The Arizona Cardinals entered today’s matchup against the Seattle Seahawks with high hopes of continuing their late-season push for relevance in the NFC West. However, despite a solid effort from quarterback Kyler Murray and a few key individual performances, the Cardinals ultimately fell short, losing 6-16 in a game filled with missed opportunities and mistakes.

A Slow Start and a Costly Turnover

The game began with both teams testing each other’s defenses. Seattle’s offense quickly found its rhythm, while Arizona’s struggled to establish any consistency. After a steady opening drive by the Seahawks, Jason Myers capped the series with a 50-yard field goal to give Seattle a 3-0 lead.

The Cardinals failed to answer. Although they moved the ball well at times, Kyler Murray and his teammates couldn’t finish their drives. They had to settle for punts after a series of disappointing plays, continuing the pattern of missed opportunities. The turning point came in the second quarter when Geno Smith threw an interception, but Coby Bryant returned it 69 yards for a touchdown, extending Seattle’s lead to 10 points.

This pick-six not only put the Cardinals in a deeper hole but also reflected the ongoing issues Arizona has faced with ball security this season.

Defensive Effort Falls Short

Despite a few notable moments from Arizona’s defense, including key tackles from Garrett Williams and Budda Baker, the Cardinals couldn’t maintain control of the game. Arizona managed to sack Geno Smith a few times and forced a couple of turnovers, but Seattle remained poised in critical moments. The Seahawks showed resilience, especially on a third-quarter drive that ended with Smith connecting with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 46-yard touchdown, putting Seattle up 17-3.

That touchdown pushed the game out of reach for the Cardinals, who had little left to give in the final minutes.

Kyler Murray’s Effort Wasn’t Enough

Kyler Murray finished with 285 yards, completing 24 of 37 passes. He spread the ball around effectively, with Trey McBride emerging as his top target (12 receptions for 133 yards). Despite Murray’s solid numbers, the offense couldn’t convert when it mattered most. The lack of execution in key moments proved to be the difference.

Several chances for Arizona to get back in the game slipped away. Late in the second quarter, Murray connected with Greg Dortch on a deep pass that set up the Cardinals near the Seahawks’ end zone. However, a critical interception thrown by Murray was initially ruled a pick but was later overturned due to a questionable pass interference penalty on Seattle. While this gave the Cardinals new life, they failed to capitalize on the opportunity, reinforcing their inability to score in clutch moments.

Even more frustrating were the missed throws in the second half. On multiple occasions, Murray had open receivers in the end zone, but he missed key throws. Whether it was an overthrow to McBride on a deep ball or an inaccurate pass to Michael Wilson in the corner of the end zone, the missed opportunities sealed Arizona’s fate.

Missed Opportunities

Missed opportunities were a recurring theme in this game. Chad Ryland’s 47-yard field goal attempt late in the game could have brought Arizona within one score. But when Ryland missed wide left, the Cardinals’ hopes for a dramatic comeback effectively ended.

Those missed chances, coupled with the interception and the failure to capitalize on favorable field positions, left Arizona unable to threaten Seattle’s lead. Seattle, on the other hand, played disciplined football, keeping their mistakes to a minimum and seizing every opportunity to increase their lead.

Not Over Till It’s Over

While today’s loss stings, the Cardinals’ season is far from over. Kyler Murray’s play offers hope for the future, but Arizona will need more consistency on offense and less self-inflicted damage to move forward. The team must look at today’s game as a lesson on how small mistakes can snowball into a disappointing result.

Arizona will now need to regroup, sharpen their focus, and work on improving execution in key areas to stay competitive for the rest of the season.

Final Thoughts

The Cardinals fought hard but ultimately lost due to turnovers, missed opportunities, and inefficient offense. Although the final score reflects a tough defeat, Arizona’s potential is still visible. For the team to stay competitive, they must find ways to capitalize on their chances and clean up their execution.

Final Score: Arizona Cardinals 6, Seattle Seahawks 16.