Enemy Reaction 2020: Arizona Cardinals

Feels great to do this again!

The Seattle Seahawks got a vital 28-21 win over the Arizona Cardinals and are in 1st place in the NFC West. As long as the Los Angeles Rams lose on Monday night, Seattle will remain in first place with a very favorable schedule coming up over the next month before the Rams rematch. That sounds a hell of a lot better than being rooted to 3rd after a third straight loss and likely needing to win out to take the division.

Let’s get to Enemy Reaction! I think this is the first full one I’ve done for an Arizona Cardinals home win... literally ever? Maybe not since 2011? I’ll check my record at some point. Cardinals comments are courtesy of Revenge of the Birds.

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Pre-Game: djafrot had the foresight!

Russell Wilson scrambles and finds DK Metcalf for the score (7-0 SEA)

Bad holding call denies DK Metcalf big catch against Patrick Peterson (7-0 SEA)

Kenyan Drake fumble overturned to touchdown run (7-7)

Russell Wilson hits Tyler Lockett for the touchdown (13-7 SEA)

PI on Patrick Peterson covering DK Metcalf gifts Seahawks field goal before halftime (16-7 SEA)

Quandre Diggs extends Cardinals drive with personal foul (16-7 SEA)

Kyler Murray connects with Dan Arnold for the touchdown (16-14 SEA)

Carlos Hyde scores from two yards out (23-14 SEA)

Blown coverage leads to easy touchdown for Chase Edmonds (23-21 SEA)

JR Sweezy helps out his old team with a holding penalty in the end zone (25-21 SEA)

Carlos Hyde fumbles toss but recovers, leading to Seahawks field goal (28-21 SEA)

Carlos Dunlap sacks Kyler Murray, Seahawks win! (28-21 SEA Final)

Post-Game: Meet me in Temecula (Note: He actually did post his address but I won’t share it)

Post-Game: Kliff’s struggles (Aarron Van Buren, Raising Zona)

Let’s talk about the man of the evening in Kingsbury. This play calling bout on Thursday night was about as whack one could expect. The 3rd and 12 screen (of course, after a penalty) when the Seahawks were getting pressure was not the smartest play to run given the current field position. The Cardinals continued to make terrible penalties, and I lost track of how many false starts there were (just think of many they’ll have when the place is full again!).

Secondly, we all know that QB’s rely on a safety blanket/check-down man to get the ball out when their reads aren’t open. What is Kingsbury doing with WR’s staying put and just waiting for Kyler to give them the ball?

Usually this check-down guy is running a low crossing route, or a hitch route that at least lets the offense get some yards. But to see Fitzgerald, Kirk and others in this game just stand there and then not have a chance to do anything with the ball in their hands is starting to get inexcusable.

The offensive line is a entirely different article. And it should go without saying, that you always go to Fitzgerald or Hopkins with the game on the line. Not Andy Isabella.

Post-Game: Cardinals shrivel on national TV (Dan Bickley, 98.7 FM)

No excuses. The NFL doesn’t want to hear it. Neither should you.

The Cardinals were gifted a golden opportunity on Thursday Night Football. They shriveled. They underperformed. They failed to meet the moment.

They weren’t beaten by Russell Wilson, the MVP candidate. They were emasculated by a wounded Seattle team with the worst defense in the league. The Cardinals were beaten up and beaten down on their biggest stage they’ve had in years. They were taught a lesson in pedigree, toughness and desperation.

Message sent. Message received. Damage yet to be determined.

[...]

For all the alibis, injuries and rationalizations that came with playing on a short week in mid-November, the Cardinals were clearly not ready to win a game of this magnitude. That hurts. And that has to change if they are going to make a playoff run this season.

This game continues the uneasy narrative of Kingsbury, who made a number of key mistakes on Thursday. Most elite offensive minds produce easy touchdowns on the first possession of the game, especially when scripting plays against inferior defenses. Kingsbury could not do that against the decimated Seahawks.

He started the game with a pair of three-and-outs. Later in the first half, he punted meekly on a convertible fourth down. He challenged a play late in the game that had no chance of succeeding. He is hardly distinguishing himself as an offensive guru in the NFL.

Post-Game Audio: Opponent audio recap with Cardinals announcers Dave Pasch and Ron Wolfley (via Sports Radio KJR)

Post-Game Video: What happened to the Cardinals? (The AZ Sports Fan)

Enemy Preaction: Philadelphia Eagles

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Now the “easy” part of the schedule has arrived, but these are still professionals and they get paid too. It’s horribly cliched garbage but it’s true. The Seahawks have reinforcements coming but they can’t let their guard down. Run the table over the next four weeks and it’s possible that they may not need to beat the Rams at all to clinch the division. Seattle went through the toughest part of its schedule and came away 2-3, which is really about what they deserved based on how they performed but also good enough to still (with a Bucs win) keep them atop the NFC West.

See you all on Monday night! We know Eagles fans always bring it for Enemy Reaction and that’s because they’re on here almost as often as the 49ers.

Thanks for reading and go ‘Hawks!