THE STORY: The margin for error is thin against the defending Super Bowl champions, and that's what an elite defense will do.

The Cardinals felt that the hard way on Sunday at State Farm Stadium, slowly absorbing a 24-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in which Arizona's offense just couldn't make much headway.

Seahawks star wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba had three touchdown catches, but it was the Seattle defense that never let the Cardinals breathe.

With the game tied at 7 at halftime and the Cardinals (1-1) getting a final burst of energy when Budda Baker sacked Drew Lock on the final play of the second quarter, coach Mike LaFleur's team looked like it would get a second burst when the Seahawks (2-0) fumbled the opening kickoff -- only to have Seattle linebacker Chazz Surratt pick it up and tack on an extra 35 yards.

The Seahawks converted the short drive with the second of JSN's three scores, and from there, the Cardinals couldn't get closer.

The Cardinals managed only 151 yards of offense, compared to 381by Seattle. Smith-Njigba finished with nine receptions for 155 yards. Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett had his streak of 200-yard passing days in starts to begin his Arizona career snapped, finishing with only 95 yards on 17-of-28 passing.

More to come on azcardinals.com.