1st: Kyler Murray now has his origin story.
- This game was about so many things, so many decisions, so many wild turn of events, so many people but really it was about Kyler Murray. This was about Murray going toe to toe against Russell Wilson and winning. It was about Murray overcoming drops, fumbles, missed 4th downs, missed FG's and still leading his team to a win. Every superhero story has an origin story: Down on their luck, discovering their powers, losing to their arch nemesis before finally realizing the power they have and winning. This was that moment for Kyler. Also, please don't fact check me nerds, I don't like superhero movies - I stopped watching The Black Panther an hour in and have never seen any of The Avengers - but I know enough to know this is the gist. Kyler was at his best this season on the biggest stage against the best team and that's all that matters.
And 10:
- Also just for the record, please spare me any discussion whatsoever of Kyler needing to control his emotions during a game after he was caught chewing on Darrell Daniels. The big TE dropped a surefire big play on the first snap of the game, whiffed on a block of KJ Wright that saw DeAndre Hopkins get blown up and was responsible for the missed block that led to Kyler losing five yards and Kliff Kingsbury panicking to attempt a FG on 2nd down with plenty of time on the clock. I'd much rather have Patrick Peterson trying to calm down my QB than trying to fire him up. Its better to ask him to pull it back than being asking Kyler to give more.
- Co-starring with Kyler on the game was Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph. The maligned leader of the Cardinals surprisingly strong defense can now buy a second home in the White Mountains because he's here for the long haul. Joseph limited the Seahawks to just 7 points after the first half. He was masterful at bringing the blitz from different spots and different personnel to the point that it disrupted Wilson just enough to allow the Cardinals to get the W. The Byron Murphy sack on third down in OT was a perfect example of Joseph's wizardry. Wilson froze like a deer in headlights because he never anticipated that blitz coming from that dude. It was masterful and Joseph was the mastermind.
- Patrick Peterson has taken his fair share of shrapnel this season but he was the old P2 on Sunday night. He blanketed DK Metcalf for most of the game and Metcalf finished with just two catches for 23 yards. Peterson also had tight coverage on Tyler Lockett for two big completions but those weren't the fault of Peterson, more a credit to Locket for being absolutely unconscious catching dimes from Russell Wilson.
- Haason Reddick had his most impactful game as a Cardinals. He finished the game with a sack, three QB hits, three tackles for a loss and 11 total tackles. He did a great job of using his athleticism in tight spaces to keep track of Wilson. Reddick is never going to change the perception that he was overdrafted by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft but he is clearly working towards a valuable role as a situational pass rusher who can be valuable pass rushing depth for the Cardinals or someone else, depending on his price tag this offseason.
- Resiliency was the name of the Cardinals game on Sunday night. It felt like they were DEFINITELY losing this game no fewer than seven times: After the Seahawks first TD drive, after the Cardinals disastrous first drive, after DeAndre Hopkins fumbled the ball, after the Cardinals failed to score any points on the Budda Baker INT, after the Kyler INT following the Wilson INT, after losing the OT coin toss and after the missed FG in OT. But after each wild gut punch, they bounced back and won. How many moments would every other Cardinals team have folded? All of them? Not this team.
- The Budda Baker INT/DK Metcalf chase down was one of the most fun/holy shit plays ever. Metcalf outraced Patrick Peterson like me racing my kids. And then Budda Baker pulled a Rickon Stark and instead of taking an angle, continued running straight and got pulled down. This play barely edged out Daniel Jones falling on his face as the best play so far of 2020.
- Chase Edmonds was the real hero with his 32 yard run to put the Cardinals in position to kick the game winner. Edmonds consistently makes positive plays and should earn more touches. Kenyan's Drake injury should guarantee that and Ill be curious to see what role Eno Benjamin has but for all the Cardinals fans crowing about Edmond's superiority Id say this: The Cardinals desperately need both running backs to make the playoffs.
- Staying on brand for a moment, here are a few uncomfortable truths in the wake of a narrative defining win over Seattle: Genuinely happy for Isaiah Simmons but that play illustrated why he's not on the field more. He's too robotic to be an ILB, too hulking to be a safety and doesn't have the technique or heaviness to be an edge rusher. But still, a great moment. Uncomfortable truth #2: Kliff Kingsbury might be the Cardinals biggest liability going forward. I appreciate his candor postgame in owning the "debacle" of a FG attempt but that's really not acceptable at this level. Uncomfortable truth #3: Kyler Murray wasn't smiling on that TD pass to Hopkins. Uncomfortable truth #4: SF and LAR are tougher matchups in the NFC West for AZ. Uncomfortable truth #5: This loss likely compels SEA to make a season changing trade for another impact defender.
- Under the Radar Stars: The entire offensive line who didn't allow a single hit or sack of Kyler Murray, DJ Humphries specifically who has been a rock, Christian Kirk who is only under the radar because 15 other bonkers things happened, David Moore for the holding penalty that gave the Cardinals a final chance and the Cardinals fans who sold their tickets to Seahawks fans.
- BYE WEEK - but while they are at home, the Cardinals get to watch the 49ers and Seahawks do battle and the Rams give them a sneak peak at Tua and the Dolphins before the Cardinals play the rookie in Week 9. Thats a huge break for a Cardinals team still facing a difficult uphill battle to make the playoffs.