Seahawks, Cardinals Deliver Message in Ugly Tie: Our Defenses Can Be Unbeatable

It was ugly. It was putrid. It was an eyesore. There are piers covered in pigeon poop more pleasing than that ratings-sucking monstrosity.

It was a large man wearing a Speedo. It was dial-up. It was Mike Tyson pronouncing chrysanthemum.

Hold on. Another punt is coming.

Sunday Blight Football.

It's fitting this game between Arizona and Seattle ended in a 6-6 tie after five periods. Yes, it finally ended in all of its ugly glory with a doinked field goal followed by a hooked field goal.

But there is a message amid the rubble.

Yes, the Cardinals and Seahawks sent a message to the rest of the NFC. It wasn't delivered with flowers or candy. It was with a rock through the window of pretty-boy teams such as the Packers and Cowboys, who have won (mostly) with impressive offenses.

The Seahawks and Cardinals have a level of defensive prowess perhaps unmatched by any other team in the league.

The Vikings are good on defense and so are the Eagles, but these two teams in Seattle and Arizona are defensive giants. We are watching them develop into that now. That may not have been the case earlier in the season, but it is now.

The Cowboys have a solid defense, but they've shocked the NFC with their offense—a rookie quarterback and running back and a tremendous offensive line. As good as that offense is, it would be hospitalized against these defenses we saw Sunday night. Almost every offense would.

The amazing thing about Seattle's defense is Seattle's offense. The Seahawks' offensive line is awful. Russell Wilson barely had time to think of Ciara before a bunch of defenders were in his face. He's still clearly injured, as well, and can't move. All of that put even more pressure on Seattle's defense, and it still shut down a powerful Arizona offense.

Norm Hall/Getty Images

I mean, the score was tied at three at the end of regulation. Tied at three. 

While the contest was awful to watch, seeing two powerful offenses scratch and claw for every inch of turf was interesting to see, especially in a league that is—to borrow a word—rigged for offenses.

Watching Seattle's defense in particular was scary. It looked like the old Seahawks that ravaged the league several years ago.

There were a few scenes in the game that epitomized just how brutal these defenses were, but one in particular was striking. It was Carson Palmer, throwing to future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald. Near Fitzgerald was Richard Sherman.

The ball went into Fitzgerald's hands, and coming in the opposite direction was Sherman. Boom, crack, pow. Sherman hit Fitzgerald, knocking the ball loose, and one of the best receivers I ever saw, a big man who is rarely knocked backward, was planted into the ground. It was textbook. It was vicious. The whole night was vicious.

Cardinals running back David Johnson has been destroying defenses, but the Seahawks held him in check, including stopping him short on a 3rd-and-2 with 1:22 left in the game. Johnson took about two steps before he was swarmed.

The overall defensive play was gorgeous, but the game was almost unwatchable. "There's more backwards offense in this game than forwards offense," said NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth during the broadcast.

That would be correct.

It was ugly, but I think we saw both defenses make statements to the rest of the league, especially the conference. I think we will look back at this game as exactly that. A warning to the rest of football:

We're not going to be pretty. Our games may cause stomach irritation.

Our defenses will shut almost all of you down. That means you Dallas. That means you Green Bay. And Minnesota. And just about anyone else.

Now pardon me while I go take a fistful of antacids.

Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report.