With the loss to the Seattle Seahawks two games ago fresh in their minds, the Arizona Cardinals obviously know the importance of the rematch that takes place Sunday at State Farm Stadium.
Still, head coach Jonathan Gannon is always locked in on the next game, not the big picture, while noting that the process remains the same whether a game had a good or bad result.
He said, “We kind of turn over every stone with what we could have done better; win or a loss and everybody involved in the operation. My thing with these guys was I think we’ve earned the right to play meaningful games in December, so we’re kind of right where we wanted to be when we set out for the season. They’re not thinking about that, but they know this is Seattle, divisional game at home now.
“They know where the standings are at, but they’re focused on just Seattle. I told them in the locker room yesterday (after the game); I said, ‘If we’re thinking about the next five games, we’re out of alignment.’ We have to be thinking about one game, so that’s what we’ll be thinking about.”
Gannon called it “competitive stamina” that enables a team to focus forward after a gut-wrenching loss like against the Vikings.
“You win some, you lose some,” he said. “You have to get back at it. We have the whole boxing analogy. We got beat up in that round. Well, we didn’t get beat up in that round. We went toe-to-toe in that round. They didn’t get knocked out. We didn’t get knocked out. If you said who won that round, they did. We have to get rejuvenated, get back up and get swinging. We’ll be excited here when it’s time to go. I know that.”
Still, the importance of Sunday’s game is undeniable. Win, and the Cardinals will be tied with the Seahawks at 7-6 having split the season series, but they would have a 3-1 division record to Seattle’s 2-3. The 6-6 Rams play the 10-2 Bills and they are 2-1 in division games.
Lose and the Seahawks would be two games ahead of the Cardinals, but it’s essentially three because of the head-to-head sweep. The only way for the Cardinals to then finish ahead of Seattle would be winning out to finish 10-7 with the Seahawks winning only one of their remaining four games to be 9-8.
It might be unlikely, but it could happen.
The Cardinals’ final four games are New England, Carolina, the Rams and San Francisco. For Seattle, it’s Green Bay, Minnesota, Chicago and the Rams.
Everyone should know that nothing is ever truly predictable in the NFL and it’s best to expect the unexpected. Obviously, though, a win Sunday would create a clear path to the post-season.
Asked about being in position to control their own destiny, Gannon said, “One at a time. We just keep stacking good days, keep doing the right things and let the chips fall, but I like us. I really do.”
Here are the remaining schedules for the NFC West with the combined records of opponents:
Seahawks (7-5): at Cardinals 6-6, Packers 9-3, Vikings 10-2, at Chicago/Thursday 4-8, at L.A. Rams 6-6: 35-25
Cardinals (6-6): Seattle 7-5, New England 3-10, at Carolina 3-9, at L.A. Rams 6-6, San Francisco 5-7: 24-37
Rams (6-6): Buffalo 10-2, at San Francisco/Thursday 5-7, at N.Y. Jets 3-10, Arizona 6-6, Seattle 7-5: 31-30
49ers (5-7): Chicago 4-8, L.A. Rams (Thursday) 6-6, at Miami 5-7, Detroit/Monday 11-1, at Arizona 6-6: 32-28
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