TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals’ secondary was supposed to be an area of strength this season, but through the first eight games, it was inconsistent.

Cornerback Patrick Peterson’s play was up and down. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie was torched by the Denver Broncos. There were too many mental breakdowns as a group.

That appears to be changing. Peterson has played well in the last three weeks, as has Cromartie and nickel corner Jerraud Powers.

The team has used four safeties at times, including putting rookie Deone Bucannon at linebacker.

Put it together and the Cardinals are finally getting the play they expected out of their secondary. Coach Bruce Arians believes his secondary compares favorably with Seattle’s, which the Cardinals face Sunday.

“Very comparable,” Arians said when asked about his secondary vs. Seattle’s. “They’re both outstanding corners, nickels; safeties are outstanding players on both teams. I think they’re two of the better secondaries in the league.”

The Cardinals are deep, especially at safety. Rashad Johnson plays free safety in most situations, and Tony Jefferson and Tyrann Mathieu share the other spot. Bucannon, a rookie, plays middle linebacker in nickel situations.

Mathieu is starting to look as good as he did before a knee injury suffered last November and could provide a needed boost down the stretch.

“They’re special,” linebacker Larry Foote said. “People don’t even understand that (Justin) Bethel is our fifth corner. When I got here in May, that just jumped off of film. Everybody can cover. Our safeties can play man-to-man.

“A lot of times where I’ve been at, when you see in training camp man-to-man when they go against the receivers, safeties are not even close. They just get ate up, kind of like backs on ‘backers.

“Our safeties are glued tight to those receivers and everybody knows about our top two corners. But (Jerraud) Powers played lights out. When I was watching and studying the film, I said, ‘Damn, No. 25 is going to be our third corner?’ We’re blessed and we’re fortunate to have those guys.”