By Matthew DelDonna, PSO Director of Football Development
Nov 20, 2020

Thursday night was the host to a big game between two NFC West powerhouses this season in the Cardinals and Seahawks. A win for ARZ would mean they’d sweep the season series against SEA and take definitive control over the division lead, while the ‘Hawks looked to bounce back from a two-game losing streak and even the season series up while simultaneously regaining first place. 

Russell Wilson remained mistake-free, something he’s struggled to do the last few weeks, and Kyler Murray battled an apparent shoulder injury for most of the game but kept his team in it, especially in the second half. Coming down to one final drive with the Red Sea intruding deep into Seahawk territory, Murray had one last chance on a 4th and 10 but was sacked by Carlos Dunlap to seal the big win on TNF. With the victory, Seattle not only moves Arizona down the standings but Russell Wilson essentially buried Kyler Murray in the MVP race as well.

Enjoy PSO’s Premium Review for the Cardinals vs. Seahawks on Thursday Night Football:

 
Final Results: @SEA (-163) d. ARI (+147) 28-21 [SEA -3.0 | u56.5]
  • Dunlap put the finishing touch on SEA’s Win

  • Russell Wilson turns dimes into points

  • This pass from K1 was perfect

  • Edmonds saw a ghost town in the end zone

1. Carlos Dunlap is the x-factor to Seattle’s Super Bowl aspirations 

The story of the Seahawks this year has been that their offense is great, but the defense leaves a lot to be desired. Acquiring Jamal Adams was undoubtedly helpful, but the defense was in need of one more piece to complement Adams and Bobby Wagner. Enter Carlos Dunlap, acquired via trade after he wanted out of Cincinnati, to help shore up the Hawks’ lackluster pass rush. 

Dunlap slid in right off the bat and made an impact almost immediately, making nine tackles and three sacks in two full games, including the game-sealing sack of Kyler Murray tonight. Now with another key piece on the defense and a soft remaining schedule, SEA has a legitimate shot to make it to February thanks in big part to a change of scenery for its newest addition. 

2. Russell Wilson is the clear-cut MVP when he avoids mistakes

In each of the Seattle Seahawks’ three losses this season, Russell Wilson has committed a whopping 10 turnovers while only turning the ball over three times in SEA’s seven wins. The bottom line is simple: Russ is the Most Valuable Player in the league when they are unable to force turnovers out of him. Fortunately for Wilson, he and the ‘Hawks are now left with the easiest remaining schedule amongst all NFL teams. With that said, fans might be in store for a dominant second half campaign should the momentum from tonight’s win carry into next week and beyond with Russ’ MVP candidacy still very much alive.

3. This game significantly derailed Cards’ NFC West changes & Kyler’s MVP aspirations

The NFC West has been the talk of every NFL media outlet this year, and rightfully so. The Seahawks and Cardinals have given NFL fans plenty of exciting moments, from Russell Wilson’s MVP-like hot start to Kyler Murray’s rise to stardom including a spectacular game-ending Hail Mary to DeAndre Hopkins and much more. Additionally, these teams’ matchups against each other have been nothing short of phenomenal as both have come down to just a single play. 

One play can make all the difference as it did tonight. With a one-score victory, Seattle now has sole possession of the division lead and the easiest remaining schedule left in the league. Barring any major injuries, it is very likely that Seattle will win the West. Murray and Wilson were both MVP candidates entering this matchup, but only one player can actually win the award. While Mahomes has the best odds to pull it off now, it certainly won’t come from a player who’s team couldn’t even win the division, which made this game even more important with Wilson taking a huge lead over Murray in the MVP race. 

For a primer on what the colors mean, click here. For SEA’s full Team Outlook, click here 
 

Things are looking up for the Seahawks after their big win over the Cardinals tonight as they regain first place in the NFC West and look ahead to a very favorable schedule. D.K. Metcalf was up and down in tonight’s game, catching a few passes and a score but dropping an easy TD that he should’ve caught. When Metcalf is chugging ahead and putting up production downfield, everything runs smoother, so it’ll be key for Wilson to target him more often and get the ball in his hands as much as possible. Chris Carson is set to return soon from injury, which will reduce Carlos Hyde’s role despite his consistent performances. 

The Cardinals may have failed to seize a golden opportunity to take a NFC West division lead, but not all hope is lost for this team. Their division is still very much up for grabs, and if there’s one thing to take away from the last few weeks, it’s that Wilson has a turnover tendency which could come back to haunt him. The bigger concern for the Cards is that Murray seemed to bang up his shoulder early on in this game. He was able to continue playing fortunately, so there’s a good chance that the injury wasn’t too serious and he will have a few extra days to rest it in preparation for next week’s game against New England. 

Full game highlights from the Cardinals vs. Seahawks TNF matchup can be seen below.

Learn something interesting from this Cardinals vs. Seahawks PSO Premium Review in Week 11? Share with friends!