By Doug Haller, Michael-Shawn Dugar and Jelani Scott
In a hard-fought matchup that featured a combined 10 sacks and one offensive touchdown, the Seattle Seahawks (6-5) checked several boxes on Sunday with a 16-6 win over the Arizona Cardinals (6-5). The Seahawks secured a sixth straight win over their division rival and snapped the Cardinals’ four-game win streak to move, at least for the moment, into the driver’s seat of the NFC West.
A 35-yard Cardinals field goal in the second quarter gave this defensive battle its first points following a scoreless first frame. Back-to-back punts continued the stalemate, and the Seahawks received a needed shot of adrenaline courtesy of a 46-yard Jaxon Smith-Njigba reception that set the wide receiver up for a 3-yard touchdown. Seattle’s surging momentum continued after halftime on Arizona’s first possession, an eight-play series capped by cornerback Coby Bryant turning an egregious Kyler Murray overthrow into a 69-yard pick six on fourth-and-1.
COBY BRYANT PICK-6 IN SEATTLE!
📺: #AZvsSEA on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/xVFRwEbk70— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024
As both defenses attempted to tighten the reins inside a rainy Lumen Field, a Cardinals interception in the end zone and a subsequent 22-yard field goal kept Arizona hanging around early in the fourth. But, it was Seattle that came away with the timely stops to keep the Cards at bay. A 50-yard Seahawks field goal essentially salted away the game before a missed 47-yarder by Arizona with 15 seconds to play officially closed the door on the Cardinals
After the victory, the Seahawks temporarily have the lead in the NFC West via tiebreaker over the Cardinals; although a Los Angeles Rams win on Sunday night would create a three-way tie in which Arizona would have the tiebreaker.
Seahawks D steps up big time
The Cardinals came into this game ranked seventh in points per drive with an offense that had been in a groove, with Murray leading the way playing the best ball of his career. On Sunday, Mike Macdonald’s defense held them out of the end zone and Murray threw a pick six on top of being sacked five times.
James Conner, one of the toughest running backs to tackle, had just eight yards on seven carries. Seattle completely shut down everything Arizona wanted to do save for getting the ball to tight end Trey McBride (12 catches, 133 yards). The Seahawks’ much-maligned defense has turned a corner, which is why for the time being Macdonald’s team holds first place in the NFC West. — Michael-Shawn Dugar, Seahawks beat writer
Cardinals offense hard-pressed for bright spots on rough day
The offensive line has not exactly been a strength for the Cardinals, but it’s been pretty good. Especially since it’s operated most of the season down two starters. That changed Sunday.
Right tackle Jonah Williams returned after missing nine games because of a knee injury. It mattered little. The Cardinals struggled to find an offensive rhythm and never scored a touchdown. Conner had little running room. Murray had little time, getting sacked five times. Coming off perhaps the best game of his career in a Nov. 10 win over the Jets, Murray finished 24 of 37 for 285 yards, but he also threw a pick six that gave Seattle a 13-3 lead. Murray was hit hard on a scramble in the fourth quarter that left him grimacing in pain, but he returned for the Cardinals’ final drive. Arizona’s only offensive bright spot: McBride had a career-best 12 catches, which set a franchise record for receptions in a game by a tight end. — Doug Haller, Cardinals senior writer
How will Arizona respond to ugly loss?
Arizona played well defensively. Garrett Williams intercepted a Geno Smith pass in the end zone, saving a touchdown. Overall, the Cardinals gave up only one offensive touchdown, which was set up by a 46-yard Seattle pass play. But trailing 13-6 in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals couldn’t get off the field and gave up a 50-yard field goal that pretty much put the game out of reach.
Arizona, which had won four in a row, lost out on an opportunity to increase its NFC West lead. The Cardinals remain firmly in the hunt, but Sunday’s loss revealed their slim margin of error, a factor that likely will not change. — Haller
Leonard Williams trade paying off nicely for Seattle
This is type of game-wrecking performance that explains Seattle’s decision to trade a second-round pick for Leonard Williams then pay him like one of the best defensive tackles in the league. Williams had four QB hits, 2 1/2 sacks and an additional tackle for loss on a run play, almost single-handedly throwing Arizona’s offense out of whack. This was Williams’ best game as a Seahawk and it couldn’t have come at a better time. — Dugar
Required reading
- NFL Week 12 live updates and scores: Playoff projections, schedule, predictions, news, inactives, odds
- Cardinals’ division to lose? Projection model ranks contenders in wild NFC West
- James Conner and the punishing style and leadership that fuel the Cardinals
- JSN is playing like a WR1, which ‘opens up everything’ for the Seahawks’ offense
- Seahawks playoff push: Three keys that could decide Seattle’s fate
(Photo: Rio Giancarlo / Getty Images)
