Embarrassing.
The Seattle Seahawks (11-4) didn’t NEED to win against the Arizona Cardnials (6-9-1) as it pertained to the NFC West race, but they didn’t NEED to look like twice-fried dog feces out there.
In another dismal showing at home, the Seahawks had a great opening drive touchdown and the offense fell apart after that. Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise both left the game with injuries, the offensive line was awful, Russell Wilson was hesitant and bad, and the receivers either couldn’t get open or dropped the ball.
Kyler Murray left the game with a hamstring injury in the 2nd half and Seattle still got outscored thanks to Brett Hundley, who turned into just as dangerous a scrambler as the rookie sensation.
Seattle’s #1 seed hopes are gone but I’m not sure it matters after Sunday’s 27-13 loss. They are 4-3 at home and have been awful much of the season at the supposed toughest place to play in the NFL.
1st Half
The Cardinals offense got the ball first and went three-and-out, thanks to Rasheem Green’s pass defensed on third down. Seattle was backed up at its own 11, but Chris Carson picked up 24 yards on the ground, David Moore ran for 19 yards on an end-around, and Russell Wilson went 3-of-4 for 46 yards, with a touchdown pass thrown to fullback Nick Bellore. 7-0 Seahawks.
.@DangeRussWilson ➡️ @NBELLORE54 for six and we're on the board first! #GoHawks x #AZvsSEA pic.twitter.com/stPBtnixVI
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 22, 2019
The joy would last one play. Kenyan Drake, who has been red hot for Arizona since being traded from the Miami Dolphins, burst through the defense for an 80-yard score. 7-7.
Kenyan Drake is coming off a 4-TD game and opens the #Seahawks game with an 80-yard touchdown.pic.twitter.com/Tge0zhcRHO
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 22, 2019
Seattle’s offense marched to the Cardinals 35, where they were stopped on a 3rd and 1 pass. Pete Carroll opted to line up for a field goal, took a delay of game, and instead punted to pin Arizona at the 1. Luckily the Seahawks defense held firm and Andy Lee had a poor punt.
It became a bit of a punt fest from both teams as they struggled to get their offenses going. There were obvious issues in pass pro for the Seahawks, with Wilson repeatedly getting harassed.
Arizona took the lead for the first time on a crazy improvised flip from Kyler Murray to Larry Fitzgerald, who got into the open field for a 21-yard touchdown catch-and-run. 14-7 Cardinals.
Larry Fitzgerald thought he had his second touchdown of the game on a back shoulder throw, but the touchdown was overruled as evidence on replay showed the ball hit the ground and he used the ground to help secure the catch. Take the TD off the board and make it a field goal to cap off a dismal 1st half. 17-7 Cardinals.
2nd Half
Instead of coming out strongly to start the half, David Moore fumbled a 3rd down conversion away and into Arizona’s possession. Brutal. The punishment was a Zane Gonzalez field goal to extend the lead to 20-7 Cardinals.
As Seattle’s offense continued to sputter, a major turn of events occurred for Arizona, as Kyler Murray hurt his hamstring on that FG possession and was replaced by Brett Hundley. The Seahawks seemingly got a jolt off a blocked field goal by Rasheem Green, which Marquise Blair picked up and returned deep into Arizona territory.
Rasheem Green got both hands on the block @ras_green pic.twitter.com/9iyKe3LZFF
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) December 22, 2019
For some reason, Schottenheimer kept establishing that run and it didn’t work. 20-10 Cardinals.
The Seahawks offense got the ball back early in the 4th quarter and were able to tack on three more, with Tyler Lockett finally getting his first catch of the game (with a 15-yard penalty on Arizona for a late hit) and Jacob Hollister getting a 3rd and 11 conversion. 20-13 Cardinals.
The defense needed to step up and get another stop and instead turned Brett Hundley into a bigger Kyler Murray, scrambling and making plays with his legs. Kenyan Drake scored his second TD of the afternoon. 27-13 Cardinals.
A good NFL defense doesn’t do this: pic.twitter.com/EJx4GD7XWF
— John Fraley (@johndavidfraley) December 23, 2019
Seattle’s offense went out meekly with a chance to at least cut it to 27-20. Arizona ran out the clock because this defense cannot tackle.
Seahawks injury report
LG Mike Iupati left the game in the 1st quarter with a neck injury and returned in the 2nd half.
RB Chris Carson went into the medical tent in the 2nd quarter and was questionable to return with a hip injury, then later downgraded to out.
RB C.J. Prosise left the game in the 2nd quarter with an arm injury and did not return.
Next week’s opponent
A home game against the San Francisco 49ers (12-3) on Sunday, December 29th at 5:20 PM PT on NBC. It’s for the NFC West championship.