By Michael-Shawn Duger, Doug Haller, and Jenna West
The Seattle Seahawks managed to withstand a late-game surge from the Arizona Cardinals, clinching a 23-20 victory with a game-winning field goal as the clock hit zero on Thursday night. The Cardinals' offense faced significant challenges throughout the match until wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. made a spectacular overhead catch for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, threatening the lead that Seattle had maintained throughout the game. Shortly after, the Cardinals tied the game thanks to a short pass from quarterback Kyler Murray to running back Emari Demercado. However, the Seahawks responded decisively, as quarterback Sam Darnold led the team down the field for a dramatic walk-off 52-yard field goal by kicker Jason Myers.
The outcome of this game was surprising given that the Seahawks appeared to be in command for most of the contest. Despite their early dominance on both sides of the ball, the Seattle offense stalled during multiple drives into Arizona territory. Additionally, Seattle's defensive backs struggled in the game's final moments, allowing the Cardinals to tie the score. The pivotal moment came when the Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba made a crucial 22-yard catch on the final drive, ultimately setting the stage for Myers' game-winning kick. Smith-Njigba recorded all 79 of his receiving yards in the second half, primarily against cornerback Max Melton, solidifying a third consecutive victory for Seattle.
This game marked Sam Darnold's first game-winning drive as a member of the Seahawks. The experienced quarterback made a smart decision to throw the ball away on first-and-10, conserving the team’s final timeout. He then executed a perfectly timed back-shoulder pass to Smith-Njigba, which positioned Seattle at the Arizona 38-yard line. Darnold completed 18 of 26 passes for 242 yards and one touchdown, delivering impressive throws throughout the night. His performance was critical in Seattle’s first prime-time game of the season.
As the saying goes, “It’s a long season,” and Cardinals fans are likely to hear this phrase repeated often. Despite their 2-2 record, the reality is that Arizona has yet to play a complete game. They managed to build leads against the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, but struggled to maintain them. A last-second loss to the injury-riddled San Francisco 49ers further highlighted their inconsistencies. In the game against Seattle, the Cardinals fell behind early and only mounted a strong fourth quarter, which ultimately wasn't enough. The root of the problem lies in their offense, which has failed to establish a strong running game—a supposed strength for the team. Furthermore, they encountered issues protecting Murray, who faced six sacks during the match. Time is running out for the Cardinals to resolve these issues moving forward in the season.
Despite the loss, the game offered a glimmer of hope for the Cardinals with wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. showing signs of regaining his confidence. After a promising start in Week 1 against New Orleans, Harrison struggled to make an impact in Week 2 against Carolina and faced a challenging game against San Francisco, dropping two crucial passes. His performance against Seattle began with a slow start, including a miscommunication with Murray and an interception caused by a bobbled pass. However, Harrison rebounded impressively when he caught a contested 16-yard touchdown pass with six minutes left in the fourth quarter. He took a moment to reflect on his achievement in the end zone, finishing the game with six catches for 66 yards—a much-needed boost for the second-year player.
As both teams move forward, the Seahawks improve to 3-1, while the Cardinals sit at 2-2, highlighting the need for adjustments and growth in the weeks to come.
