The Arizona Cardinals lost to the Seattle Seahawks 38-30 in Week 18. The loss was Arizona's fourth in their last five games and it cost them a chance at the NFC West division title. After the Cardinals-Seahawks game, we'll be releasing some Cardinals Week 18 takeaways.

The Seahawks entered the game with nothing to gain and were the ones who emerged victorious, as the Cardinals cost themselves a chance at better seeding with the loss to Seattle. Defensive problems and a big injury were just some of the negative things to emerge from the disappointing contest. The Cardinals will now have to travel to Los Angeles and take on the division-rival Rams in the Wild Card round.

That said, here are some Cardinals Week 18 takeaways from their loss to the Seahawks.

Cardinals Week 18 Takeaways 

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3. Zach Ertz continues to impress 

Since coming over from the Philadelphia Eagles via trade, Zach Ertz has impressed for the Cardinals. Ertz has been heavily targeted by quarterback Kyler Murray over the last several weeks, as Murray has leaned on him in the absence of DeAndre Hopkins. Over the last five weeks, the veteran tight end has been targeted no less than seven times while hauling in five or more passes in each game. Murray has been able to depend on Ertz time and time again. The Cardinals will need pass-catchers that Murray can depend upon if they want to advance deep in the playoffs- and Ertz keeping up this level of play would help them on their quest

2. James Connor's injury casts doubt on backfield

Cardinals running back James Connor entered the contest questionable with a heel injury but toughed out the ailment to score two touchdowns in the game. Unfortunately, the former Pittsburgh Steelers halfback left the game with another injury, this time to his ribs. With fellow halfback Chase Edmonds also banged up, the Cardinals will need one or both active if they want to have a chance to defeat the division Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury said that Connor was “still being evaluated“, so it's fortunate that the coaching staff is still giving him a chance to suit up. However, if Connor is unable to go, there will be a lot of pressure on Kyler Murray to do the heavy lifting for Arizona on the ground.

1. The secondary is a big issue

The Cardinals secondary, perhaps their biggest strength all year on defense, has been terrible to end the year. Arizona has allowed two or more touchdown passes to each of the last five quarterbacks they've faced, providing little resistance to opposing passing games. That's bad news ahead of a Wild Card round matchup with Matthew Stafford and the Rams, who diced up the Cardinals defense for three touchdowns a few weeks back. The Cardinals will need to shore up the back end of their defense before they face the pass-heavy Rams and Cooper Kupp- or they'll be in trouble.