I can’t find anywhere on the 2026 National Football League schedule a matchup that pits one team coming off such an emotional win and their opponent off such a crushing loss as the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.
Last week, the Cardinals were trailing the Dallas Cowboys on the road by double-digits and made a change at quarterback, bringing in veteran Gardner Minshew II to replace the ineffective Jacoby Brissett. Instead of a simple mop up performance by Minshew, he invigorated the Cardinals offense and drove them to three late touchdowns while completing 17 of 23 passes for 188 yards.
The last of the three TDs should have provided the winning margin, but the extra point was missed by kicker Chad Ryland and sent the game to overtime. In the overtime period, the Cardinals went three and out on their first possession, but then the team spark lit by Minshew spilled over to the defense and they forced the Cowboys to punt after a three and out offensive series.
On their second overtime possession, Minshew got the Cardinals in field goal range and Ryland got a reprieve on his missed extra point with a successful 42-yard winning field goal.
What a day … what a turnaround … what a happy flight home for the Cardinals after their 33-30 win that sent Dallas owner Jerry Jones into a controlled rage over his team’s meltdown that dropped them two games behind the first place New York Giants in the NFC East Division.
The next day, on Monday night, the Seattle Seahawks didn’t follow-up with their huge win over the Kansas City Chiefs that got them back in the competitive NFC West Division race with another victory at home. They were downed by the potent Chicago Bears and their new defensive weapon, Jeffrey Simmons, 34-17 in front of their home fans.