TEMPE — There’s not much time to celebrate wins in the NFL, especially if you’re the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10.
On a short week following their skid-snapping Monday Night Football win over the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona has one hell of a test waiting on the other end in the Seattle Seahawks.
Nine weeks in, the Seattle Seahawks have put themselves in the Super Bowl contender category under second-year head coach Mike Macdonald. The question as to whether or not Sam Darnold can keep performing at a high level? It’s been answered with an emphatic yes.
And they’ve only gotten better since a 23-20 win over the Cardinals in Week 4.
“Another explosive offense, another big-time game on the road,” pass rusher Josh Sweat said Thursday. “The quarterback, he’s on schedule, he’s doing this thing. They got receivers. They got a lot of stuff, man. It’s always going to be a dog fight, a tough match up, so it’s going to be good.”
Sitting atop the NFC West at 6-2, the Seahawks offense is fourth in passing yards (255.1), fifth in points (28.9) and ninth in total offense (359 yards) per game across the NFL.
A lot of those numbers can be credited to Darnold, who sits sixth in the league in passing completion (70.4%), seventh in passing yards (2,084) and ninth in touchdowns (16).
“Sam Darnold’s doing a great job of being that leader and making all the right corrections and reads,” safety Budda Baker said Thursday. “It’s definitely going to be a big week for us and a challenging week with a team (that good).”
It also helps that Darnold has wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to throw the rock to.
Pacing the NFL in receiving yards (948) to go along with four touchdowns on 58 catches, the third-year pro out of Ohio State is well on his way to a career year.
He’s got a new running mate, too, with Seattle swinging a trade for former New Orleans Saints pass catcher Rashid Shaheed at Tuesday’s deadline.
There’s no telling how much he’ll play in his first game as a Seahawk, but the speedy pass catcher is an explosive waiting to happen in both the receiving and return game.
“He played for (Seattle OC Klint Kubiak) in New Orleans. It’s the same system. He will play on game day. That’s what I’m expecting and you better have a plan for him because he can beat you,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said Wednesday.
“He’s a good player. That’s what I know. So, when he’s on the field, they’re going to use him accordingly and you have to have awareness of him. I got a high opinion of him. And in the return game … he’s scary.”
Arizona is also going to be very short-handed defensively this week with starters Will Johnson (back/hip), Max Melton (concussion) and Mack Wilson Sr. (ribs) all ruled out with their respective injuries.
We haven’t even gotten to the defense yet.
Still one of the best units against the run behind the second-fewest yards allowed (85.9) and fifth in fewest touchdowns allowed (four), Seattle has been a problem on the ground.
If the Cardinals are going to have any chance at upsetting the division leaders, it’s going to fall on quarterback Jacoby Brissett putting together a performance similar to his last three starts.
As seen by Arizona’s near comeback attempt late in the Week 4 loss, there are opportunities to be had through the air.
Brissett just has to get enough time to dropback and make it happen.
While Seattle is middle of the road in passing yards per game (218), Seattle’s pass rush is third in the NFL in pressures (140) and tied for third in sacks (27). It’s also doing that with the second-fewest blitz rate (18.9%).
Those numbers have helped lead to just 11 touchdowns allowed through the air, good enough to tie for ninth.
To say the window of opportunity is tight would be an understatement.
The Seahawks are just one part of the Cardinals’ remaining strength of schedule that paces the league in the toughness department.
It’s going to be an uphill climb to get back into the playoff picture, regardless of last week’s optics. A lot of upsets are going to have to happen against some serious playoff contenders.
But if Arizona can stack another victory and do so over one of the toughest outs in football right now, that’s going to say a lot about where this franchise could potentially bounce back to.
With an improved offense under Brissett and a defense that finally learned how to close out a game in dominant fashion, to do just that.