Seahawks fire on all cylinders in 34-22 win over Cardinals
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If there was ever any doubt -- any questions -- about sloppy play, missed catches and offensive line problems, the Seahawks certainly did their best to answer them Thursday night in Arizona.
The Hawks, clicking on all cylinders minus a few 2nd quarter miscues beat the NFC West Division rival Arizona Cardinals 34-22 at University of Phoenix Stadium, going 6-1 for the first time in franchise history.
With the win, the Hawks are guaranteed to stay at least one game ahead of the 49ers and two games ahead of the Rams at the end of Week 7.
With the Seahawks getting off to an early 14-0 lead and very nearly returning a punt for a touchdown, there never seemed to be much of a question that the Hawks would handle business down in the desert. But a turnover on downs for the Seahawks on the Cardinals side of the field seemed to stall things out and switch momentum in the 2nd quarter, with the Cardinals racking up two scores quick.
Yet the Hawks were quick to rally back, cementing two touchdowns in the third quarter to put the Hawks up 31-13. By then the game was a foregone conclusion, ultimately nullifying a fourth quarter touchdown by the Cardinals.
The Hawks' defense racked up seven sacks on a beleaguered Carson Palmer, who finished the game 30-for-45 with one touchdown and two interceptions. On the other side, Wilson continued his winning ways, finishing 18-for-29 with 235 yards and three touchdowns.
Marshawn Lynch finished the game with 91 yards on 21 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. And the Hawks run defense looked stellar, keeping Richard Mendenhall to 22 yards on 13 carries.
After the game, coach Pete Carroll said the team looked strong on all levels.
"We have a young group of guys, and we have a very strong resolve," Carroll said. "We looked good out there."
Next up, the Hawks will face off against the division rival St. Louis Rams on Oct. 28 for Monday Night Football.
Live Updates from the Game
-- Seahawks recover the ball on an onside kick attempt by the Cardinals.
-- Cardinals score the touchdown but miss the extra point. It's 34-22 with 4:34 left in the 4th Quarter.
-- The Hawks are clicking on all cylinders, with WIlson going 19-for-28 and 245 yards and three touchdowns.
-- Hauschka kicks it through the upright to put the Hawks up 34-16.
-- Seahawks up 31-16 with 14:41 left in the game after the Cardinals kick a field goal.
Fourth Quarter-- Seahawks lose the ball on the the 20-yard line. Arizona has it on the 4 yard-line.
-- Was that the second sack in a row? I think it was. Seahawks defense looking stifling.
-- Touchdown Seahawks! Marshawn Lynch takes it in from 2 yards out. Seahawks up 31-13 with 3:52 to go in the third quarter.
-- Pick 6... maybe?! Almost. Brandon Browner with the interception and runs it back to the one after falling and tripping. Seahawks get the ball on the Cardinals 4.
-- Touchdown Seahawks! Zach Miller brings the Hawks up 24-14 with a little more than 10 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter.
-- Touchdown Marshawn Lynch! Hawks up 24-14 with 10:43 left to go in the third quarter. No, wait, they're calling it back.
-- Golden Tate is down with a foot injury. We'll keep you updated.
-- Hawks break it up on third down. Jay Feely hits a 52-yard field goal to put the Cardinals within four at 17-13 with 11:48 to go in the third quarter.
-- Well the first drive wasn't much, and the Hawks have to punt. With only a touchdown separating, there isn't much going on.
Hawks lead 17-10 at the end of the first half.
-- Seahawks kick the Hauschka field goal to go up 17-10 with five seconds left in the half. Long drive there at the end.
-- Seahawks take a timeout. There is 19 seconds left in the clock.
-- Hawks have one timeout remaining with a little more than 30 seconds left in the game. They're at the Cardinals 35.
-- We're looking to see if this is a catch or not. Could be a big come up for the
-- Hawks near midfield on second and ten. Looking at third down here.
-- Hawks are struggling after they failed that first down conversion. They're looking to score here before the half. They're driving now though, on their own 40. Coleman was injured and slow to get up.
-- Arizona rushes fast and puts points on the board. Hawks still lead, but by less. 14-10 with 4:20 left in the first half.
-- Yikes. Hawks fumble the ball on their own 10 yardline and the Cardinals recover. First and goal for Arizona. Momentum has really shifted.
-- Hawks get the ball on their own 12, with about 3:55 left in the first half.
-- Hawks stop the Cardinals on 3rd and long from their own 30 yard line. Hawks are really getting on the pas rush. Cardinals settle for a field goal, with Seattle leading 14-3 with about 3 minutes left in the first half.
-- Cardinals can't nail it on third and short. Lets see if they go for it... Yep, they do. And they get the first down.
-- Running game is still stopped by the Cardinals. 3rd and long for the Cardinals. They get the first, but the defense looks good.
-- Hawks go for it on fourth and inches. But they can't get it. Arizona takes over near midfield. Hopefully that doesn't change the momentum...
-- Lynch looks to get the first down with foward progress. Wilson is already 7-for-9 with 96 yards. Lynch has 6 carries for 42 yards.
-- Cardinals forced to punt, and it looks like it's going to be a runback by Tate. However, an illegal block above the waist brings the ball back to the Arizona 42.
-- Touchdown Seahawks. Hawks go up 14-0 with 13:25 left to go in the 2nd quarter. Wilson hits Zach Miller for a 15-yard pass. Really handling it early in the game.
SECOND QUARTER-- Wilson hits Tate two times in a row. Sidney Rice also coming alive. Lynch runs for the first down.
-- Sidney Rice trips on the long pass. Looked like pass interference at first, but wasn't. Seahawks call a timeout on 3rd and 2.
-- Zach Miller gets the pass, has the first down. Wilson takes the hit.
-- Interception Seahawks! Palmer's 12th interception of the season. To his credit, the ball was tipped up into the air. Seahawks have the ball on the 28-yardline.
-- Earl Thomas with the interception. Play is under review. Looks like an interception to us, though.
-- Arizona is driving a little bit here. At there own 29 after a 12-yard pass to Fitzgerald. Palmer then completes to Mendenahall for a 12-yard gain. Hawks doing a good job of stopping the running game, though.
-- Touchdown Seahawks! Hawks dominate on an 83-yard 5-play drive with a long pass from Russell Wilson to Sidney Rice. Hawks up 7-0 with 7:13 left in the 1st.
-- Lynch bursts to the outside for a gain of 12. Hawks are in the Cardinals territory.
-- WIlson runs for 12 on the first down of the game. Then gets it out to Luke Wilson on the second down. Really have some athletic ability.
-- The opening drive stalls for the Cardinals after that long sack. Cardinals are forced to punt. Tate takes it out to the 18 of the Hawks.
-- Huge sack by Tony McDaniel. A loss of 14. Cardinals look at 2nd and 24.
-- Cardinals keep the drive alive and pickup eight. A lot of short passes so far for Carson Palmer. Is the short rest getting to the Hawks?
-- Cardinals' score a short pass to the outside for the first down. Seahawks have done good on the opening drive stopping the offense. Not this time.
-- Ahh, Richard Sherman. Coming up with an (almost) loose ball on the first play. Second play was a rush that was stopped.
-- Kickoff! Arizona won the toss and elected to receive. They will get the ball on the 20.