Not in the Cards: Wilson leads Seahawks to 34-22 victory
Oct 17, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) runs the ball against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Russell Wilson threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Seahawks to a big 34-22 victory over the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on Thursday Night Football.
The Seahawks are now 6-1 for the first time in the history of the franchise.
Seattle opened up a quick 7-0 lead in the first quarter as Russell Wilson led his offense 83 yards in just five plays. He concluded the drive by throwing a 31-yard touchdown pass to Sidney Rice.
On their next possession, which didn’t come until the second quarter, Seattle extended the lead to 14-0 when Wilson hit Zach Miller for a 15-yard touchdown. Miller was one of Wilson’s favorite targets of the night and finished the game with five catches for 40 yards.
The Cardinals answered with a 49-yard field goal from Jay Feely that made it a 14-3 affair. He would finish the night 3-for-3 in field goal attempts.
When Seattle got the ball back, Wilson fumbled the ball deep in his own territory, allowing Arizona’s offense back on the field 25 seconds after they had jogged off of it. Rashard Mendenhall ran it in from three yards out for his third touchdown of the year to narrow the margin to 14-10.
For the second consecutive week, a bad fumble led to the other team scoring a touchdown and making it a game right before the half. It was the first of three fumbles in the game from Wilson, two of which he lost.
The Seahawks did, however, manage to move the ball 47 yards on their last possession of the half, allowing Steven Hauschka to nail a 51-yard field goal and give Seattle a 17-10 lead entering the intermission.
In the third quarter, Feely sank a 52-yard field goal to make it a 17-13 game, but it was the closest Arizona would get for the rest of the night.
The Seahawks scored two touchdowns in the third. Wilson threw his third touchdown pass of the game, this one to Kellen Davis, and Marshawn Lynch ran in another to make it a 31-13 game at the end of the third quarter.
Lynch finished the game with 91 yards on the ground and the touchdown.
In the fourth, both teams kickers hit a field goal to increase the score to 34-16. Hauschka finished the evening 2-for-2 and has now hit 16 of his 17 field goal attempts this season.
Carson Palmer, who won the Heisman Trophy at USC under Pete Carroll in 2002, didn’t throw his first touchdown until the fourth quarter. He hit Jaron Brown in the back of the end zone to narrow the Seahawks lead to 34-22, which would ultimately be the last score of the game.
Seattle’s defense wreaked havoc on the Cardinals for the majority of the game. The secondary forced Palmer to go 30 of 45 for 258 yards and two interceptions, one courtesy of Earl Thomas, the other from Brandon Browner.
The defensive line sacked Palmer seven times and allowed just 30 rushing yards. Malcolm Smith led Seattle’s defense with eight tackles and a sack.
Golden Tate returned a punt for a touchdown in the game, but it was nullified because of a Seattle penalty. He led Seattle’s receivers with 77 yards on four catches.
The Seahawks have an 11-day gap until their next game. They will be in St. Louis on Monday Night Football in Week 8 to take on the Rams (3-3) on Oct. 28.