The Cardinals are losing games and losing the discipline they had built under Jonathan Gannon By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer The Associated Press TEMPE, Ariz.
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals were not the NFL's most talented team during the second year of coach Jonathan Gannon's tenure, but they were among the most disciplined, committing the league's second-fewest penalties in 2024.
Their mantra was simple: Be accountable. Don't beat yourself.
Arizona finished with an 8-9 record and it felt like things were moving in the right direction. So when the Cardinals got an influx of talent during the offseason, the idea was that better players — combined with the team's established culture of discipline — would lead the franchise back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Obviously, things haven't gone according to plan.
In a second straight embarrassing loss to an NFC West rival, the Cardinals fell to the 49ers 41-22 on Sunday and committed a franchise-high 17 penalties, breaking a team record that was set in 1936. No other NFL team has been flagged that many times this season.
There were illegal shifts, holding calls, false starts and even a flag for unnecessary roughness for hitting the Niners' long snapper in the head.
It was a stunning lack of discipline for a team that prides itself on accountability. These days, the Cardinals (3-7) aren't just losing games — they're losing their identity.
A defiant Gannon said Monday that they will get it back quickly.
His job security might depend on it.
“Not a controllable for me,” Gannon said. “I didn't hire myself, I'm not going to fire myself. Seriously, I know it comes up. That's the business we're in. If you don't want to be in that business — we laugh, we joke, ‘Go work somewhere else.’ I'm going to control the controllables for myself.
“I come to work, do the best job I can and try to get our team in position to win a game.”
What’s working
Jacoby Brissett completed an NFL-record 47 passes on Sunday in 57 attempts. He finished with 452 yards passing, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Sure, those numbers were inflated because the 49ers were nursing a big lead for much of the game, but Brissett is doing a lot of things right. He started his fifth game in a row on Sunday in place of Kyler Murray, who is dealing with a foot injury.
Brissett has thrown for 1,570 yards, 10 TDs and three interceptions over five starts, but the Cardinals are 1-4 in those games.
The veteran said Sunday he would have rather thrown for 3 yards in a win than have 452 in a loss. He added that the team is simply making too many mistakes.
“It’s like a stain,” Brissett said. “You try putting baking soda on it, you try putting club soda on it, you try washing it — you have to figure something out. It’s the mindset of not quitting on the process and not quitting on the idea that we can clean it up.”
What needs help
The Cardinals have allowed more than 40 points in back-to-back games for the first time since 2002.
Their defense — which was supposed to be a strength — appears to be regressing. Arizona's offense and special teams haven't helped the cause with some ill-timed mistakes, but Gannon said the defense has to figure out a way to stay strong in those moments.
“We’re losing the ball,” Gannon said. “We’re giving short fields up. We get people behind the sticks and we don’t win third down. We get in the red zone (and) we don’t make them kick field goals. That’s a recipe to give up a lot of points.”
Stock up
Michael Wilson was the team’s top receiver vs. the 49ers since Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendix) was out. The third-year player responded with the best game of his career, catching 15 passes for 185 yards.
Stock down
Special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers has been a mainstay for nearly a decade, spanning three coaching staffs. His units usually perform admirably, but Sunday wasn't their best day.
San Francisco's Skyy Moore took the opening kickoff 98 yards to the 1-yard line, helping give the 49ers a 7-0 lead 16 seconds into the game. The Cardinals also gave up a 42-yard kick return.
Injuries
Murray has to miss at least two more games while on injured reserve. CB Garrett Williams (shin), RB Emari Demercado (ankle) and OL Kelvin Beachum (groin) were hurt Sunday and didn't return.
Key number
3-13 — The Cardinals' record vs. NFC West rivals in Gannon's 2 1/2 seasons.
Next steps
The Cardinals host the Jaguars on Sunday.
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Lions' Campbell won't stop going for it on fourth down after 0-for-5 performance against Eagles By DAVE HOGG Associated Press The Associated Press DETROIT
DETROIT (AP) — Dan Campbell knows his aggressive play calling hurt the Detroit Lions in their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.
That doesn’t mean he'll change his approach.
Campbell goes for it on fourth down more than any other coach in the NFL, and he tried it five times on a windy, cold night in Philadelphia. However, the Eagles stopped the Lions all five times in Detroit's 16-9 loss.
“We were 3 of 13 on third down and obviously 0 for 5 on fourth down and that's not good enough,” Campbell said Monday. "We had some missed throws, some pressure, some tipped balls and a couple of drops.
“There were also some bad calls by me — some calls I want back.”
Detroit went for it on fourth down twice in the first half, both in their own territory. On fourth-and-1 on their own 48, Jahmyr Gibbs was stopped for no gain. On fourth-and-2 from the 43, Grant Stuard didn't gain anything on a fake punt.
The first time didn't hurt the Lions, except for field position, but the second led to a field goal by the Eagles that gave them a 6-0 lead.
Campbell, who only took over playcalling duties from offensive coordinator John Morton earlier this month, redeemed himself after the field goal. On second-and-10 from the Detroit 26, Jared Goff threw a 34-yard pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown. On the next play, Goff connected with Jameson Williams for a 40-yard touchdown.
Jake Bates missed the extra point after Williams was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for his celebration, leaving the game tied at 6.
“We're explosive,” Campbell said. “We basically scored in two plays: Saint gets a big catch and then J-Mo gets one over the middle and takes it to the house. We know we can do that.”
That, though, was an exception to what happened in the rest of the game. After his touchdown pass, Goff went 7 of 25 for 136 yards, including 1 for 11 in the fourth quarter. Seven of those attempts went to St. Brown, his favorite receiver, and they all fell incomplete.
“I'm not worried about the connection between Goff and Saint, it has always been there,” Campbell said. “Yesterday was just one of those days when something was a little off.”
Goff's struggles led to three more fourth-down attempts. On fourth-and-5 from the Eagles 32, Williams dropped a pass over the middle.
Detroit's next drive was its best sustained offensive performance of the game, but it stalled on fourth-and-goal from the Eagles 3. Trailing 13-6, Campbell decided not to kick, but Goff couldn't hit St. Brown in the end zone.
On the next drive, Campbell tried again — this time on fourth-and-3 from the Eagles 45 — but Goff's pass was nowhere near St. Brown.
“That was a unique situation, because we're on the road with the wind in our faces, so those aren't easy field goals,” Campbell said. "When we are in manageable situations — fourth-and-2, fourth-and-3 or fourth-and-4 — you have the chance to go for it. You could punt, but you're almost too tight to do that.
“There have been a lot of times where it has gone right for us.”
What's working
The defense did an outstanding job against Jalen Hurts and the Eagles — the only reason the game was close down the stretch. Hurts only threw for 135 yards. And while Philadelphia ran for 148 yards, they needed 40 carries to do it.
What needs help
Goff didn't have a great day, but Detroit's porous offensive line didn't give him much help. He was sacked twice, hit seven more times and under pressure on almost every pass attempt.
The Lions couldn't help him with play-action passes because the line couldn't open holes for Gibbs or David Montgomery.
Stock up
Detroit is missing three starting defensive backs, including both cornerbacks, but Amik Robertson and Rock Ya-Sin held A.J. Brown to just 49 yards on seven catches. However, Ya-Sin was called for a key pass interference penalty in the final two minutes, allowing the Eagles to run out the clock.
Stock down
Tight end Sam LaPorta is one of Goff's favorite targets, but he was placed on injured reserve with a back injury. That made Brock Wright into a pass catcher instead of a blocker, but he finished with just two catches for 8 yards.
Injuries
The Lions are hoping for defensive reinforcements from the injury list, starting with cornerback D.J. Reed and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez. Campbell said both could be ready for Sunday's game against the New York Giants.
Key number
11 — That's the number of days during which the Lions will play three home games, starting Sunday. After they play the Giants, they host the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving and the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 4, another Thursday game.
Next steps
Campbell needs to get more comfortable as the play caller and Goff and St. Brown need to figure out what went wrong against the Eagles. On defense, every healthy player is going to be a boost for a unit that is already playing well.
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Shedeur Sanders' NFL debut marred by home break-in during game, AP source says By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer The Associated Press CLEVELAND
CLEVELAND (AP) — Shedeur Sanders' uneven performance in his NFL debut wasn't the only bad thing to happen to him on Sunday.
The Browns rookie quarterback discovered Sunday night that his suburban Cleveland home had been burglarized during the game, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. Pro Football Talk was first to report the break-in.
No suspects have been identified and it’s uncertain if anything was stolen, the person said.
Sanders joins a growing list of NFL players who've had their homes burglarized during games. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, and New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan have dealt with break-ins since the start of last season.
The highly publicized rookie came into Cleveland's game against the Baltimore Ravens with 12:43 remaining in the third quarter after Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion.
Sanders completed his first two passes, but not much went right after that. He went 4 for 16 for 47 yards with an interception and was sacked twice, finishing with a 13.5 passer rating as the Ravens rallied for a 23-16 victory .
Sanders, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, is expected to speak to reporters on Wednesday as the Browns begin preparing for Sunday's game at Las Vegas. Sanders would get his first NFL start if Gabriel does not clear the concussion protocol.
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Quentin Lake's elbow injury in Rams' victory over Seahawks casts a pall over his surging team By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer The Associated Press LOS ANGELES
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams' defense has been one of the NFL's best since midway through last season, and Quentin Lake has been a major reason for its rise.
Lake's elbow injury from the Rams' 21-19 victory over Seattle doesn't just cast a pall over a breakthrough win that put Los Angeles (8-2) in sole possession of the NFC West lead.
The Rams' chances of another Super Bowl run also have taken a hit with the apparently likely prospect of a lengthy injury absence for their do-it-all safety.
Lake will have an MRI exam before the Rams make a final determination on his injury, but Sean McVay acknowledged Monday that a season-ending designation was a possibility.
“The feelings are that it might be some time, and not great for our captain and leader,” McVay said. "I’m bummed out for him.”
Although Lake isn't widely known by casual NFL fans, he is a vital component of a mostly stellar defense.
The Rams drafted the Orange County product out of UCLA in the sixth round in 2022, and Lake has played multiple roles on their back end for the past three years. He has played roughly 95% of their defensive snaps for the past two seasons since Chris Shula became the coordinator.
Along with calling signals and organizing his teammates on the field, Lake lines up as a pass defender in the slot, a run-stuffer in the box or a back-line safety patrolling the secondary — sometimes all in the same series. His versatility allowed the Rams to survive the departure of Jalen Ramsey , the Super Bowl champion who played the versatile “star” position on prior Rams defenses.
“You don’t replace a Quentin Lake,” McVay said. “He’s so valuable for so many reasons with what he can do, with who he is as a human, with the way that he elevates and leads. He’s a glue guy for us. If he is out, that’s obviously a big loss. ... I think it would be insincere to think that you’re going to ask somebody to do the things that he’s capable of. It’s what makes him so special.”
After Lake missed the second half against the Seahawks, the Rams made up for his absence with a patchwork plan that might become permanent.
Undrafted second-year cornerback Josh Wallace stepped up and played a season-high 27 snaps, and safety Kamren Kinchens played a career-high 73 snaps during his second career two-interception game. Cobie Durant, who also made a pick, moved inside to play in the slot more than normal.
“That's Captain Q,” Kinchens said. “He gives it all. I can't say (we can) replace him, but just bring that intensity, bring everything that he tries to bring to the table, everybody as a collective.”
What's working
The defense hung on to win despite allowing 243 yards and 10 points in the second half without Lake. Seattle had eight drives after halftime, but three ended in interceptions and two on three-and-out punts. If the Rams' offense had played up to its usual standard, Los Angeles probably would have won in more comfortable fashion than a last-gasp missed field goal.
What needs help
The offense managed just 249 yards and made only one scoring drive after the first quarter. That might turn out to be solely a credit to the vaunted Seattle defense, but a Los Angeles team that scored 111 points in its previous three games wasn't clicking on that level offensively.
Stock up
CB Emmanuel Forbes got one of the toughest assignments in football when the Rams repeatedly lined him up against Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who had nine catches for 105 yards. Yet Forbes played superbly: According to the NFL's Next Gen Stats, Smith-Njigba caught just three of his five targets for 30 yards while lined up against Forbes, with an average of just 1.5 yards per matchup — a season low for Seattle's vaunted wideout. Forbes also made an athletic breakup of Sam Darnold's probable TD pass to Rashid Shaheed in the third quarter, forcing Seattle to kick a field goal.
Stock down
Davante Adams' connection with Matthew Stafford has been remarkable given their lack of practice time, and Adams scored his league-leading 10th TD on his 1,000th career catch in the first quarter. He didn't catch another pass from Stafford despite being targeted eight times Sunday, sometimes with errant throws.
Injuries
Along with Lake's injury, 10-year veteran TE Tyler Higbee hurt his ankle and couldn't finish the game. The Rams have three other playable tight ends, as they've proven repeatedly in the past six weeks, but Higbee is still their best.
Key number
75,323 — The attendance at SoFi Stadium for the Rams' first-place divisional showdown. That's a regular-season attendance record for the Rams, who hit the mark when fans snapped up plenty of standing-room-only seating.
Next steps
A back-to-back home set concludes against Tampa Bay on Sunday night. Baker Mayfield revitalized his career in an eventful five-game stint with McVay and the Rams three seasons ago, but McVay and Stafford will be eager to face a Buccaneers defense that has allowed 72 points in its past two games.
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Cowboys honor Marshawn Kneeland before facing Raiders in 1st game since his death The Associated Press LAS VEGAS
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Dallas Cowboys players bowed their heads during a moment of silence in honor of their late teammate, Marshawn Kneeland, before Monday night's game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
A photo of Kneeland was shown on the video boards at Allegiant Stadium, and the suicide hotline number, 988, was posted.
Kneeland, a 24-year-old defensive end, was found dead on Nov. 6 of an apparent suicide. Monday's game was the first for the Cowboys since his death.
Dallas players wore blue T-shirts with Kneeland's name, the years of his life — 2001-2025 — and the team's star logo beneath an image of his face. A decal of his number, 94, was on the back of their helmets and will remain there for the rest of the season.
The team prepared a locker room stall for Kneeland at the stadium, and his jersey was placed on a coat hanger.
Dallas is coming off a bye week, given the team a little more time to come to grips with his death .
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Ja'Marr Chase's spitting incident is the latest example of Bengals' lack of discipline By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer The Associated Press
Just when Cincinnati Bengals fans thought this season couldn't get worse, Ja'Marr Chase spat on Jalen Ramsey during the fourth quarter of Sunday's 34-12 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers to provide the ugliest moment of a brutal year.
It was also another sign that the Bengals may be the league's most undisciplined team.
Cincinnati dropped its third straight to fall to 3-7 in a game that included frequent missed tackles by the defense, a second-string opposing quarterback completing passes at will and Chase losing his composure.
The NFL announced Monday that the fifth-year wide receiver would be suspended without pay for one game.
“It’s incredibly difficult to believe when there’s adversity, when you’ve lost seven of your last eight games, that’s when the real work has come in. I probably had 12 conversations in my office this morning, because it’s the foundation of everything we got to build this thing on,” coach Zac Taylor said Monday.
Taylor said he discussed the spitting incident with Chase on Monday before the league announced the suspension. Taylor also defended his All-Pro receiver and said the moment did not reflect Chase's entire body of work.
“Ja’Marr’s one of my favorite players. I love how this guy handles everything that he’s been a part of, so making one mistake doesn’t disregard everything this guy’s done that’s been positive for us," Taylor said. “We’re not all perfect. We’re going to make a mistake here and there, but I stand by Ja’Marr. I know it’s an emotional situation. I know there’s a lot of things going on there that lead to things like that. We’ll just continue to move forward.”
According to Sportradar, the Bengals missed 17 tackles against the Steelers, the third time in the last five games that they had at least that many. It also was the ninth straight game in which Cincinnati allowed 27 points or more, equaling the 2020 Los Angeles Chargers and 1964 Denver Broncos for the longest in-season streak in league history.
Since tackling is a combination of technique and effort, Taylor is running out of things to say about a defense that ranks at the bottom of the league in most categories.
“I understand some of it looks bad. You can’t run from that. And the hard part was, there were some situations we were great on first and second down. We got them into the situations we wanted, you know, second-and-long, third-and-long, and then you just got to get a guy down in space. And we didn’t do a good enough job of that,” Taylor said.
The Bengals also continue to struggle in pass coverage. Mason Rudolph, who came in after Aaron Rodgers suffered a left wrist injury, was 11 for 11 for 110 yards and a touchdown on throws under 10 air yards. Rudolph was only the third QB this season to be perfect on underneath throws with at least 10 attempts.
What’s working
Converting on third down. The Bengals are 23 of 48 on third down over the past four games, with the 47.9% conversion rate ranking third in the league over that span.
What needs help
Generating takeaways. The Bengals have not forced a turnover in three straight games.
Stock up
RB Chase Brown had 99 yards on 18 carries, including two of at least 10 yards. Of his 52 rushes in the past four games, 10 have gone for double-digit yards. He had only two carries for at least 10 yards the first six games.
Stock down
LB Barrett Carter had four missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, and allowed five receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. One of the missed tackles came on a 31-yard reception by Dwayne Washington to set up a Steelers field goal that made it 10-6 at halftime.
Injuries
QB Joe Burrow (toe) could start participating in 11-on-11 drills on Wednesday. ... Taylor said CB Cam Taylor-Britt is likely done for the season and is expected to have Lisfranc surgery on his left foot. ... TE Cam Sample (oblique) is week to week and DE Trey Hendrickson (hip) is likely to miss a third straight game.
Key numbers
4 — Consecutive games in which the Bengals have given up at least 30 points, a franchise record.
33.4 — Average points per game allowed by Cincinnati, the most in the league since the 1966 New York Giants (35.8).
What’s next
The Bengals host AFC-East leading New England (9-2). The Patriots have won eight straight.
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Cowboys receivers Lamb and Pickens benched for opening drive vs. Raiders The Associated Press LAS VEGAS
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Dallas Cowboys wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens were benched for the team’s opening drive against the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night.
Instead, the Cowboys started receivers Jalen Tolbert, Ryan Flournoy and KaVontae Turpin.
Dallas received the opening kick and went three-and-out, gaining 6 yards, all on rushes by Javonte Williams. Dak Prescott’s pass attempt to Tolbert was incomplete on third-and-4.
Lamb and Pickens entered the game on Dallas' second possession, and Lamb had a touchdown reception early in the second quarter.
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Can Shedeur Sanders rise to the occasion? Browns rookie QB to get valuable practice reps this week By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer The Associated Press CLEVELAND
CLEVELAND (AP) — Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders was put in a difficult situation when he made his NFL debut early in the second half against the Baltimore Ravens.
How Sanders and Cleveland's coaching staff handle this week's practices ahead of Sunday's game at Las Vegas — and the much-hyped rookie's possible first start — will give some indication of whether the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders will have a chance to show what he can do the rest of this season.
“I think you learn from every single play that you’re out there and there’s always lessons to be learned,” coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday. "There’s always going to be good and there’s always going to be bad. And that’s just part of playing and getting reps. And then part of learning is taking all those coaching points that come with those reps.”
Sanders went 4 of 16 for 47 yards with an interception in four second-half series, finishing with a 13.5 passer rating as the Ravens rallied for a 23-16 victory .
Sanders displayed some of the traits that dropped him to the fifth round in the NFL draft. After completing two quick passes on his first series, Sanders held the ball too long as the Ravens brought more pressure. Instead of throwing it away or side-stepping pass rushers, Sanders instead scrambled backward, resulting in further lost yards on sacks.
However, expecting Sanders to light it up immediately wasn't reasonable. He has not seen any practice snaps with the first-team offense, with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel getting all of those reps.
Guard Wyatt Teller said the offensive linemen had to get together in the locker room at halftime to learn Sanders' snap cadence so that they didn't get caught off guard and commit false starts.
“The starter gets the vast majority, obviously, if not the entire majority,” Stefanski said about the allocation of snaps in practice. “I will say this: We trust our players. Shedeur is putting in great work. You know, on the field, in the meeting room, he will be better with reps that he’s getting. Like any player would better. But we trust him and he’s somebody that’s continued to put in the work and will continue to do so.”
The only way for Sanders to build rapport with receivers Jerry Jeudy, Harold Fannin Jr. and Cedric Tillman is through practice reps, which he will get as long as Gabriel remains in the concussion protocol.
Bailey Zappe would likely be Sanders' backup if Gabriel is sidelined. Stefanski didn't say whether this week would serve as an audition for Sanders to take over the starting role the rest of the season.
“I’m not going to speculate on that type of thing. I know this — we trust our players, we trust our guys to put in the work, and we’re just going to be solely focused on this game that’s in front of us,” Stefanski said.
What’s working
Myles Garrett's pass rushing. With four sacks on Sunday, the All-Pro defensive end became the second player since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 to have 10 sacks in a three-game span. Garrett, who has a league-leading 15 sacks on the season, had a team-record five at New England on Oct. 26 and one last week against the New York Jets. Pro Football Hall of Famer Richard Dent also had 11 during a three-game run in 1984.
Garrett has a chance to challenge the NFL record of 22 1/2 sacks in a season, shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt.
What needs help
Rush defense. Cleveland allowed a season-high 65 yards before contact to Baltimore's Derrick Henry. The Browns also had five missed tackles against Henry, who finished with 103 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
Stock up
Devin Bush scored the second defensive touchdown of his seven-year career with a 23-yard pick-6 during the second quarter. Bush, who committed a holding penalty on a third down on the final drive last week against the Jets, picked off Lamar Jackson’s pass after it bounced off the hands of running back Keaton Mitchell.
Stock down
TE David Njoku had only one catch for 7 yards and has been held to three receptions over the past two games.
Injuries
CB Dom Jones is headed to injured reserve and will likely miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. ... OTs Jack Conklin and Cam Robinson are also dealing with knee injuries.
Key numbers
2 — Interceptions by rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger on the season.
38 — Consecutive games in which the Browns have not allowed a 300-yard passer.
What’s next
The Browns hope to end a five-game losing streak to the Raiders.
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Seahawks can build on strong defensive showing in loss to Stafford and the Rams By ANDREW DESTIN AP Sports Writer The Associated Press SEATTLE
SEATTLE (AP) — Sam Darnold's four interceptions and the Seahawks' failure to convert in the red zone overshadowed another strong performance by Seattle's defense.
The Seahawks held Matthew Stafford and the Rams to 249 yards in Sunday’s 21-19 loss . That's the second-lowest total of the season for Los Angeles.
“Our guys fought incredibly hard,” coach Mike Macdonald said. “I thought we executed well, gave them some tough spots. That’s what we talk about.”
Stafford was limited to 130 passing yards, his fewest since a win over the New York Jets last December. Macdonald credited a Seahawks secondary that was close to full capacity after being banged up earlier this season, although injured safety Julian Love didn't play.
Cornerbacks Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe each had pass deflections, and All-Pro cornerback Devon Witherspoon had another solid day.
“We do have depth at cornerback,” Macdonald said Monday. “When you have Riq, Josh and Spoon out there, that’s three starting corners that are playing good football.”
A healthier secondary bodes well for the league's sixth-ranked scoring defense. For much of the season, the front seven has been key to Seattle's success. The team has the fourth-most sacks in the league.
Macdonald wasn’t satisfied after the Seahawks lost to their division rival. But Macdonald, a former defensive coordinator, was pleased that the unit continues to provide him with teaching moments.
“You’re trying to ask them to find new things to screw up,” Macdonald said. “It’s a positive that there’s new things each week that pop up that we want to attack.”
What’s working
The Seahawks’ rushing attack appears to have turned a corner. Seattle topped 100 yards rushing for the third time in four games. For the second time in as many weeks, Kenneth Walker III ran for 67 yards, and he added his fourth touchdown of the season.
“I think Ken’s showing that he’s earning more opportunities to get the ball,” Macdonald said. “All three of our backs are doing a great job, and I think they really felt Ken yesterday, and just even in the pass game too on checkdowns and finding him late in the play. It just shows you that he’s such an explosive player with the ball in his hands.”
What needs help
The Seahawks failed to sack Stafford, the first time this year they did not bring down a quarterback.
“You look at the metrics and what we look at on defense of how much we affected the quarterback, and we didn’t really meet our mark yesterday,” Macdonald said. “So, there’s room to grow as well. But the guys rushed hard.”
Stock up
Tight end AJ Barner responded from a few lackluster showings with the most complete game of his career. The second-year Michigan product had a career-high 10 catches for 70 yards.
Darnold targeted him 11 times. This season, Barner has caught 84% of passes thrown his way.
Stock down
Darnold wasn’t the sole reason the Seahawks lost, and linebacker Ernest Jones IV vehemently defended the quarterback . But it was a forgettable afternoon for the veteran, who will hope to bounce back quickly.
Injuries
G Grey Zabel suffered a knee injury that Macdonald said is not significant. LB Tyrice Knight is in the concussion protocol.
Key number
2,218 — Days since Darnold last threw four interceptions in a game. He did so on Oct. 21, 2019, for the Jets against New England.
Next steps
The Seahawks play at Tennessee on Nov. 23 before hosting Minnesota on Nov. 30.
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After Joe Flacco gave the Bengals a jolt last month, loss to Steelers has team reeling By DAN SCIFO Associated Press The Associated Press PITTSBURGH
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals' plan to have Joe Flacco keep them competitive until Joe Burrow can return from toe surgery has hit a major snag.
Flacco was riding high after his first game against the Pittsburgh Steelers this season, a 33-31 victory on Oct. 16. But the 40-year-old struggled in Sunday's rematch, throwing a costly interception as the Bengals lost 34-12 to extend their skid to three games.
“We have to find a way to scratch and claw, get a win and get that feeling back we had three weeks ago when we beat Pittsburgh,” coach Zac Taylor said. “That’s our only option right now.”
The Bengals (3-7) lost four straight before beating the Steelers last month. They haven't won since, and their chances of staying in contention in the weak AFC North are dwindling.
“Our goal was to be 3-0 in the division coming out of this game,” Taylor said. “But that’s not how it played out.”
Flacco, making his 200th career start, delivered his worst performance since he arrived in Cincinnati last month to take over for ineffective backup Jake Browning, who had initially stepped in after Burrow got hurt.
Burrow started practicing this week, opening his 21-day window to return, but the two-time Pro Bowler was never expected to play Sunday.
Flacco completed 23 of 40 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. The game-changing play was an errant throw over the middle that Kyle Dugger turned into a 73-yard pick-6.
“We made mistakes and they capitalized,” Flacco said.
Flacco had been pushing the ball to the Bengals' star receivers, but they were quiet on Sunday. Tee Higgins caught three passes for 63 yards and the Bengals’ only touchdown, and Ja’Marr Chase was limited to just three catches for 30 yards.
Chase was also involved in a heated fourth-quarter exchange with Steelers veteran defensive back Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey, who was ejected after grabbing Chase’s facemask with his left hand and taking a swing with his right, accused Chase of spitting on him. Chase denied the accusation.
“He didn’t like some of the words I told him,” Chase said. “We’ve been going back and forth the whole time, so I’m sure something got under his skin.”
The Steelers put the game away when cornerback James Pierre scored on a 32-yard fumble recovery.
“You have to give them credit,” Taylor said. “They won the turnover battle 2-0 and that’s the recipe for success. I don’t think the score is indicative of how the game played through three quarters, but they did the things you have to do to win and they had a chance to run away with it.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl