's like any team negotiating a long season – you want to be as healthy as possible, and playing your best football, by season's end. Kingsbury has evolved as a coach for sure, and it helps that Kyler Murray has also seen a nice uptick in both knowledge and maturity. This team was not in good shape when both arrived in 2019. The path has them right about where they should be.
Is there much cause for concern following Sunday's lopsided loss to Carolina, or is that one easy to chalk up to the fact that two of the team's best players, quarterback Kyler Murray and receiver DeAndre Hopkins, were out with injuries?
Urban: No, the way the Cardinals played against the Panthers wasn't just about Murray and Hopkins. The Cards did just fine without those guys against the 49ers. Are they a better team when Kyler and Hop are healthy? Of course. Significantly so. But neither of those guys play run defense, which has been up and down all season and was most certainly down against the Panthers. Realistically – and the Seahawks had this when Russell Wilson was down – when you have a backup QB, you have to play really well in certain areas, especially turnovers. The Cards had two turnovers on their first three drives (and the other drive ended with a fourth-down stop on their side of the field, so essentially a turnover) and in a hole, that's a tough spot from which to rally with backups. Murray said Wednesday he hopes to play this week and said “I’m pretty close," but I would guess both he and Hopkins will be called game-day decisions again this week, always with the knowledge the bye awaits after this game.
Sunday's loss notwithstanding, Arizona's defense has been outstanding this year. What's allowed that group to take the leap it has from last season to this one?
Urban: They have been ultra-aggressive, and have been able to create some turnovers. Plus, when the offense is right, there is a comforting feeling when you know your team is going to score 28-30 every game. The defense doesn't have to be great. They have to cause some turnovers and if a team drives, they need to hold them to field goals. Then you play from ahead – which the Cards have done a ton of this season – and as a defense, you're set. Markus Golden is having a good season as a pass rusher, Isaiah Simmons is a much better player this season and Byron Murphy is playing at a Pro Bowl level for a cornerbacks corps that's been better than expected. Losing J.J. Watt hurts – he was playing well --- but safety Budda Baker remains one of the league's best. (All that said, the unit had a terrible game against the Panthers and know they need to bounce back quickly.)
How does losing RB Chase Edmonds to injury affect the offense?
Urban: Edmonds is a nice piece of the offense, and they need him back. That said, James Conner is having a much better season than many thought – he leads the NFL with 12 touchdowns – and not only provides them with a short-yardage and goal-line option they didn't have last year, but he's been better in space than I expected too. Eno Benjamin isn't Edmonds, but he has some ability with the ball in his hands. The hope is that Edmonds will be healthy and fresh for the stretch run, and that seems to be where the Cardinals' thoughts are pointed right now.
What are a couple of the matchups you're most looking forward to seeing in this one?
Urban: I am curious to see how Chandler Jones – who has had a lot of good games chasing Wilson – does. He had five sacks in the opener and only one since, but Jones remains a guy teams have to watch for, so whichever tackle he lines up across from will be interesting. I also want to see how they deal with DK Metcalf now that Patrick Peterson is gone. Is it Murphy all the time, or will they use Marco Wilson and/or Robert Alford?
The Seahawks face the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium for Week 9 of the 2022 season. Take a look back at photos from previous games between the two teams.
Phoenix Cardinals quarterback Gary Hogeboom can't find a receiver due to heavy defensive pressure from Seattle Seahawks (92) David Wyman and (72) Joe Nash during action in their pre-season game, Aug. 12, 1989 in Tempe, Arizona. The Seahawks proved too much for the Cardinals after the game went into overtime and lost 16-10. (AP Photo/Chad Surmick)
Running back Ron Moore (30) of the Phoenix Cardinals is held to a one yard gain as he is tackled by Cortez Kennedy (96) of the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter of their NFL game in Seattle, Washington, Dec. 19, 1993. Watching the play is Joe Wolf (68) of the Cardinals. Phoenix beat Seattle in overtime, 30-27. (AP Photo/Bill Chan)
Arizona Cardinals' Chris Gedney (84) takes in a pass while in the grasp of Seattle Seahawks' Fred Thomas (22), Sept. 13, 1998 in Seattle. The play went 23 yards but wasn't enough as Seattle won the game 33-14. (AP Photo/Jay Drowns)
Seattle Seahawks' Shawn Springs (24) intercepts a pass from Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer in the second quarter Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Seahawks' Reggie Williams, lower left, and Jeff George, far right, watch as Cardinals' Frank Sanders (81), Jason McAddley, top left, and Steve Bush, right rear, defend. It was the second interception of the half for Plummer. (AP Photo/Rob Schumacher)
Seattle Seahawks' Bobby Engram returns a punt for 48 yards with Arizona Cardinals' Quentin Harris chasing during the second quarter in Seattle Sunday Dec. 26, 2004. The return set up the first Seattle touchdown as it went on to win, 24-21. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander dives into the end zone from the one-yard line for a touchdown with Arizona Cardinals' Adrian Wilson defending during the third quarter, in Seattle, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2005. Alexander scored four touchdowns in the 37-12 win over the Cardinals. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner loses control of the ball but regains control as he is sacked by Seattle Seahawks' Darryl Tapp during the fourth quarter of a football game in Seattle, in this Sept. 17, 2006 file photo. One week after Warner was named NFC offensive player of the week in Arizona's season-opening victory over San Francisco, he was blamed, in part, by his coach for the offense's struggles in Sunday's 21-10 loss at Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Arizona Cardinals' Matt Leinart, center, gets a pass off as he is hit by Seattle Seahawks' Patrick Kerney, left, and Darryl Tapp in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 23-20. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals' Ralph Brown (20) knocks the ball away from intended receiver Seattle Seahawks' Koren Robinson in the end zone in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Arizona Cardinals in action against the Seattle Seahawks, November 15, 2009.
Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch (24) leaves Arizona Cardinals' Greg Toler in the dust on a first-half run in an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 22-10. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Sidney Rice, left, runs on a 23-yard pass reception as Arizona Cardinals' Kerry Rhodes (25) is kept back by Seahawks' Anthony McCoy, right, and Zach Miller in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 13-10. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Arizona Cardinals' Kevin Kolb (4) gets off a pass as Seattle Seahawks' Jason Jones (90) closes in after getting past Cardinals' Adam Snyder (68) during an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Seahawks 20-16. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Seattle Seahawks' Zach Miller, right, makes a catch for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals' Curtis Taylor (37) is near in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas (29) intercepts a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals' wide receiver Michael Floyd, right, as Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker K.J. Wright (50) looks on in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Brittan Golden (10) is hit by Seattle Seahawks cornerback DeAndre Elliott (21) and defensive back Neiko Thorpe (27) during the second half of a football game, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Referee Walt Coleman tosses the coin before an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Mike Davis (27) dives in for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals defensive back Budda Baker (36) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) catches the football in the end zone during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Seattle. The touchdown was later ruled incomplete. The Cardinals defeated the Seahawks, 27-13. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Seattle Seahawks running back Carlos Hyde (30) rushes against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny heads for the end zone with a 62-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
