OUWA – What we learned in Seahawks’ convert Cardinals on Thursday night. Could Kyler Murray and therefore the Cardinals catch Russell Wilson and the Seahawks once again? Just four weeks earlier, the Cardinals achieved an exciting comeback win, and that they were striving to try to do so again on Thursday. But Murray and Arizona’s comeback hopes came up short within the grasp of Carlos Dunlap because the new acquisition’s sack concluded a 28-21 win for the Seahawks on Thursday. (Read also Seahawks give right guard Damien Lewis a surprise start at center for the primary time in his football career)
Seattle Seahawks 28, Arizona Cardinals 21
1. Four days faraway from his first touchdown-less outing, Russell Wilson offered no feeling-out process, but instead offered up a stunning first drive that concluded with a sensational scramble and scoring throw that found another Seahawk coming off a forgettable showing in DK Metcalf. and therefore the Seahawks offense was off to the races! Well, not quite. This wasn’t the aerial showcase the Seahawks have so often treated us to the present year. But Wilson settled in and excellently executed the Seattle offense, scrambling for chunk gains once they were offered, leaning on the run when the clock had to be ground down and efficiently hitting his targets within the pass. then cheering mightily as Carlos Dunlap and therefore the defense made one final stop. there have been no game-tilting interceptions (he had seven combined within the team’s three losses over the past four games) and he finished with two touchdowns, completed 23 of 28 attempts for 197 yards, and rushed for 42 more. All the MVP convo this season for Wilson began with 300-plus outings and five-TD showings. But Wilson was splendidly efficient on tonight and emerged from a first-place battle having led his team to a victory. That’s MVP-worthy, too.
2. Like many a Seahawk, Dunlap had a quiet Week 10 during a loss to the Rams. But he had a really loud response against the Cardinals, culminating with a game-sealing sack of Kyler Murray that has Seattle (7-3) atop the NFC West and Arizona (6-4) looking up. Dunlap responded from his quiet Week 10 together with his second impactful performance in three games with Seattle. Dunlap had two sacks, three quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, and 4 tackles overall. Since he was traded to Seattle from Cincinnati he’s helped to fill an enormous Seahawks need within the pass-rushing department and you cannot help but wonder after Thursday if his inspired play is rubbing off on the remainder of the defense. The Seahawks are in need of playmakers on the defense all season. They’ve needed to form stops and easily couldn’t. On Thursday, Dunlap delivered the Seahawks’ most emphatic stop of the season — and he’s only been there three games.
3. Favoring his shoulder too often for Cardinals fans to not be worrisome, Murray still went back and forth with Wilson even as he did four weeks prior. Working feverishly to force another overtime classic like Week 7’s win was, Murray was instead sacked by Dunlap and therefore the Cardinals came up short. Murray produced a pair of TD throws and 269 yards on 29-of-42 passing. He only had 15 yards on five carries, which could are equal parts Kliff Kingsbury caution and therefore the Seahawks’ inspired defensive play. Murray held his own with Wilson another time, though, and showed up for clock time once more. A loss isn’t easy to require, but Murray played well. the sole area of unease to require from tonight because it concerns the Cardinals QB is simply how healthy that aforementioned shoulder is because it was attended to plenty on the Arizona sideline.
4. It wasn’t just Dunlap who had a stellar showing defensively for the Seahawks. Considering the opponent and therefore the importance, this was the Seahawks’ most impressive defensive performance of the season. Rightfully maligned for the duration of this campaign, the Seahawks defense held the Cardinals to 107 yards and 7 points on five first-half drives, accentuated by three three-and-outs. Just days faraway from hauling during a win and maybe the play of the year, Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins was held in restraint to the tune of 5 catches for 51 yards. Arizona’s offense ended the sport with 314 yards and tied its lowest point total for the campaign. Dunlap had the lasting highlight, but the defense as a unit looked better than it’s and if there’s any way this carries forward, Thursday night will convince be a pivotal turning point for the Seahawks.
5. Though the primary half was largely a forgettable one for the Cardinals as they trailed 16-7, rookie first-rounder Isaiah Simmons tallied four tackles and a sack. it had been a positive development as Simmons’ role on the defense grows following a slow start. before this game, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said the team needed to urge Simmons more playing time and therefore the versatile defender did well. At the game’s end, Simmons had rattled off a team-high 10 tackles, the sack, and two tackles for loss. This was a troublesome defeat for the Cards, but their first-rounder provided his finest showing yet and that is at the very least a promising development to require out of this one.
6. It’s unlikely Carlos Hyde will ever get his due, but on tonight he came back from a hamstring injury that had sidelined him the past three games and ran with might and bad intention. With Chris Carson still absent, Hyde made big runs and delivered some big hits to sorrowful Cardinals defenders. He also recovered a fumble on a botched toss from Wilson that could’ve altered the whole night. He had a game-high 79 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Last season, his just one in Houston, he had his first 1,000-yard campaign in his seventh season. The Seahawks are Hyde’s fifth team, but this rolling stone got going once they needed him on Thursday.
7. For a pair of teams aiming for the NFC West title and rife with postseason aspirations, each of them must cut out the equally stupid and dear penalties. Owning momentum and a healthy 16-7 lead beginning of the half, the Seahawks allowed the Cardinals right back to it on the opening drive of the third quarter. It’s unlikely the Cards would’ve come up with points, if not for an unnecessary roughness turn Quandre Diggs on third and 11 from the Arizona 18. it had been a silly and dangerous hit by Diggs on Hopkins. A 15-yard horse collar by Bobby Wagner seven plays later didn’t help matters. And on the following drive, Cardinals DB Dre Kirkpatrick drew a taunting flag after the defense had just tackled Tyler Lockett two yards short on third and 7. Kirkpatrick’s taunting incited a kerfuffle with Metcalf and preceded a Hyde TD run. However, penalties overall were damning for the Cardinals, particularly on the offensive line. In total, Arizona racked up 10 penalties for 115 yards of punishment with the worst coming within the fourth quarter when a J.R. Sweezy hold translated into security. Each team hurt itself on Thursday, but the Cardinals did much more damage.
