The Seattle Seahawks took on their current biggest rival in the NFC, the Arizona Cardinals, once again on Sunday night. This matchup marked their second butting heads of the year, with the last game ending 19-3 at CenturyLink Field. Given Arizona’s strength this season and that the Hawks were playing them on their own astro turf this time, tensions were already high- and with clenching their position in the NFC finals on the line, things only got more intense.
Things started off a bit rough for the Hawks, as star Running Back Marshawn Lynch was on the sidelines with an upset stomach and its offense kept being shut down by the Cardinals’ always-impressive defensive line. However, the Seahawks maintained a similarly strong defense through the quarter, forcing Arizona to punt twice during it. Seattle punted once after a drive that got them mid-field, and the stalemate was still going at the end of the first 15. Neither team could get even a field goal on the board, so it was goose eggs all around as the second quarter began.
The start of the 2nd meant the return of Marshawn Lynch to the field to replace Robert Turbin, as Lynch’s stomach troubles had apparently ceased. As any 12th Man Fan would hope, he was able to jump right back into doing what he does best- getting the ball down the field and getting points. He ended up with a 6-yard run for a touchdown after a 22 yard scramble, the second Hawks touchdown of the quarter. Before that, Russell Wilson nailed the 80-yard pass to Luke Wilson that got the Hawks on the board in the first place- the first of many scoring plays to come. Arizona managed to get the ball within the 10 even earlier in the quarter, but were held to a field goal. At halftime, the game was 14-3 with the Hawks firmly in the lead.
In the third quarter, Arizona still had trouble getting it together. Ryan Lindley of the Cardinals couldn’t get the ball down the field, with incomplete passes and loss of yardage being common themes. They got a break in the form of Steven Hauschka’s missing of a field goal from the 50, his second miss of the night. The Cards nearly scored on an interception on a ball meant to go to the Hawk’s Paul Richardson, but ended up in the hands of Arizona’s Patrick Peterson instead. Thankfully, he couldn’t hold onto it and it was on to the next play. As the quarter played out, Steven Hauschka missed his third field goal of the night (and only his sixth total of the season) and the Cardinals scored their first first down of the half. Making it to the 20 yard line, they ended up not making the touchdown but still scored a field goal- making things 14-6 at the end of the third.
With the spread being so small going into the fourth, fans at the game and away were all rooting hard and heavy for their hometown heroes. But it wouldn’t be long before the second Wilson-to-Wilson touchdown pass of the night, following a pass for a 39 yard gain and 3 plays that ended up with Luke Wilson in the endzone on a 20-yard pass. The Cardinals offense apparently decided that the game was over at this point, barely eking out yardage and mostly just turning the ball over after every 3 failed plays. But even their defensive line seemed to be weak at this point, as we’d soon have the play of the night if not the entire season.
Marshawn Lynch went full Beast Mode once again, going down field while shoving down defenders for a 79-yard (!) run that put Seattle even farther ahead at 28-6. This run nearly mirrored the famous Beast Quake run he had against the New Orleans Saints- and even if it was more just icing on the victory cake than a real game-changer, it was still a mighty impressive scene and one that’ll be on highlight reels for Hawks fans and football fans alike for years to come.
Before all was said and done, the Hawks caught an interception that lead to Russell Wilson tossing yet another pitch into the endzone. At the end of the final 15, the score stood as a 35-6 blowout that blindsided the team once thought to have the playoffs already clinched. The Hawks are now awaiting their next prey, which will be the St. Louis Rams on December 28th. With a 6-9 record, the odds definitely aren’t in St. Louis’s favor- and we’ll all be glued to the set waving our 12th Man Flag proudly.
Next Game: December 28th, 2014 at 1:25PM on FOX
Vs. St.Louis Rams @ CenturyLink Field, Seattle
