Sunday was a rough watch for any Arizona Cardinals fan as the Seattle Seahawks displayed exactly why they lead the NFC West and are a Super Bowl contender.
The Seahawks jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and led 35-0 shortly into the second quarter en route to the 44-22 win.
Despite the game basically being over at halftime, the Cardinals showed some fight in the second half. There wasn’t much to be proud of for Cardinals fans, but here are three things that went right for Arizona.
Mr. Consistent Showed Up
Even if nobody else showed up on Sunday for the Cardinals, tight end Trey McBride did — as he has all year long.
The Cardinals’ star tight end had nine catches for 127 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets in Sunday’s loss.
Trey McBride is the best TE in the NFL!
— SleeperCardinals (@SleeperAZCards) November 9, 2025
McBride’s 100-yard game was the first time a Cardinals player has eclipsed the century mark this season, and he’s ranked No. 8 among all tight ends in the NFL, according to PFSN’s TE Impact.
The Cardinals’ star has also caught at least five passes in every game this season, extending his streak of at least five receptions to 11 straight games, joining elite company.
McBride’s touchdown on Sunday was also his sixth of the year, doubling his previous career high and putting him just two touchdowns away from tying the Cardinals’ single-season record.
The Cardinals’ tight end has five receiving touchdowns with Brissett at quarterback and seven receiving touchdowns over his 54 career games with any other quarterback. The duo has certainly found their connection.
Defense Forced Turnovers
It didn’t mean much over the course of the game because of the Seahawks’ large lead, but the defense had a second straight performance forcing three turnovers.
The Cardinals’ defense was on the field a lot, making it extremely hard to stay fresh. However, Arizona’s defense did its part to try to keep the team in the game.
The Cardinals forced two turnovers inside the 10-yard line after their offense turned the ball over on downs and forced another fumble immediately after the offense scored their first touchdown in the third quarter.
The defense gave its offense ample opportunities to try to make a comeback on Sunday afternoon, but eventually it wore down, and the Seahawks were able to run the ball down their throats.
Coming into Sunday, the Cardinals ranked 15th in the NFL in turnovers forced, according to PFSN’s Defense Impact metric.
After forcing five turnovers in the first six games, Arizona’s defense has forced eight turnovers in the last three contests. Turnovers not only give your offense the ball immediately but also swing momentum. If the Cardinals’ defense keeps producing, wins should follow.
Emphasis on Key Playmakers
One major theme of frustration this year has been the Cardinals’ offense, largely because they haven’t consistently gotten the ball to their top playmakers. For two straight weeks now, Arizona has prioritized getting its key players involved.
Trailing most of the game, Marvin Harrison Jr. and McBride combined for 25 targets against the Seahawks — precisely what fans want to see from offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
Harrison only came down with three catches, so there needs to be an improvement there, but the emphasis on getting him and McBride the ball was evident. McBride’s production has been steady all season, but the Cardinals need to get their former fifth-overall pick receiver going, and Sunday was a good sign for that.
Arizona also continued to see flashes of explosiveness from running back Emari Demercado. The TCU product will be remembered this year for dropping the ball before reaching the end zone, but last week he showed mental intelligence late in the game and continued to show athleticism on Sunday.
Demercado had just four carries but gained 64 yards, including a long 55-yard burst. He also added three catches for 40 yards, including a 34-yard reception.
The Cardinals hope running back Trey Benson can return soon, but Demercado has made an impact every time he’s touched the ball — as long as he’s held onto it.
There weren’t a lot of positives from Sunday’s beatdown in Seattle, but the Cardinals did a few things right, and there’s always stuff to build on.
The Cardinals have a full week of practice ahead of Week 11’s matchup with the San Francisco 49ers.