One season after their dominating 2013 campaign, the Seattle Seahawks have drifted between the penthouse and the general vicinity of the outhouse all year long, courtesy of rampant injuries and the dreaded 'Super Bowl hangover'.
Fortunately for Seattle, the swarming, suffocating defense that characterized their Super Bowl victory returned en masse against the division-leading Phoenix Cardinals. The net result of the defense riding herd was a statement win as well as a shot across the bow to the rest of the NFC West.
“It’s a special win," said Seattle costless safety Earl Thomas. "Because we did it together.”
Seattle Takes the Early Lead
Given the significance of the game to the Seahawks, there was an electricity in the air at Century Link unlike anything else experienced so far this season. "It was a championship football type game" said Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson, who finished the game 17-22 for 211 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 73 yards on 10 carries.
The Cardinals won the coin toss and elected to receive to start the game. After a quick Arizona three-and-out, the Seahawks started their initial drive in Cardinals territory and drove 40 yards in nine plays, headed by five Marshawn Lynch carries totaling 17 yards. After the drive stalled, kicker Steven Hauschka connected on a 27-yard field goal for the initial 3-0 Seattle lead. For the game, Lynch was held in check, running for just 39 yards on 15 carries.
Later in the quarter, the Cardinals went on a six-play march of their own. On the second play of the drive, quarterback Drew Stanton threw deep to wide receiver John Brown, who drew a pass interference penalty on cornerback Byron Maxwell. The 39-yard penalty took the ball down to the Seattle 33 yard line, but the Cardinals could not go further. Chandler Catanzaro came in to try a 49-yard field goal, but missed it wide right.
The first quarter ended with Seattle on top, 3-0.
The Battle of Field Goals Continues
The second quarter saw the defenses continue to reign supreme, with both teams managing only to kick field goals. Hauschka converted attempts of 32 and 52 yards, the second following a key Byron Maxwell interception. Meanwhile, Catanzaro split the uprights on a 23-yarder with seconds left in the half.
Noteworthy in the battle of field goals was a 49-yard effort by Hauschka with 5:35 left in the second quarter that was blocked by Tommy Kelly. At halftime, the Seahawks were up 9-3.
The Seahawks' Championship Mettle Resurfaces
As they are known to do, the Seahawks made a number of key adjustments at halftime which translated into points in the third quarter, and ultimately, a big divisional win.
After a punt by Seattle and a three-and-out drive by Phoenix, the Seahawks' DeShawn Shead blocked punter Dave Zastudil's punt, with Seattle recovering the ball at the Phoenix 34. The turnover led to yet another Hauschka field goal, this time a 40-yarder that extended the lead to 12-3. "We’re so versatile, in terms of all the different looks that we have, and we have to just keep capitalizing, keep believing," explained Wilson. "And at the end of the day, it comes down to winning the game."
Fortunately for the Seahawks, Wilson assumed control in the latter part of the third quarter, and with that, put the game out of reach for the stymied Cardinals' offense. Starting at his own 25, he engineered a nine play drive that consumed 5:31 of the clock and 75 yards. Key plays in the drive were a 23-yard pass across-the-grain to Marshawn Lynch, as well as a 15-yard Wilson scramble.
One play later, Wilson found backup tight end Cooper Helfet for an acrobatic touchdown, expanding the lead to 19-3. "Cooper, man that guy’s a superstar," marveled Wilson. "Just his hands, and being able to get into the end zone that way. I don’t know how he wrapped that ball around the pylon there, but it was a pretty spectacular play."
The Seahawks defense clamped down in the fourth quarter, allowing just 26 yards. Meanwhile, although Seattle did not score either, they held the ball for nearly eleven minutes, including the final 6:53.
As the final horn sounded, the Seahawks had posted a dominating, statement win against the division-leading Cardinals in advance of their huge Thursday night game against the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers Game Looms Large
Following their 17-13 win over the Redskins, the 49ers head home to host Seattle in a huge Thanksgiving Day battle pitting two 7-4 teams against one another. The matchup has serious playoff significance for both clubs.
“It’s a Thursday night, Thanksgiving game, where everybody will be watching," said Wilson. "It’s the 49ers, so that’s one of those things that you get pumped up for. We know that we’re going to have to go down there, it’s going to be a tough crowd, and it’s the first time that we’ll play in that stadium, so we know it’s going to be loud and electric, so we’re going to have to really get going and play great football."