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ReFo: Cardinals @ Seahawks, Week 12

2014-REFO-WK12-ARZ@SEAThis looked to be a defensive battle coming into the game, and that’s exactly what we got as the Seattle defense shut down Arizona in their second game since losing Carson Palmer for the season, holding the Cardinals to a mere field goal.

Now the NFC West is even more interesting as we head into the final five weeks with Arizona sitting two games ahead of Seattle and San Francisco. The Cardinals have the easier remaining schedule on paper, though they have to be concerned with their QB play and shooting themselves in the foot on a few occasions in this game. Conversely, Seattle faces a gauntlet to close out the season and only gets two of their final five at home.

Arizona Cardinals – Performances of Note

Drew Stanton, QB: -2.3

Breakdown: Another shaky outing for Stanton, who struggled against Seattle’s blitz, averaging less than three yards per attempt on just under a third of his drop backs. He did cut down on big misreads and interceptions, throwing just one pick on Sunday – at 12:14 of the second quarter, he locked onto Andre Ellington on an out downfield, failing to see Byron Maxwell, who came off of his coverage underneath to jump the route.

Signature Stat: Completed just one of five attempts to the right side of the field (outside the numbers), where Richard Sherman spent 50 of his 55 snaps.

Deone Bucannon, DB: +1.2

Breakdown: One of the standouts on the Arizona defense, Bucannon picked up a sack and four other defensive stops, excelling coming forward in coverage to hold Seattle to short gains.

Signature Play: 2Q, 13:31. With the Seahawks facing third down in scoring position at the 5-yard line, Bucannon rushed quickly off the edge, containing the mobile Wilson and notching the sack to force a field goal.

Jaron Brown, WR: -2.6

Breakdown: Brown had a fairly quiet day in terms of production with 24 yards gained on three catches, but a pair of significant blunders stood out. On the first, near the end of the first half (2Q, 0:19), Brown dropped one of the easiest touchdown catches you’ll see on a short curl in the end zone – a pivotal moment in the game forcing Arizona to settle for a field goal going into halftime. The second play occurred in the fourth at 9:08, when Brown almost coughed it up near his own goal, fortunate that the ball landed out of bounds before Seattle could recover it.

Signature Stat: Brown logged a season-high 46 snaps after playing just 10 last week and 75 in the first 11 weeks.

Seattle Seahawks – Performances of Note

Bobby Wagner, LB: +3.9

Breakdown: In his first action since Week 6, Wagner made life difficult for the Arizona offense as he collected three stops in run defense, while making the most of his seven pass rushes pressuring the QB twice. And on plays where he wasn’t involved in the tackle, Wagner still opened up plays for his teammates, beating blocks and squeezing the point of attack, as FB Robert Hughes can attest on a pair of second quarter runs.

Signature Play: 1Q, 1:19. His quick pressure against center Lyle Sendlein forced Stanton to climb the pocket almost immediately after hitting the back of his drop, resulting in an easy cleanup sack for Jordan Hill.

Kam Chancellor, S: +3.4

Breakdown: Arizona elected to block Chancellor with receivers and tight ends in the run game, and after collecting season highs in tackles and stops, it’s safe to say that the Seahawk safety won those matchups. He also played well in coverage with his two catches allowed going for just 5 yards combined; a nice bounce back from a rough season thus far.

Signature Play: 2Q, 5:28.Got inside of WR Michael Floyd to drop Andre Ellington for a short gain on first down.

Russell Okung, LT: +4.4

Breakdown: The less heralded Russell on Seattle’s offense, Okung had a clean sheet in pass protection allowing no pressures in 32 passing snaps. Also made several nice blocks in the run game to round out his grade, including a pair of seals on Calais Campbell inside.

Signature Stat: After seven penalties in a span of three games early in the season, Okung hasn’t been penalized in his last five games.

PFF Game Ball

This one goes to Bobby Wagner in his return for his work holding the Cardinals to a field goal.

 

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