Seahawks Beat Cardinals in Season Finale, Eliminated from Playoffs With Packers Win
The Seattle Seahawks needed a win to help themselves qualify for the 2023 postseason. Though they held up their end of the bargain, their late-game was not enough to carry them into the playoffs.
Seattle erased a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter to rally for a 21-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sunday. The Seahawks finish the season 9-8. However, with the Green Bay Packers holding on for 17-9 win over the Chicago Bears, the Seahawks are eliminated from playoff contention.
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Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith finished the game 16 of 28 passing for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Conversely, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, who is likley to become the subject of offseason trade rumors, went 22 of 30 passing for 262 yards and one scoring strike.
Seattle put together a solid first half effort. Their first points came on a 33-yard field goal from kicker Jason Myers, capping an 11-play, 78-yard drive to give the team a 3-0 lead. After the Cardinals tied the game early in the second quarter on a 23-yarder from Matt Prater, Seattle engineered the game’s first touchdown drive, highlighted by a 37-yard deep shot from Geno Smith to receiver Tyler Lockett on third-and-8 from the Seattle 41. Smith put the finishing touches on the drive with a 19-yard strike to tight end Will Dissly. Each team would add an additional field goal to give the Seahawks a 13-6 lead at the half.
While a pair of Matt Prater field goals were all the Cards could muster for points in the first half, Arizona’s offense came alive in the second stanza. Kyler Murray needed only four plays to take his team 87 yards for the scoring strike, capped by a 29-yard run from running back James Conner to tie the game at 13.
With time winding down in the third quarter, Murray once again marched his team 61 yards down the field, this time methodically using 12 plays to do so. Tight end Trey McBride caught an eight-yard touchdown pass, giving the Cards their first lead of the afternoon and setting the score at 20-13.
Arizona looked pointed to put the game away. However, Prater was unable to ice the victory by missing a 43-yard field goal with 2:59 left in the fourth quarter.
Seattle re-gained the ball with a chance to reverse their second-half misfortunes. Smith found running back Zach Charbonnet for a pair of strikes for 13 and 15 yards respectively, advancing Seattle to the Cardinals 33-yard line at the two-minute warning. At first-and-10, Smith connected with Lockett for a 34-yard touchdown bomb. Choosing to opt for the win, Smith once again found Lockett for the conversion and a 21-20 lead with 1:54 remaining in the fourth quarter. In summation, Smith took the Seahawks 67 yards on four plays in just two ticks over one minute.
The stage was set for one final effort from the home team. Murray connected with receiver Michael Wilson on a pair of passes which helped advance Arizona into field goal territory. However, Prater’s 51-yard attempt was wide right, sealing the victory for the Seahawks.
Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant suffered a hand injury in the first half. After originally being ruled questionable to return, the team eventually ruled Fant out for the remainder of the game.
