Seahawks can expect these as the trap games of 2019

GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 09: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by inside linebacker Haason Reddick #43 of the Arizona Cardinals in the second half of the NFL game at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 9, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 09: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by inside linebacker Haason Reddick #43 of the Arizona Cardinals in the second half of the NFL game at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 9, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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Bobby Wagner triumphs for the Seahawks
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 30: Bobby Wagner #54 of the Seattle Seahawks tackles David Johnson #31 of the Arizona Cardinals in the third quarter at CenturyLink Field on December 30, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

The Seahawks schedule has some great contests and some that don’t have the same appeal. Those can turn into traps for a team focused on bigger opponents.

The Seahawks always seem to have an inexplicable loss pop up on their schedule. These are the games where you have to rub your eyes, because it looks like imposters are suited up in the navy, gray and green. A few not-so-fun examples are the Debacle in the Desert against the Cardinals in 2016, or the stumbling loss at the hands of the 49ers last season. I see these as the trap games of 2019.

Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals, week four

Yes, I’m sure you’re shocked I would include the Cardinals as a trap game. In the past nine years, Pete Carrol’s tenure, Seattle is 11-6-1 versus the guys in red. That’s a .639 winning percentage, higher than Carroll’s .622 overall percentage with the Hawks. Sounds good, right? Well, not so much when you dig a little deeper.

More from 12th Man Rising

In the past three years the Cardinals have been mediocre at best, and terrible last year. Their overall record is 18-29-1, a winning percentage of .385. Yet the Hawks just went 3-2-1 against them in those three seasons. Only once did Seattle outscore the Cardinals by more than three points. That win was by just four points.

This season, the Cardinals present some interesting questions. Mainly, how good will rookie quarterback Kyler Murray be? Our friends at Raising Zona have plenty of reasons for optimism, but he’s still a rookie. This road game is sandwiched between two very high-profile contests, following the Saints and before the Rams. A 3-13 team from last year with a rookie quarterback between two top teams spells T-R-A- P.