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On a brutal night, Seahawks aftermath

It was hard to disagree with Larry Fitzgerald Thursday night when he said it felt like every time he turned around, trainers were running on to the field. I don't know if football on a short week had anything to do with some of the injuries — when a large man rolls up on your leg during a play, that's not day-of-the-week-related — but nonetheless, when you are talking about looking forward, that's where you start.

A loss is a loss and it took a late touchdown to get a six-point deficit, but mostly, the Cards felt they put themselves in a position where they could have beaten the Seahawks. They didn't, they are in a bad place in terms of chasing a playoff spot with seven games to go, and part of the reason it's a bad place is because the injuries are headed to insurmountable.

If D.J. Humphries is done with an ACL injury, it's a killer. A big reason the Cards' offensive line had so many problems earlier in the year was because their left tackle was hurt. He had truly taken a step forward, and now his 2017 season sounds like it could be over after just five games. As good as Tyvon Branch has been this season, that is a little different, because Budda Baker is there and he'll get a chance to have some defensive snaps.

Meanwhile, John Wetzel will go back into the lineup. I don't expect Jared Veldheer to flip sides, but we'll see. And the Cardinals will have to make it work.

-- Adrian Peterson got his carries. He just couldn't get any yards. But the Cardinals stuck with it.

-- It wasn't a good game for Peterson with the fumble on the first play and the safety. But the Cardinals' punt return team can't put the offense on its own 2 against the Seattle defense, with Kerwynn Williams fielding a ball inside his own 5 and then Justin Bethel getting a second holding call.

-- Also, for those complaining about the Peterson run on the safety with the loaded box, I'll respectfully disagree. If Stanton had thrown on first down and there was a holding call in the end zone or he was sacked, the village folk would've come after Arians with the torches and pitchforks. I'm OK with a run. Just has to be executed much better.

-- I understand Antoine Bethea might’ve played the Baldwin 54-yard catch differently, especially when it was second-and-a-mile. I get that. But don't talk to me about Russell Wilson being lucky. When he's done it dozens — he's probably up to the hundreds at this point — of times, it's not luck anymore. The guy is both amazing and frustrating. Knowing he'll be a roadblock to the Cards for years makes him feel like Jordan with the Bulls and the Cards are those Cavaliers from back in the day.

-- Drew Stanton made some bad throws. But I felt like his pass catchers let him down more than he had errant throws. (Waits for everyone to say how Blaine Gabbert needs to start)

-- Fitz was solid. Another 100-yard game, and it might've been the quietest 100-yard game of Fitz's career.

-- The Seahawks had 12 penalties, and they were already leading the league with more than 10 a game. Six of them gave the Cardinals first downs.

-- Chandler Jones gets another sack, his 10th. Of course, I'm sure he wishes he had gotten his 11th on that second-and-21.

-- Defensive lineman Olsen Pierre had an excellent game. And cornerback Tramon Williams continues to show he has something left.

-- OK, that's enough for tonight. The mini-bye awaits, and the Deshaun Watson-less Texans, in Houston, are next. Time to regroup. Again.

AfterSeaBlog
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