What Went Wrong For Cardinals’ Offense in Loss to Seahawks

The Arizona Cardinals' offense struggled in their 31-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium on Sept. 20, 2026. The team amassed only 151 total yards of offense, which was less than they allowed the Seahawks' wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to accumulate (155). This performance marked a stark contrast to their impressive week one victory over the Chargers, where they generated nearly 400 yards.

While Seattle's defense consistently troubles opponents, the Cardinals' offensive shortcomings were particularly disappointing. Head coach Mike LaFleur acknowledged that his team "left yards out there" and felt they had not executed effectively downfield. The Seahawks' secondary, which often utilizes Cover 2 and Cover 3 schemes, made it difficult for Arizona to throw deep passes.

LaFleur emphasized the need for better execution, particularly on third downs, as the team converted only three of their 12 attempts. Other issues included poor third-down conversions, inadequate play calls, and struggles in both pass and run blocking. While the Cardinals possess offensive talent, their inability to execute effectively could be a recurring problem.