It's not that the Seattle Seahawks lost a crucial 39-32 test to the Arizona Cardinals Sunday night that has both fans and observers shaking their heads Monday morning. It's how they lost it.
There was plenty of blame to go around for an offense that couldn't get out of its own way for much of the game, which was perhaps expected. But what hardly anyone foresaw was a lackluster effort from a defense that surrendered yardage and points in quantities not seen at CenturyLink Field since Pete Carroll's first season in Seattle.
The defeat dropped the Hawks to 4-5 on the season, three games out of first place in the NFC West with seven yet to play.