Seahawks look to bounce back with win against Arizona Cardinals

SEATTLE — The Seahawks will look to rebound from their 33-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints when they travel to take on the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Seattle fell behind 20-7 in the first half after the Saints returned a punt 53 yards for a touchdown and returned a Chris Carson fumble 33 yards for a touchdown.

The Cardinals are 0-2-1 coming off a 38-20 loss against the Carolina Panthers. Arizona is led by first year head coach Kliff Kingsbury, rookie quarterback Kyler Murray and future Hall of Fame wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald, now in his 16th NFL season, has shown no signs of slowing down in three games this season. Fitzgerald has 18 catches for 253 yards and two touchdowns.

Sunday's game in Arizona will mark the first divisional game for the Seahawks this season, and will be their first of two games in five days, as they return home to face the Los Angeles Rams on "Thursday Night Football."

While the Seahawks have gone  5-0-1 against the Cardinals in their last six trips to the desert, fans will be sure to remember some notable games played in what is now called State Farm Stadium:

Feb 1, 2015: Seahawks lose Super Bowl XLIX 28-24 to the New England Patriots.

Oct. 23, 2016: Seahawks tie Cardinals 6-6 on "Sunday Night Football."

Nov. 9, 2017: Seahawks win but lose Richard Sherman to a torn Achilles tendon and Kam Chancellor to a neck injury. Chancellor would never play in the NFL again.

Sept. 30, 2018: Seahawks win but lose Will Dissly to a torn patellar tendon and Earl Thomas to a broken leg. Thomas would go on to sign a four-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens.

Watch the Steve Raible Scouting Report at 7 p.m. on Saturday to see Raible's interview with safety Lano Hill and for a complete preview of Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Here are Raible's three keys to victory for the Seahawks on Sunday:

Key #1: Spy Kyler 

Kyler Murray was the #1 pick in this year's draft for a reason. He is scary talented.

Heisman Trophy winner, First Team All American, Top 10 MLB pick, 4.3 speed in the 40. You get the picture.

But he's still learning about the pro game. Four touchdowns and three interceptions so far for Arizona and the team's second leading rusher.

Make no mistake -- he is explosive. And while the Hawks may not designate a specific player to 'spy' Murray, or shadow him wherever he goes they MUST account for him every single play.

Key #2: Target C-C

C-C as in Chris Carson. As in the Seahawks starting running back. The man with a great big bulls-eye on his back.

For a guy who works so hard take's his job so seriously and wants to be the best running back in the league, Carson has, like the rest of the team, really shot himself in the foot the first three games.

Three fumbles and a hand in a fourth would make some players, and their coach, lose confidence.

Pete Carroll hasn't. This week we'll see about Chris. What he needs more than anything to be that 1,000 yard rusher he was a season ago is better blocking up front. But until then, Carson will be the target of every defense trying to strip the ball away.

Key #3: Be 'Special' Again 

Special teams have always been a huge part of Pete Carroll's and the Seahawks success. Last week, they played a big part in the loss.

And it started before the fans even before the 12s put their behinds in their seats.

A short punt by Michael Dickson was returned for a TD by the Saints. Throw in missed tackles and a penalty for lining up wrong on a New Orleans FG that gave them a fresh set of downs and you've got the makings of a "not-so-special" special teams performance.

Coach Carroll will fix it and I predict, in the desert on Sunday, the special teams will score a touchdown!

You heard it here first!

More Seahawks news from KIRO 7

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS

Cox Media Group