Arizona Cardinals embarrassed on National Television by Seahawks, lose 34-22

In a game marked by offensive ineptness, questionable coaching calls, and the continued domination by Russel Wilson, the Seahawks improved to the best record in the NFC, while the Cardinals dropped to 3-4 on the year.

The Cardinals received to open the game, only to punt it away a few minutes later.  The Seahawks responded by marching down the field, and ultimately put the first points on the board off of a 31 yard pass from Wilson to WR Sydney Rice.  This would prove to be the only points scored in the quarter.  QB Carson Palmer threw the 1st of his 2 interceptions here, which would just be the start of his mediocre day.

The 2nd quarter saw the Seahawks immediately extend their lead to 14, with Wilson throwing a 15 yard pass down the middle to the home-town TE Zack Miller.  However, after a 49 yard FG by Jay Feely, the Cardinals were able to keep the momentum going when LB Matt Shaughnessy sacked Wilson deep in the Seahawks red-zone, forcing a fumble which was then recovered by DE Calais Campbell.  The Cardinals immediately capitalized off this, ending the drive as quickly as it started with a 3 yard rush for a TD by RB Rashard Mendenhall.  Unfortunately, this would be the closest the Cardinals would be able to cut the deficit, as Seattle ended the half with a 51 yard FG by K Steven Hauschka.

In the 3rd quarter, the first scoring would come off of another FG from Feely, this time a 52-yarder to bring the game back within 4.  However, the Seahawks would soon run away with the game, scoring twice in the quarter.  One TD would come from a Wilson to TE Kellen Davis pass deep in the Red Zone, and another would come from a 2 yard rush by Marshawn Lynch to give the Seahawks a 31-13 lead to end the quarter.

The 4th and final quarter of the game began with a 22 yard FG by Feely, his 3rd of the game.  The Seahawks quickly responded with a 42 yard FG by Hauschka.  The only remaining scoring to be seen would come in garbage time, with Palmer finding rookie WR Jaron Brown with 4:34 remaining.  Finally, the game ended on a Palmer pass into the dirt: A fitting summary of the offense's performance in the game.

Multiple factors contributed to the Cardinals' loss tonight.  These included bad calls by the Coaching Staff, mis-communication between Palmer and his receivers, dropped passes, poor protection, as well as confusing decisions made by Palmer himself.  Towards the end of the game, the mostly-Seahawks crowd began to rain boos on Palmer, marking his ascent to the Hot Seat.  Overall, it was a disheartening performance, especially considering the national audience that had to bear through this disaster.

The Cardinals are now 0-3 in divisional games this year.  They'll look to reach .500 again when they take on Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday.

Until then, enjoy this gif of Larry Fitzgerald laying out CB Richard Sherman: