Field Gulls - Seahawks vs. Cardinals: Game time, TV Schedule, radio info, odds, injury reports, predictions, and moreThe stupidest name in smart football analysis.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50215/fieldgulls-fav.png2015-11-16T18:17:11-08:00http://www.fieldgulls.com/rss/stream/94896732015-11-16T18:17:11-08:002015-11-16T18:17:11-08:00Pete Carroll Monday press conference notes
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<figcaption>Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll spoke to reporters on Monday afternoon, and broke down Seattle's loss to the Cardinals. Here are some notes on what he said.</p>
<h4>Coach Carroll:</h4>
<p><a style="text-decoration: underline; background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/11/16/pete-carroll-week-11-monday-press-conference">Video Link</a></p>
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<p>Really frustrated by that game yesterday. Didn't find the opportunity to get to the game plan at all. Cardinals did a nice job of taking advantage of our play. Then the game changed, we went up-tempo and when we didn't have penalties, we scored. They put together a drive, Carson Palmer converted 4-4 that puts them ahead, and we couldn't get off the field there. It is real frustrating because we know we can play. The battle this season is to find it, to find the consistency that gets the game done. Don't see all the mystery to it, we are just not quite right. Make the adjustments we need to make, the season is this week, just this week. We are going to get back to work and get back to preparation and get the win.</p>
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<p>Three years ago we were 6-5, it is just a little bit different. We don't have full control at this point.</p>
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<p>Had a very good meeting today, the truth of it was very clear. There were so many clear areas where we can do better. Giving guys deep balls is not what we do.</p>
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<p>Russell is playing like he plays. He is making his plays with his feet, he has made some great throws, he has been a consistent battler. He is working with the rush as he has had to. This game, we talk about the ones that got away, the throws and opportunities, there were plenty of those in there. He is working on his reads and making the plays where they are available. Have to look at each one individually. He made some marvelous plays to give us a chance but there were missed opportunities.</p>
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<p>Doug Baldwin had a great game, is our best guy to get open on the scramble.</p>
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<p>A.J. Francis is a real big guy we have been looking at for a long time.</p>
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<p>The defense played great, Carson is a fantastic football player, there were a lot of really good things the defense did. We recognize when we have penalties on drives we are a lot easier to score on. Like that we played really hard, and attacked at the line of scrimmage.</p>
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<p>Doesn't even know how to talk about penalties at this point.</p>
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<p>Absolutely have a full day on Friday we dedicate to the ref crew and show the calls they make. We take a lot of care there, it is such a big factor in the game.</p>
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<p>The numbers (ref calls) we knew did show up with one exception.</p>
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<p>We don't make a big deal about "what is a catch", we don't control that. We talk about completing/finishing a catch. Make sure even when you go out of bounds to make sure you have to complete the catch. You gotta finish all the way to the ground.</p>
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<p>KJ Wright was high on the Fitz hit, did all the right things but just a little high on the strike zone. We would coach him up that it was too high. Thought Cary Williams played a pretty good football game. We were prepared and knew they would target him in the run game and he did well. Happy with how Patrick Lewis played.</p>
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<p>Bruce Irvin and Paul Richardson are "pending" which means we don't know yet. But they have a legit knee and a legit hamstring. The Cardinals blitzed less than we anticipated. But the down and distance were so much in their favor they didn't have to. Once we started moving they started to blitz more.</p>
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<p>You gotta do up-tempo and modified tempo in spurts, if you did it all the time it wouldn't be good.</p>
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<p>The pass protection did well.</p>
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<p>"We never got to our run game. Never got to where we wanted to. It's a shame because we had a great plan." The down and distance problem from penalties took us away from that plan.</p>
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<p>Think there is something in our consistency against these good teams that we don't have yet.</p>
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<p>Really doesn't think playing 23 games, but the distractions that can effect players. Steph Curry talked about how they handled it, what you do with the time you have and how you apply yourself. Doesn't think that is a factor, there is other stuff we could talk about but won't talk about it now.</p>
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<p>Marshawn felt pretty good un Saturday, and on Sunday morning he felt fine. Think he is sore today but we will see how he goes.</p>
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<p>We should have hit Ellington on the draw play touchdown with our blitz, but the guard made a block. It was a beautiful execution by the Cardinals.</p>
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<p>Both safeties have a chance to affect the seam route touchdown to the tight end.</p>
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<p>Sherman saw the big corner that is coming underneath and misread where the throw is going to (on the first touchdown to Michael Floyd). Every once in a while, Sherman makes the wrong decisions.</p>
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https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/11/16/9747616/pete-carroll-monday-press-conference-notesNathan Watt2015-11-16T11:13:56-08:002015-11-16T11:13:56-08:00The Pete Carroll Show, Week 10
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Pete Carroll joined <a href="http://mynorthwest.com/category/pod_player_sports/?a=9994890&p=1027&n=Pete%20Carroll%20Show" target="_blank">Mike Salk and Brock Huard on 710 ESPN Seattle</a> to break down what happened in Seattle's loss to the Cardinals. Listen in.</p>
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https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/11/16/9745408/the-pete-carroll-show-week-10-via-710-espn-seattleDanny Kelly2015-11-16T10:37:06-08:002015-11-16T10:37:06-08:00Seahawks lose to Cardinals: Players react
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<figcaption>Steve Dykes/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Here's a roundup of post-game interviews following the Seahawks' loss to the Cardinals on Sunday Night Football.</p>
<h4>From Seahawks.com:</h4>
<p><a href="http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/11/16/locker-room-sound-vs-cardinals-bobby-wagner-you-never-know-whats-going-happen">Locker Room Sound vs Cardinals: Bobby Wagner "You Never Know What's Going to Happen" | Seattle Seahawks</a><br>Bobby Wagner looks forward to the second half of the season and is ready to get back to the drawing board and put up more wins.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/11/15/locker-room-sound-vs-cardinals-cliff-avril-its-still-long-season">Locker Room Sound vs Cardinals: Cliff Avril "It's Still a Long Season" | Seattle Seahawks</a><br>Cliff Avril speaks positively about the future of the team after the loss vs the Cardinals.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/11/15/locker-room-sound-vs-cardinals-will-tukuafu-we-play-hard-eachother">Locker Room Sound vs Cardinals: Will Tukuafu "We Play Hard for Eachother" | Seattle Seahawks</a><br>After the team's loss vs the Cardinals, Will Tukuafu talks about the teams bond, including Marshawn Lynch's selflessness.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/11/15/palmer-its-so-sweet-come-here-and-win">Palmer: 'It's So Sweet to Come Here and Win' | Seattle Seahawks</a><br>Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer spoke with Alex Flanagan about the Cardinals 39-32 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.</p>
<h4>From 710 ESPN Seattle:</h4>
<p><iframe src="http://kiroradio.com/710embed.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Faudio.kiroradio.com%2Fseattle%2Fkiro%2F2015%2F11%2Fc_postgameinterviews111615_9994873.mp3&name=LB+Bobby+Wagner+on+fumble+return+for+a+TD&show=Seahawks+Postgame+Interviews" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:100%; height:130px;" allowtransparency="true"></iframe></p>
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https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/11/16/9745200/seahawks-lose-to-cardinals-players-reactDanny Kelly2015-11-16T10:06:48-08:002015-11-16T10:06:48-08:00Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson presser notes
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<figcaption>Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson spoke to the media just after the Seahawks' tough loss to the Cardinals. I took notes on what they said.</p>
<h4>Coach Carroll:</h4>
<p><a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/11/15/pete-carroll-vs-cardinals-press-conference">Video Link</a></p>
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<p>Really disappointed we played such a miserable first half of football. Thought we held up with all of the mistakes that were there, I didn't feel we were out of the game and we weren't, we got back into the game. We didn't play that game the way we wanted to play it, all the penalties that put us behind, must have been at least five penalties that put us at 1st and 20. We did it to ourselves.</p>
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<p>Can't evaluate the first half we are so far off. Isn't looking like we are so far behind, we got ahead.</p>
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<p>We don't play like that, especially off a bye, way too many penalties.</p>
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<p>Was a really emotional moment having Ricardo Lockette on the field before the game started. We are +2 today in the turnover ratio, unbelievable, doesn't believe it (lost while winning the turnover ratio).</p>
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<p>We are so far behind the sticks in the first half that it is hard to tell how Russell Wilson did. Really disappointed in the long throws thrown on us. Knew going in they were going to do that. They did a fine job getting the ball down field. We played a bunch of zone tonight and let them have their plays, without the big plays we would have been fine.</p>
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<p>The players were fired up, jacked, all of a sudden it is just one thing after another, a lot of holding penalties.</p>
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<p>Bruce Irvin has a sprained knee (MCL sprain). Tyler Lockett is okay (sore ankle), and Paul Richardson pulled his hammy.</p>
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<p>Have to recognize what happened, will have Tell the Truth Monday and come back at it.</p>
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<p>Getting off the field on third down is the key problem as to why we are blowing 4th quarter leads. Uncharacteristic for us to have two deep balls thrown over the top for touchdowns.</p>
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<p>Thought the pressure was pretty good most of the night, we must have missed four sacks though. Cliff Avril continues to come roaring off the football.</p>
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<p>We did terrible in the first half. We didn't learn anything in the first half, running the ball, etc. 1st and 20 so many times just kills you.</p>
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<h4>Russell Wilson:</h4>
<p><a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.seahawks.com/video/2015/11/16/russell-wilson-vs-cardinals-press-conference">Video Link</a></p>
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<p>We have a tough road, it is a bump in the road, but we have a lot of football left to play.</p>
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<p>We were playing uphill all day, especially the first half. We had four or five 3rd downs that were 1st and 15-20 yards. In the second half we were able to make a lot of plays from the no huddle or muddle-huddle. Even with 1:58 left the game wasn't over. We moved down the field and got the field goal and we have gotten that onside kick before. Gotta love how the defense played in the second half, they made plays and scored touchdowns. The goal is to move on and watch the film, to see what we can do better. Ultimately it is about not getting penalties on first downs and staying on schedule.</p>
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<p>"Normally I try to dress all fancy I guess, but I wore this (Ricardo shirt) for Ricardo." This game is about more than football. He is going to give his all no matter what. He is a good friend. He has always been there for so many guys on this football team. We cherish him, praying he continues to heal and stay positive. One of the best guys Russ knows.</p>
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<p>Should have put the ball to Doug Baldwin more to the right and inside, was just trying to get the ball to Doug. Misjudged it, threw it before he saw Doug break. It goes back to staying on schedule so the guys can make plays. It was a bad first half of football. The two point conversion, missed Doug on the first, on the second one they rushed everyone up the middle, didn't seem like anyone was there, it didn't work. Had three guys on the first 2-point conversion, was "just pick a guy" and Doug was Russell's first read.</p>
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<p>This loss is upsetting because of the circumstances. We hate playing bad football. We knew it would be a 4th quarter battle, down to the wire. We didn't like how it felt. We didn't feel like we gave ourselves a chance in the first half. Russ thinks it was a great second half. Have to go back and watch the film. We have 5 losses, but rookie year we were 11-5 and found a way. We have great coaches and players and fans, we have to find a way. All these games we lost too we had a chance. We have to capitalize. We have to play better and be more consistent. We didn't give ourselves a chance in the first half, but in the second half we did, we showed our resilience. Love the game, love each other, it won't be easy, if it was anybody could do it. Have to stay the course. Go Hawks!</p>
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<h4>Relevant Tweets:</h4>
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<li>@BradyHenderson <em>Ricardo Lockette spoke w/ reporters in locker room after. Asked if he expects to play next season, he said: "I expect to be a Pro Bowler."</em>
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<h4>My Thoughts:</h4>
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<p>Russ spoke so sincerely in his presser. Not robot Russ, I'm impressed.</p>
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<p>I've got nothing for ya really in terms of analysis of the game. So many things looked bad, and yet so many things looked good... what a crap storm. The only thing I can't stop thinking about is how successful we were running the ball with both Lynch and Rawls, and how in the world did we not go to that and pound the run game? I have hated people who say this, but I honestly think we have changed (run vs pass ratio) since Russell got paid.</p>
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<p>It breaks my heart that Fred Jackson came here to get to the playoffs, maybe a Super Bowl, and this is the team he is getting. It sucks that Marshawn signed up for another year to result in this... him getting the ball only a few times when the run game is looking fantastic. It is weird to think about the possibility of Marshawn deciding to retire mid-season because the Hawks aren't playoff competitive and he is already in such pain (back let alone other injuries) and it isn't worth it to play <em>just</em> for money.</p>
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<p>I realize there is a lot of season left to play, Carson Palmer could go down with injury again, and we could rack up wins against lesser teams and end up looking good in the playoffs, trying to go on a run for the Super Bowl. I know that. Any given Sunday a team (Cards, Panthers) can crap the bed and lose to a team they shouldn't have, can get a key injury that changes their season, i know all of that. But honestly my head-space isn't really in this season that much, I am more excited thinking about what our team can look like in 2016. I have kinda been the O-line champion on here ("They can develop!") but I think because of the O-line (for the most part, obviously a lot of other problems) earlier in the season we lost too many games and still aren't good enough to win against great teams. I am excited for 2016; drafting a RT in the 1st round, drafting a Center in the 2nd round, re-signing Okung? Sweezy?, adding a FA O-linemen? Us coming out in 2016 with Rawls + a '16 3rd round pick RB and an upgraded O-line with our weapons (Tyler, Doug, Paul, Luke, Jimmy, etc)...Russell finally getting a ~15th best O-line in pass pro and run blocking...finally getting consistent pass pro...that is my dream, not really this season turning into a deep playoff run. Sorry if that offends anyone.</p>
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<p>Seattle had 14 penalties assessed and at least 1-2 more declined. You can't expect to win when this happens. When you start at least four drives at 1st and 20 with this O-line? 99% of the time it seems we 3 & out and punt away.</p>
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<p>We converted just one 1st down from 3rd down on eight attempts all night. Insane. You can't win a game with that stat, let alone when you add all the penalties we got & their yardage...impossible.</p>
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<p>To anyone saying Russell's problem is Ciara... just no. Rivers has 8 kids (one a new born)...having one GF is not a distraction. Sherman has a new fiancee and a new born, he openly says the baby keeps him up, is that a distraction he should end? I just don't see Russell Wilson of all people going light on preparation. Dude is a robot, shows up the earliest and leaves the latest. I bet in Mexico he was on his Surface Pro studying film enough that Ciara got pissed.</p>
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https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/11/16/9744660/pete-carroll-and-russell-wilson-post-game-presser-notesNathan Watt2015-11-16T07:00:05-08:002015-11-16T07:00:05-08:00Cigar Thoughts: Cardinals raid Seahawks' nest
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<figcaption>Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Arizona Cardinals somehow turned a 19-0 lead into a come-from-behind victory, beating the Seahawks in Seattle and taking a commanding three game lead in the NFC West. </p> <p>There's an awful lot to say about this game, both beautiful and morose. It will tempting to glance at this one and retreat to the same familiar themes- <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Seahawks</a> can't close in the fourth quarter, too many penalties, offense can't move the ball when it matters, yada yada yada. And to a degree, that's correct. The Seahawks did have a fourth quarter lead for the whateverth straight game and for the sixth time in the last ten, they couldn't hold it. They also committed a butt ton of penalties (14 for 131 yards), and the offense was only able to score three points after charging back to take an early fourth quarter lead.</p>
<p>All of that is right but it also overlooks the fact that the 2015 <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Cardinals</a> are really good at football. This team isn't the smoke-and-mirrors outfit that started last season 9-1 before crumbling down the stretch. They're not the same squad that has meandered around the middlebottom of the NFC West ever since Kurt Warner retired. This team runs, passes, and plays defense like the best teams in the NFL do. Yes, this loss has a lot to with the Seahawks but it's important to know, before we get to that, that Seattle is no longer the best team in this division and that has at least as much to do with how good the Cardinals are as it does with Seattle's shortcomings.</p>
<p>Never was that more apparent than in the first 25 or so minutes of this one, when the Cardinals gained 91% of the game's first 236 yards en route to a 19-0 lead. Everything about that stretch was obscene, including the fact that after four drives, Seattle had 62 penalty yards to 23 offensive ones. Additionally, <span>Carson Palmer</span> came out dealing. After a quick punt on their first drive, Arizona's next four possessions covered 213 yards on 35 plays, completely dominating game flow and putting Seattle in the extremely rare position of being down three scores at home. Now, the last two times the 'Hawks trailed by three scores at home, they came back and won, and they damn near did it again today. But we'll get to that in a bit.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most disconcerting thing about that original deficit was how brazen the Cards were about throwing the ball downfield. There was absolutely no fear in Palmer, as he stood amidst the rubble of a crumbling pocket all night, throwing the ball with decisive conviction. On back-to-back possessions, <span>Michael Floyd</span> beat both Seattle cornerbacks for long scores, emboldening Arizona's spirit and play calling. The first time, he sort of drifted up the right sideline and then accelerated into the back corner of the endzone as soon as <span>Richard Sherman</span> let his eyes drift to <span>John Brown</span> running an underneath crossing route. Palmer lobbed the ball over a scrambling Sherman to a waiting Floyd, who cradled it like he was trying to win an egg toss competition.</p>
<p>On the next drive, he beat <span>Cary Williams</span> down the left sideline in a straight man-to-man go route that he may* or may not have false-started on. To be honest, Floyd didn't beat Williams with his feet, as Cary stayed on his hip the whole way; no, Floyd beat Williams with his hands, knocking Cary's down at the last moment while extending to catch a perfectly thrown pass before tucking himself inside the pylon for his second score in as many minutes.</p>
<p>*<i>definitely </i></p>
<p>Here's the thing, this is how you beat the Seahawks. You need not only the talent but the <i>balls </i>to challenge Seattle's vaunted secondary at the third level and Arizona has both. It doesn't always work, obviously, but that's now twice in the last three years Arizona has entered Century Link Field and left with a win. Remember that game? Palmer had four interceptions but that didn't stop him from going deep and hooking up a long game-winning TD pass late in the fourth. Same big armed QB, same explosive WRs, same wrinkly, pendulous Bruce Arians nuts. That's not to say that the Seahawks defense has been figured out, just that their soft spot happens to be located between their teeth and you have to be willing to go there in order to beat them.</p>
<p>And while all that was going on, the Seattle offense was looking as hopeless and dysfunctional as they have in half a decade. Holding, false start, a dropped pass, an overthrow, a safety that wasn't a safety, a safety that <i>was</i> a safety, and five heavy-pressures on seven dropbacks- all in the first four drives. On one play, their QB backpedaled with the ball at his waist while his right tackle got pushed back like a five year old on a shopping cart. That's when Wilson ran into Okung, dropped the ball, picked it up again, ran backwards a little, dropped it again, and then won a wrestle-sesh in the endzone to limit the circus damage to two points.</p>
<p>But then everything switched. It was sudden, and beautiful and made you wonder why it wasn't always like that. Seattle abandoned the stodgy, scripted shotgun read-option and opted for an upbeat no-huddle attack that felt looser and more fun. Wilson darted around, not looking to make the "right play" but just looking to make plays. He ran when it was time to run, as he did on a slick 13-yard scamper on their final first half drive. He passed when it was time to pass, as he did right afterward when he dialed up (welcome back) <span>Paul Richardson</span> on a 42-yard go-route and later, <span>Doug Baldwin</span> on a deep seam. And sometimes he did both, as he repeatedly found Baldwin on broken plays- you know, the way they used to.</p>
<p>By the way, this was the best game Baldwin's had in a really long time. He was the only guy who got open with consistency and he always seemed to know exactly what spots he had to get to when Wilson began scrambling. Seven catches, 134 yards, and a tud for Doug.</p>
<p>After netting just 23 yards and zero points on ten plays during their first four drives, Seattle bounced back with 222 yards and 17 points on their next four. It's that dichotomy that makes this offense so frustrating. For 25 minutes they were abysmal. They were all of the abysms. For the next 25, they carved up one of the best defenses in the NFL like they were using the JV as a midweek tune-up. I don't know why, other than to say that football is weird.*</p>
<p>*<i>How weird? Seattle is now 0-4 when winning the turnover battle.</i></p>
<p>And while the offense was scorching, the defense drafted off them and began causing some serious old school damage. The Cardinals went from moving the ball as easily as they pleased to looking completely baffled in an instant. It was crazy to watch the switch get flipped. After racking up 267 yards and 22 points on 37 plays over a five drive stretch in the first half, 'Zona opened up the second half with 30 yards and two turnovers on their next 19 plays. During that time everyone looked great, but none better than the defensive line. <span>Michael Bennett</span> won battle after battle, <span>Cliff Avril</span> became a destroyer of worlds. <span>Jordan Hill</span> and Aytah Rubin collapsed the pocket from the center and harassed <span>Chris Johnson</span> before he could get going. Behind them, Seattle DBs began accurately jumping routes and altering Palmer's timing.</p>
<p>The real fun started when Kris Richard (finally) started cooking up some blitzes. After relying, mostly unsuccessfully, on a four man pass rush, he began to bring pressure in the phantasmic forms of stunts and twists. On consecutive drives, Seattle blew Palmer's house down when one of their wolves charged through the line unimpeded. The Cardinals OL looked bewildered as they struggled to figure out which guys to block and in the meantime, the Seahawks teed off.</p>
<p>On one play, Cliff Avril charged literally over the top of the dude trying to block him and shoved Palmer to the ground as he was getting set to throw. Avril's savagery forced the ball out of Palmer's hand, where it bounced around until KJ Wright arrived for the swoop-n-scoop. That fumble was immediately followed by a three-yard <span>Marshawn Lynch</span> touchdown and on <i>the very next drive</i>, Seattle came with an inside linebacker twist that had Wright flying up the middle. By the time <span>Chris Johnson</span> recognized the threat, it was too late, as Wright breached the pocket and slapped the ball away from Palmer with his gigantic whale fin. <span>Bobby Wagner</span> then sprinted through the rubble to pluck the ball off the turf and take it to the house. That play not only gave Seattle the lead at 29-25, it extended their NFL-record streak of having a lead at some point to 57 games.</p>
<p>That was, unfortunately, where the fun ended. The Cardinals came back admirably, benefiting from more of Seattle's yellow flag charity and a healthy serving of good ol' fashioned play-making. They snatched the lead back from the Seahawks and their roaring crowd with a -- you guessed it -- seam route to a tight end. This latest entry in the back-breaking TD catches by tight ends on a seam route journal was <span>Jermaine Gresham</span>, who slipped unnoticed behind everyone. You know, the way 6'5" 260 lb guys usually do.</p>
<p>After that, Seattle's offense stalled and the Cards came right back with it. The thing about Bruce Arians is, for better or worse, they don't stop attacking. Sure he's insufferable and yes he looks like a gigantic baby emoji with a drawn-on goatee but his teams always keep pressing. After a couple more clock-wringing first downs, Arizona's three point lead became ten with one of my favorite play calls of the season.</p>
<p>Facing a third and three and seemingly following the same run-run-pass cadence they'd kept the last two drives, Arizona line up in a three-wide shotgun formation with <span>Andre Ellington</span> in the backfield with Palmer. Carson took the snap and dropped back but, for the first time all game, he stuffed the ball into his RB's gut for a draw. Seattle hadn't seen it all game and the result was, from an objective football perspective, sublime. Ellington picked up the first down before beating Kam Chancellor's angle and then sprinted unhindered down the left sideline for what would turn out to be the decisive points.</p>
<p>And, like so many other games this season, the difference in this game wasn't thematic. It was one or two plays going one way when they could've gone another. It almost always is. Consider Arizona's last drive of the first half. Seattle, by all common sense interpretations of events, forced a fumble on a completion to the tight end. That fumble was then scooped up by <span>Earl Thomas</span>, who already had an interception, and returned near midfield with about a minute left. Instead, the Seahawks became latest casualty of the NFL's ongoing efforts to codify the elimination of any contested catch. The pass was ruled incomplete and instead of Seattle having one minute to go half the field and make it 19-14 or 19-10, the Cardinals got to keep the ball in field goal range and extend their lead to 22-7 before the half.</p>
<p>Or how about the short stop route by <span>Jaron Brown</span> that Sherman anticipated perfectly? Swimming under Brown, Sherman deflected the pass up in the in the midst of three Seahawks ready to pick it off. Instead, Brown snaked his little twigs back up in the air and snagged the pass that would ultimately lead to the go-ahead score. Those aren't the only examples, obviously, as there were plenty of things that broke Seattle's way too, but they are the two starkest exhibits of getting beat despite making your best play and sometimes that's just the difference.</p>
<p>Ultimately, while it's weird to lose another game despite winning in turnover margin, it's tough to beat any team when you commit 14 penalties and concede 30 first downs. It also doesn't help when, after converting your first third down, you fail to do so on your remaining seven opportunities.</p>
<p>So how good is this team? I don't know. I'm pretty confident saying they're pretty good but that's still a long way from being really confident that they are really good. And while I absolutely do not think the Seahawks are a true-talent 4-5 team, they <i>are</i> a true-record 4-5 team and unfortunately it's your record, not your talent, that determines your postseason draw, if any.</p>
<p>With the Cardinals at 7-2, I think it's pretty safe to say that the division is a lost cause. If the Seahawks do make the playoffs, they'll be traveling for the privilege. So what about the wild card spots? Right now they're being held by the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Green Bay Packers</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Falcons</a>, respectively, who each find themselves 6-3 after blistering starts to the season. That's two games to overcome and since Seattle lost in Green Bay, it's unlikely they'll make up the three games necessary to leapfrog them. That means that the Falcons are the squad the 'Hawks have the most realistic shot at catching. I don't feel like breaking down remaining strengths of schedules or anything, just know that while two games over a seven game stretch can be a difficult gap to make up, it's clearly doable and I honestly think the Seahawks are a better team than the Falcons so I'm not giving up hope yet.</p>
<p>Sadly, it's not as clear a path as that. Not only does Seattle have to catch Atlanta, they have to beat a barge full of competitors as well. Tied with Seattle at 4-5 are the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/washington-redskins" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Redskins</a>, <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Eagles</a>, <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Rams</a>, <i>and </i><a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bears</a>. And the <a href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Saints</a> are just a half game back of that pile up but I think they're pretty terrible so I'm only including them as a footnote.</p>
<p>There's still a lot to shake out. At this point last year, the three teams with the best records in the NFC were the Cardinals, <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Detroit Lions</a> (both of whom lost on the road in the first round) and the Philadelphia Eagles (who missed the playoffs completely). As dire as these straits may seem, a lot of carnage can take place in two months. Seattle's next opponent is just perfect. The <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link" style="background-color: #ffffff;">49ers</a> at home. A win puts the 'Hawks at 5-5. A loss removes all uncertainty from the rest of the season. The good news is they (most likely) won't lose so we can all enjoy this weird ennui for a while longer.</p>
<p>Until then, onward and upward.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JacsonBevens">Jacson on Twitter</a> || <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/cigarthoughtspodcast/">Cigar Thoughts Facebook Page</a> || <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fieldgulls.com/cigar-thoughts">Cigar Thoughts Archive</a></p>
<p>The cigar I smoked tonight was called The Inferno or some shit. It was bad. Don't buy it. Buy this <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641882&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.famous-smoke.com%2Falec%2Bbradley%2Btempus%2Bcenturia%2Bcigars%2Fitem%2B27286&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fieldgulls.com%2F2015%2F11%2F16%2F9740964%2Fseahawks-cardinals-final-score-sunday-night-football-snf-39-32-reaction-nfl-cigar-thoughts" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">gorgeous Alec Bradley Centuria</a> instead. Waaay better. Best place I've found to get them is still <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641882&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.famous-smoke.com%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fieldgulls.com%2F2015%2F11%2F16%2F9740964%2Fseahawks-cardinals-final-score-sunday-night-football-snf-39-32-reaction-nfl-cigar-thoughts" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">www.Famous-Smoke.com</a>, so give yourself a gift. You earned it, kiddo.</p>
https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/11/16/9740964/seahawks-cardinals-final-score-sunday-night-football-snf-39-32-reaction-nfl-cigar-thoughtsJacson Bevens2015-11-15T22:22:28-08:002015-11-15T22:22:28-08:00Real in the Field Gulls: Instant Reaction
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<figcaption>Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>This week on the Real in the Field Gulls: Instant Reaction show, Danny and Kenneth discuss what's wrong with <span>Russell Wilson</span>, the defense, and why it's still too early to give up on this season. The <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Seahawks</a> are just two games back of the wild card and the team currently holding that spot (the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons" class="sbn-auto-link">Falcons</a>) is actually quite poor.</p>
<p>That doesn't mean that Seattle shouldn't be shamed for falling to 4-5 and blowing a fourth quarter lead for the fifth time this season. They also managed to find a way to lose a game while winning the turnover battle again, a phenomenon which you'll rarely ever see.</p>
<p>In Real in the Film Gulls, we discuss the movies DOPE and Spectre and if Daniel Craig is the best Bond.</p>
<p><iframe width="100%" height="250" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/233266820&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true"></iframe></p>
<p><b><a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/real-in-the-field-gulls/id1033390261?mt=2">Subscribe on iTunes and give us a solid-as-hell rating</a>. We will be back on Thursday to preview the Seahawks game against the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Francisco 49ers</a>. And if they lose that one, then no, there will be no coming back from this ever.</b></p>
https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/11/15/9742030/seahawks-cardinals-instant-reaction-podcast-suckyKenneth ArthurDanny Kelly2015-11-15T20:31:00-08:002015-11-15T20:31:00-08:00Sunday Night Football: 4th Quarter thread
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<figcaption>Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Football.</p>
https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/11/15/9740344/sunday-night-football-4th-quarter-threadDanny Kelly2015-11-15T19:35:22-08:002015-11-15T19:35:22-08:00Paul Richardson (hamstring) is questionable to return<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/Seahawks/status/666094518974812160">Paul Richardson (hamstring) is questionable to&nbsp;return</a></h3>
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https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/11/15/9741654/paul-richardson-hamstring-is-questionable-to-returnDanny Kelly