The Arizona Cardinals have struggled on defense all season. That didn’t change with the first possession of the afternoon in Week 16 against the Seattle Seahawks. They went 89 yards on nine plays, five of which were 10 yards or longer.
However, after that, they locked it down.
Seattle finished with 40 yards the rest of the half.
The Seahawks punted on their next five series and on the sixth, time ran out of the first half. The Cardinals four straight three-and-outs.
They sacked Russell Wilson four times, three times by Chandler Jones to set a new franchise record.
The Cardinals led 17-7 at halftime.
They have to maintain it in the second half. Seattle regularly comes back and the Cardinals have not sustained any defensive success all season.
Seattle is playing without left tackle Duane Brown. Running back C.J. Prosise left the game with an arm injury and will not return. Running back Chris Carson suffered a hip injury and was ruled out. Left guard Mike Iupati also got hurt.
The second half will be huge for the Cardinals.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
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