The Seattle Seahawks prevailed against the Arizona Cardinals in a game that provided both teams with plenty to celebrate as well as many causes for concern. The match, held at Lumen Field, featured standout players like Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, while highlighting critical mistakes that nearly cost the Seahawks the game. For Seattle, this particular victory is a big deal as they try to build some momentum which is particularly important early on in the season.
Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold looked outstanding, tossing for 242 yards and a touchdown on 18 of 26 passing. Darnold’s crucial throw to rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo for 32 yards on a scramble exemplified his ability to make plays under pressure. In the fourth quarter, Darnold excelled when targeting Smith-Njigba with three completions for 69 yards on passes that traveled over ten yards downfield. Smith-Njigba finished the game with 79 receiving yards on four catches, including a notable 22-yard gain on a second-and-10 play.
Key Players Shine
The game delivered huge performances across the board on both teams, for better or worse. Nobody has made his talent more painfully obvious than Marvin Harrison Jr. over his two-year career. He recently added to that impressive record by scoring ten touchdowns. John Brown is well known for his stunning, dynamic game-breaking prowess. During the 2014 and 2015 seasons combined, he would score an astounding 12 touchdowns. His legacy loomed large as fans and experts alike expected the same magic from talented, but uncertain players on the current roster.
That’s been Josh Jobe, who has had his own terrific start to the season. He made key tackles and overall coverage was very consistent for the entire matchup. Riq Woolen struggled in Seattle’s season opener against the San Francisco 49ers. He committed two very expensive errors late in the game, mistakes that added to their loss. Against Arizona, Woolen’s overall performance was overshadowed by three backbreaking penalties that left his team scrounging in tough situations.
Missed Opportunities
Although the game was an impressive win, the Seahawks were not immune to their own blunders. Coby Bryant’s fumble on an interception opportunity was a significant missed chance for Seattle’s defense. Julian Love’s near interception illustrated how important unlikely, game-changing plays can fall through the cracks and define a loss. Kenneth Walker III got an ‘excessive celebration’ trololol penalty that moved Seattle out of field goal range. If that was indeed a misstep, it probably altered their desired game plan entirely.
The Seahawks’ offensive line had been roundly criticized in this contest as well. It was yet another missed call on third down that made us wonder whether the NFL uses any form of weekly officiating report to establish accountability and consistency. Those times of doubt only compounded the drama as the game grew more intense.
Looking Ahead
With this hard-fought victory against the Cardinals, the Seahawks have set a positive tone for the remainder of the season. Darnold’s leadership will fuel this team’s journey. In the meantime, Smith-Njigba’s developing skill and Jobe’s continued lockdown defense will be keys as they look to build off this performance.
Leave a Reply