The Seahawks (7-3) limited Arizona’s big plays and held the Cardinals (6-4) to a season-low 314 yards in a 28-21 home victory. With the game in the balance in the fourth quarter, Seattle’s defense delivered a safety and fourth-down sack to seal the game.
Seattle’s offense, led by Russell Wilson, was well-balanced all night long. Wilson completed 23 of 28 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns, and added 42 yards rushing. More importantly, Wilson took care of the football. He had turned the ball over seven times (four interceptions, three lost fumbles) in his previous three games, and threw three interceptions in the Week 7 loss to Arizona.
A more secure performance from Wilson, coupled with Seattle’s ground attack led by Carlos Hyde (14 carries, 79 yards, TD) gave the Seahawks steady production throughout the night. And steady was all they needed thanks to their best defensive performance of the season.
Wilson led a touchdown drive on the opening possession with a 25-yard bomb to D.K. Metcalf to give Seattle the early 7-0 lead. The defense held Arizona to back-to-back three-and-outs to start the game, but the Cardinals got into the end zone early in the second quarter on a 1-yard run by Kenyan Drake to tie the game at 7-7.
The Seahawks answered right back on the next possession, with Wilson delivering a perfect pass to Tyler Lockett for an 11-yard score. Seattle kicker Jason Myers missed the PAT, but redeemed himself at the end of the half with a 27-yard field goal to make it 16-7 going into the locker room.
The Cardinals came back strong in the second half as Kyler Murray led a touchdown drive on the opening possession, capped with a 4-yard TD pass over the middle to Dan Arnold to make it a 2-point game. But Seattle again provided a prompt response as Hyde punched it in from 2 yards out to give the Seahawks a 23-14 lead.
Murray again led another drive, tossing a 3-yard TD pass to a wide open Chase Edmonds on third and goal to make it 23-21 with 13:19 left in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals came up with a crucial stop on the ensuing Seattle possession, giving Murray a chance to help Arizona take its first lead of the game. But on the first play of the drive Murray was flagged for intentional grounding at his own 2-yard line. The following play, a holding penalty was called on right guard J.R. Sweezy, giving Seattle a safety and a 25-21 lead with 9:18 remaining.
Myers hit a 41-yard field goal on the ensuing Seattle possession with 2:19 remaining, giving Murray one last opportunity to tie the game and send it to overtime. But on fourth down from the Seattle 27-yard line he was brought down by Carlos Dunlap, allowing Seattle to run out the clock and end the game.
Photo credit: (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times)
