That Sinking Feeling

Cardinals, 49ers increase their lead over the Seahawks

If the Seahawks and Cardinals were compared piece by piece, the difference between the two teams could be minimal, if not irrelevant. But as a whole, Seattle is much worse than Arizona this season and that gap is getting wider by the week: The Cardinals have won four straight games and they have now blown out their last two opponents, the Bears and Jets. That gives 6-4 Arizona a 1.5-game lead over the 4-5 Seahawks.

The Seahawks soon play the Cardinals twice in a three-week period, but it is in Seattle’s best interest to focus on how to the best NFC West team next year, not next month.

Common Opponents

Between 5 common opponents so far this season, the Cardinals have had a better showing than the Seahawks in 4 of those: Bills, Rams, Lions, 49ers.

The one time that Seattle was better against a common opponent, the Dolphins started the game with Skylar Thompson and ended with Tim Boyle. Arizona beat Miami 28-27 despite a good showing by Tua Tagovailoa.

The Cardinals have been blown out twice, exposing some potential flaws to exploit should they make the playoffs, but Kyler Murray is playing his best football since he led Arizona to the postseason in 2021 and they’ve thrown punches against the likes of Buffalo, Detroit, L.A., and San Francisco:

Should the Seahawks win their next four games, we will have a much different conversation about Seattle’s playoff chances. But any loss in the next four really could be that devastating.

The main difference when Seahawks play Cardinals:

The Seahawks play the Cardinals on November 24th and December 8th, so that’s the first thing you need to know.

The second thing you need to know:

• In 7 days, the Seahawks play the 49ers in Santa Clara

• In 7 days, the Cardinals…do nothing

• In 14 days, the Seahawks host the Cardinals off of that 49ers game

• In 14 days, the Cardinals come back from 14 days rest

Because the Cardinals are already 2-0 against the Rams and 49ers, it means that Arizona is one win over Seattle away from guaranteeing that NO NFC West team can hold a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over them. And if the Seahawks lose to the Cardinals in two weeks, it guarantees that Seattle can hold no head-to-head advantage over ANY NFC West team.

49ers 23, Bucs 20

First of all, this fourth down play by Baker Mayfield should have been worth 3 points or something, it’s that good:

But it wasn’t worth any points and the 49ers won despite three missed field goals by kicker Jake Moody, and that’s another tough pill to swallow for the Seahawks fans looking to keep the door open by a crack. San Francisco holds a one-game lead over Seattle (5-4 to 4-5) and the first head-to-head tiebreaker advantage. They aren’t even the first place team, they could be in third place by tomorrow!

Should the 4-4 Rams beat the Dolphins on Monday, L.A. will also hold a one-game lead and the head-to-head advantage.

Reality Sets In

The Seahawks are going to miss the playoffs and it doesn’t help to entertain fantasies of an extraordinary comeback that necessitates going at least 7-1 over the last eight games. Is this just ownership’s doing? Probably not, as coaches and players always believe in themselves until the last breath, as they should!

For anyone on the outside looking in without playing a part in Seattle’s success or lack thereof, the writing is on the wall:

• The Seahawks HAD TO make that field goal against the Giants

• The Seahawks HAD TO get points on any of those drives against the Rams that ended in a turnover

• The Seahawks HAD TO, but they DID NOT

At 6-3, Seattle would have had different goals than at 4-5 because the Seahawks might actually play their best football from here on out. Unfortunately, that “sinking feeling” is when it’s too little, too late because the Seahawks are buried under 3-feet of other teams in the division who did more things that they HAD TO do this year.

Next Year, You Say?

For a team that had to build around Kyler Murray, the Cardinals shocked everybody and did it. Their three most recent first picks:

• 2022, TE Trey McBride (2nd round)

• 2023, LT Paris Johnson (6th overall)

• 2024, WR Marvin Harrison, Jr. (4th overall)

McBride could be the next George Kittle, he’s been that good this season. The result is a quarterback who isn’t going to get as many MVP votes as Lamar Jackson, but is playing his best career football and he’s barely 27. How many non-Seahawks fans would pick the Seahawks core offense over Arizona’s? San Francisco’s? L.A.’s?

NFC West QB Hierarchy

Brock Purdy doesn’t turn 25 until next month. There are those who question how good these quarterbacks will be in the future, but I know how good they are right now: Better than Seattle wishes they were.

The Rams have the oldest quarterback in the NFC and the third-oldest starter in the NFL; but Matthew Stafford is only two years older than Geno Smith, so exactly how long is that window supposed to be in which the Seahawks will have the best quarterback in the NFC West or just a better one than L.A.?

Because in sports, it has NEVER MATTERED how good you are. NEVER. Good, bad, great, awful, these are all relative terms.

Better, Worse, Best, Worst. These are the words that matter to the Seahawks.

Best? No.

Worst? In the NFC West, Seattle is the worst. Technically. Right now.

Does this mean that the Seahawks need to go player-for-player, position-for-position, and reach on a first round quarterback or overpay a veteran out of fear that Murray, Purdy, and Stafford will give their teams an advantage? That’s not what it means.

It just means that if the Seahawks:

• ACCEPT their current position in the division, conference, and NFL

• then ACT BOLDLY next year to answer the bell

• They could close the gap — or SURPASS — all 3 division rivals next season

We know the Seahawks have been out-played this season, but do the Seahawks know that?

Seaside Joe 2050

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