710 ESPN Seattle’s instant reaction to Seahawks’ 34-31 loss to Cards

We’ve polled the voices of 710 ESPN Seattle following the Seahawks’ 34-31 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. Here’s what they have to say:

Mike Salk of “Brock and Salk”

It was nearly the game of the year. Instead, it was a painfully similar to last year’s playoff loss to the Panthers. The Hawks have been incredibly inconsistent this season and this game was the perfect example. How can an offense look as bad as it looked in the first half and as good as it did in the second? How can a shut-down defense give up a handful of big plays that cost them 20 points in the fourth quarter? Until the Hawks figure out how to remain consistent, it is nearly impossible to predict how they’ll do in the playoffs.

Gee Scott of “The Gee Scott Show”

There’s no excuses. A missed kick did not lose this game. Arizona was the bully. For the first time since Earl Thomas has been gone, I have a feeling that opposing offenses are gaining a bit of confidence with him out. And there comes a point in time that you have to admit that Marshawn Lynch is missed. This offense is very inconsistent, and I believe most of that is due to it being a different running back every other game. The good news is the Seahawks still have one more tune-up game before the playoffs begin.

Brady Henderson, Editor in Chief of 710Sports.com

Games typically aren’t won or lost because of one reason, and the Seahawks can point to several failings in their 34-31 loss to Arizona. But the place-kicking issues that cost them earlier in the season came back to bite them today. Given the way that entire operation has struggled this season, it seemed like only a matter of time until another mistake would come at a terrible time. It happened in Week 6 when Stephen Hauschka yanked what would be the game-winner in overtime and it happened again today when he did the same thing to an extra point, which would have put Seattle ahead by one point with a minute left. Seattle also had a field goal attempt blocked earlier in the game while a Jon Ryan punt was deflected, giving Arizona a short field. Special teams didn’t lose this game on its own, but it was a problem that the Seahawks shouldn’t be dealing with this late into the season and with so much on the line.

Bob Stelton of “Bob, Groz and Tom”

What a strange (and at times exciting and very ugly) game. The first half offensively speaking was atrocious. The offensive line looked as bad as it has at any point during the season, but the defense did its part to keep this team in the game. In the second half, the roles were reversed with the offense coming to life. Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin were on fire, but when the Seahawks needed their defense to step up most, they collapsed. They even gave up a touchdown on just four plays after a Hawks touchdown, and then allowed the Cardinals to drive down the field for the game-winning field goal. Bottom line, if this team can’t find a way to be more consistent it will be a very short stay in the postseason.