From The Nest (#5) – Pitt’s Cardinals Competitive, But Execution Issues Stand Out

After coming off what most considered a Cinderella season, the Arizona Cardinals were quick to enjoy the success but quickly turned the page in preparation for the upcoming year. The Cardinals opened the 2026/27 season against division rival the Seattle Seahawks and knew exactly what was ahead of them. After splitting with Seattle in the regular season last year and beating them in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, both teams were prepared for a chess match—and that’s exactly what it was.

In typical fashion between the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals, the game was a back-and-forth battle. Both defenses forced turnovers and key stops, while the offenses responded with scoring drives of their own. MVP runner-up Kyler Murray had a familiar standout performance, posting 5 passing touchdowns, 419 passing yards, 72 rushing yards, 1 interception, 1 fumble, and a 71.4% completion rate. However, despite the offense firing on all cylinders, it still wasn’t enough to secure the win.

The game came down to the wire. After holding an early two-score lead, the Cardinals found themselves needing a stop late in the fourth quarter, playing from behind. With the ball at midfield, Seattle faced a 4th and 2. Coach CB had a decision to make: punt and risk losing on a game-winning field goal, or go for it and attempt to secure the victory. The Seahawks stayed on the field. The Cardinals anticipated a run to Kenneth Walker, who had been a problem all day. Seattle countered with a pass. Despite having coverage secured short, the Seahawks’ offensive line held strong long enough for a deep route to develop out of the backfield. Walker leaked out, caught the 40-yard pass, and was tackled at the 1-yard line—effectively sealing the game.

In this matchup, the Arizona Cardinals forced more turnovers and outgained the Seahawks offensively, but still could not prevail. The reason came down to a combination of poor clock management and defensive execution in critical third- and fourth-down situations. Seattle attempted four fourth-down conversions and converted all four—each in pivotal moments. Much like last season, the Cardinals struggled to get off the field when it mattered most.

No matter how explosive the Arizona Cardinals’ offense is, no matter how many records it breaks, the team will not reach its full potential until the defense improves. Rumors have circulated about potential changes at defensive coordinator or shifting play-calling duties, but Coach Gannon has expressed continued confidence in Nick Rallis. The hope is that with time and development of the young defensive core, these issues can be corrected early in the season before they become a larger problem later on.

— From The Nest