GLENDALE, Ariz. — Sam Darnoldis performing like a seasoned quarterback. AndJaxon Smith-Njigbais performing as one of the top receivers in the sport.
On a night when the Seahawks transformed what seemed like an easy victory into a tense showdown, the Darnold-to-Smith-Njigba connection allowed them to barely escape State Farm Stadium with a23-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals thanks to Jason MyersA 52-yard field goal at the end of the game.
The Seahawks didn’t need the last-minute heroics. They were ahead 14-3 at halftime despite making three key errors.Coby Bryantdropped an interception, fellow safetyJulian Lovemissed a simple catch and running backKenneth Walker IIIsent Seattle out of field goal range due to a taunting penalty.
Nevertheless, the Seahawks had full control—until the end. Their strong defense allowed 17 consecutive points, letting Arizona equal the score with 28 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
Seattle received the ball at the 40-yard line following Arizona’s unsuccessful kickoff that didn’t reach the designated area. On a second-and-10 play, Darnold connected with Smith-Njigba for a 22-yard gain, leading to Myers’ game-winning play two plays later.
Smith-Njigba entered Thursday with 323 receiving yards, marking the top three-game start in team history. He struggled early against Arizona but ended with 79 receiving yards on four receptions. Darnold completed three of three passes to Smith-Njigba for 69 yards on throws that traveled 10 or more yards downfield in the fourth quarter. Smith-Njigba had only one such reception in the first three quarters.
This is the most recent installment of wild games as the Seahawks take on the Cardinals in Arizona, with Seattle holding a record of 11-1-1 since 2013.
Here are the key details from Thursday night for both teams:
Seahawks (3-1)
What to think of the quarterback’s performance:Darnold keeps proving he’s a capable scrambler. That was one of the reasons he had been sacked just three times in the first three games. Arizona tackled him three times on Thursday, but Darnold still managed to make plays while on the move. Late in the first half, he connected with rookie tight endElijah ArroyoHe gained 32 yards on a scramble pass. On the following play, he rushed for 24 yards. That drive concluded with a touchdown, giving Seattle a 14-3 lead at halftime. Darnold completed 18 of 26 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown.
Turning point:Following the controversial fumble on Bryant’s interception return, the Seahawks benefited from a referee error. Near the end of the first half, left tackleCharles Crosswasn’t flagged for an obvious false start on a third-and-2 situation where Seattle succeeded with a pass from Darnold toCooper Kupp. If it had been called, Seattle would have had third-and-7 from the 32, possibly resulting in a long field goal attempt. Instead, Darnold targeted the tight endAJ Barnerfor a 16-yard touchdown and a 7-3 advantage on the following play.
Trend to watch: Has Josh Jobe overtaken Riq Woolenas the No. 2 cornerback? When Seattle acquired the safetyD’Anthony BellAs an additional defensive back, Woolen was taken out of the game, not Jobe. This could have been developing over the past few weeks. Coach Mike Macdonald did not confirm that Woolen would start in Week 2 following the former Pro Bowl player’s two significant errors during Seattle’s opening game loss to theSan Francisco 49ers. But with Devon Witherspoonsidelined, Woolen stayed in a backup position until Witherspoon came back on Thursday. Woolen was flagged three times during the game against Arizona while Jobe maintained his strong performance.— Brady Henderson
Next game:vs. Buccaneers (4:05 p.m. ET, October 5)
Cardinals (2-2)
After Marvin Harrison Jr. made a 16-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, the second-year receiver knelt down to celebrate.
The Cardinals had been anticipating such a play from Harrison throughout the game, but it still wasn’t sufficient.
The Cardinals’ offense — including Harrison — struggled to find its groove until the fourth quarter, when Arizona tied the game at 20 with 28 seconds remaining. However, the kickerChad RylandThe penalty on the following kickoff resulted in Seattle scoring a game-winning field goal as time ran out, securing a key victory in the NFC West.
Up until the middle of the fourth quarter, Arizona struggled significantly. Their running game was ineffective. The passing attack lacked depth. Gaining yardage proved difficult, and scoring points was even more so. However, once again, the Cardinals’ defense kept Arizona in the game, allowing only two touchdowns and ensuring the game wasn’t a blowout.
Then, as the clock counted down past 10 minutes in the fourth quarter, every element that had been struggling for the Cardinals’ offense suddenly came together. QuarterbackKyler Murrayled Arizona on two scoring drives, one that concluded with Harrison’s touchdown and another that ended with a 7-yard catch by the running backEmari Demercado.
Regrettably for Arizona, it suffered its second consecutive loss in NFC West games.
What to think of the quarterback’s performance:Murray made the most of the resources he had at his disposal. Both of his interceptions came on passes thrown to Harrison, with the receiver playing a role in both. On one occasion, he stopped executing the route, and on another, he fumbled the ball before it was intercepted. However, after completing just one of five passes targeting Harrison in the first half, the pair connected on all five attempts for 58 yards in the second half. Murray ended the game with 27 completions out of 41 passes, totaling 200 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Stat to know:Harrison’s touchdown in the final quarter was his 10th of his two-season career, and it marked the highest total by a Cardinal player during their first two seasons sinceJohn Brownhad 12 in 2014 and 2015.— Josh Weinfuss
Next game:vs. Titans (4:05 p.m. ET, October 5)
