The Arizona Cardinals did not seem to have any answers to the Seattle Seahawks’ run game on Sunday as Seattle prevailed, 30-18.
The win gave Seattle a season sweep of Arizona after previously knocking off the Cardinals, 16-6, on Nov. 24.
The Seahawks took advantage of a strong rushing attack on Sunday. RB Zach Charbonnet was dominant with 22 carries for a career-high 134 yards and two TDs. The team had 176 rush yards total and over 400 yards overall.
Although Charbonnet, the second-year player out of UCLA, had five rushing TDs coming into Week 14, a 91-yard performance on Sept. 22 against the Miami Dolphins is the only other game he has topped 90 yards on the ground this season.
Charbonnet took on an increased workload as Seattle’s starting RB, Kenneth Walker III (ankle/calf), missed his third game of the season. He was sidelined with an oblique injury in the other two games.
QB Geno Smith was efficient with a season-high completion percentage (80%) and one TD pass.
The Cardinals have now suffered three consecutive losses — two to Seattle — after winning four straight games prior.
QB Kyler Murray’s turnover woes continue to be troublesome in the losses. While Murray had only thrown three interceptions all season before the Cardinals’ last three losses, he has tossed five interceptions in those games.
Aside from Murray’s giveaways, the Cardinals also struggled on third-down (4-for-12).
Considering the Cardinals have lost both games to Seattle, any chance of them winning the NFC West seems unlikely at this point. The Seahawks would have to stumble the last four weeks for Arizona (6-7) to have any shot and that may not even be enough.
The Seahawks (8-5) possess a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Rams (7-6) and two games over the Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers (6-7).
It is not going to be easy for Seattle, though. With games against the Green Bay Packers (9-4), Minnesota Vikings (11-2) and a division game with the Rams remaining in their last four outings, the NFC West race is not over yet.
With that said, the Seahawks are in a good position given their 4-5 start to the season.
