The Cardinals made a statement on Sunday night with their win over the Seahawks
This week’s Sunday Night Football game featured two top NFC West teams in the 6-2 Arizona Cardinals and the 4-4 Seattle Seahawks.
The first quarter was mostly a quiet one until the last few minutes. Seahawks safety Earl Thomas intercepted a pass in the red zone to prevent the Cardinals from scoring. They could not score on the succeeding offensive possession, though.
The first points of the game would go on the board with 12:52 to go in the second quarter when Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro hit a 33-yard field goal to make the score 3-0.
On the next drive for the Seahawks, Russell Wilson dropped back for a pass but ran into offensive lineman Russell Okung, fumbling the football. It went into the end zone and Wilson had to cover it up before a Cardinals defender could grab it. This caused a safety, making the game 5-0.
There was also a scary moment during the second quarter. Cardinals guard Mike Iupati went to block the Seahawks’ Kam Chancellor and leaned in with his head. He ended up colliding helmet to helmet with Chancellor and went down to the ground. He would have to be placed on a stretcher and taken away via ambulance.
About halfway through the second, the Cardinals would increase their lead with a touchdown. Carson Palmer threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Michael Floyd to make the score 12-0.
The Cardinals would drive down the field again via another great Floyd catch that got the ball to the one-yard line. However, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians challenged the call that it should be a touchdown and won. The Cardinals went up 19-0.
On Seattle’s next drive, they stormed down the field and it resulted in a one-yard touchdown from Will Tukuafu to make the score 19-7.
The game would be paused for about eight minutes when a pass attempt to Cardinals tight end Darren Fells was ruled incomplete but many thought he completed the catch and fumbled the ball. After review, the play would stand as incomplete, drawing the ire of the Seahawks and their fans.
When the score was 22-10, Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu picked off Wilson and brought the ball into Seattle territory. It would result in a field goal to make it 25-10.
On the succeeding Seahawks drive, Wilson would hit wide receiver Doug Baldwin for a 32-yard touchdown pass to make the score 25-17.
After the world’s longest third quarter, the Seahawks would get to Carson Palmer on third down, stripping the football from him. They would bring the ball down to the 2 yard line and eventually score. They would miss the 2 point conversion to male the score 25-17.
On the next Cardinals possession, Palmer got strip-sacked again but this time, Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner brought the ball into the end zone for the touchdown. They missed the two-point conversion again, though. Seahawks would lead 29-25.
The Cardinals would finally redeem themselves, though. They would drive down the field and Palmer hit Jermaine Gresham for a touchdown pass to make the score 32-29.
After stopping the Seahawks on the next drive, the Cardinals looked to control the clock. As they were faced with a 3rd down with four yards to go, running back Andre Ellington ran the ball 48 yards down the field for a touchdown to make it 39-29 and seemingly put the score out of reach with less than two minutes to go.
The Seahawks would not give up, though. They drove down the field and kicker Steven Hauschka hit a field goal to make the game 39-32. However, they failed to convert the onside the kick and the game ended.
Three stars
Michael Floyd, Wide Receiver, Cardinals – Floyd finished the game with six receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns.
Seahawks Defense – Seattle forced and recovered two fumbles in the 2nd half that resulted in touchdowns.
Carson Palmer – Despite two strip-sack fumbles, Palmer threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns.
Highlights
Russell Wilson fumbled the ball by his own end zone, leading to a safety.
Check out Carson Palmer’s 2nd quarter touchdown pass to Michael Floyd.
Here is the second fumble by Palmer that ended up in a touchdown for Seattle.
Next Week
The Cardinals will travel back home next week to face the Cincinnati Bengals while the Seahawks will welcome the lowly San Francisco 49ers.