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Hawks Defeat Cards 28-10
LB LeVar Woods comes up with a fumble recover to thwart a Seahawks drive in the 1st Q.
The Seattle Seahawks finished a perfect home record with a 28-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals at Seahawks Stadium on Sunday, December 21.
The Cards defense struggled early on and when turnovers presented themselves, the Cards offense could not capitalize, going 0/3 in the redzone.
“We had so many opportunities in that ballgame,” bemoaned Head Coach Dave McGinnis. “Especially as ugly as that started out. We couldn’t stop Seattle’s offense at all early on. Defensively, we kept finding a way to get the ball but our redzone offense completely let us down. We are in the redzone and we get no points and we miss two field goals. The opportunities were sitting right there for us and you have to be able to capitalize on those if you are going to be a team that wins anywhere.”
The Seahawks offense set the tone on their opening drive as quarterback Matt Hasselbeck marched his team 72 yards in 12 plays, ending with running back Shaun Alexander hammering it up the middle for nine yards and a score.
The Hawks offense continued to produce big plays against the Cards defense in the first half including a 49-yard touchdown run by Alexander early in the second quarter. They amassed 271 yards in first-half total offense, also scoring on 3 out of their first 4 possessions to enjoy a 21-3 lead early in the second quarter. The only stop on those first four drives came on the Cards one-yardline when cornerback David Barrett knocked the ball loose from Alexander. Linebacker LeVar Woods recovered for the Cards, his third straight fumble recovery in the last three consecutive games.
With 12:42 to go in the second quarter, the Cards got their first points of the day with a 49-yard field goal by kicker Neil Rackers. A 41-yard completion by quarterback Josh McCown to receiver Bryant Johnson and a 13-yard scramble by McCown positioned Rackers for the kick.
Two second-quarter defenses gave the Cards a chance to close the gap before the half.
With 6:13 left in the second quarter, Hasselbeck suffered an injury and was replaced by backup quarterback Trent Dilfer. Dilfer fumbled the handoff and the ball was recovered by defensive end Fred Wakefield at the Hawks 18-yardline, but the Cards came up empty when Rackers 38-yard attempt went wide left.
“Our defense came back and did a nice job of figuring out what they were trying to do,” offered McGinnis. “The big thing was we got some turnovers. We were plus today and couldn’t win because we could not score. You’ve got to be able to score and you’ve got to be able to capitalize on field position.”
The Hawks took over on downs and Dilfer’s pass on first down was miraculously intercepted by cornerback Renaldo Hill. The ball bounced off his hip and between his legs before he finally came down with the interception in between his heels and buttocks. A quick-thinking Hill got up and returned the pick 18 yards to set the Cards up at the Hawks 40-yardline.
Following a false start, a 45-yard flea-ficker pass from McCown to Boldin was ruled incomplete in the endzone. McGinnis challenged the ruling as it appeared Boldin had palmed the ball with one hand and had possession for the touchdown before the ground knocked the ball loose. The officials upheld their ruling. Forced to settle for a field goal, Rackers missed again from 33-yards out to allow Seattle to enjoy a three possession cushion at the half.
“It hurts because we had a chance,” offered McCown. “The defense got the ball back for us with great field position and we missed out on it and that hurts. It could have been a huge difference in the game.”
An interception by Dexter Jackson with 3:25 to go in the third helped spark a Cards offensive drive that was highlighted with Boldin’s fifth catch of the day, shattering receiver Terry Glenn’s all-time rookie record for the most receptions (90) in a season. Unfortunately, the drive came to an abrupt end for the Cards. Facing 4th and 5 at the Hawks 16-yardline, McCown was hit and fumbled the ball.
McCown made amends for the turnover by connecting with Boldin on the following drive for a 60-yard touchdown with 12:49 remaining. Boldin finished the day with 10 catches for 122 yards, moving him into second place for the most all-time purpose yardage by a rookie. He needs only 123 yards to break the record set by Bill Groman in 1960.
Trailing 21-10, the Cards fate was sealed when the Hawks stopped McCown’s forward progress on a 4th and 1 at the Cards own 41-yardline with 8:07 left in the game. The Hawks took advantage of the short field, going 41 yards in 10 plays, resulting in a 3-yard touchdown catch by Bobby Engram from Dilfer and a final score of 28-10.
“Clearly they captured the line of scrimmage and we didn’t get it,” stated McGinnis. “Until I can look at it and see specifically whose pads got under whose pads… I know this. Third and that short, fourth and that short, you’ve got to be able to make it to make something good happen for your team.”
Game Inactives
#15 Preston Parsons (3rd QB)
#46 Josh Rue
#49 Lorenzo Diamond
#66 Pete Kendall
#82 Kevin Kasper
#84 Mike Banks
#91 Wendell Bryant
#95 Derrick Ransom
Roster Moves
The Cards placed safety Justin Lucas on injured reserve on Saturday and activated tight end Lorenzo Diamond from the practice squad.
Special Guest
Former Cards safety Pat Tillman, who left the NFL to join the Army, attended Sunday's game to cheer on his old team. Tillman was warmly greeted by his former coaches and teammates Sunday morning at the team's pregame brunch.
Hawks Defeat Cards 28-10
LB LeVar Woods comes up with a fumble recover to thwart a Seahawks drive in the 1st Q.
The Seattle Seahawks finished a perfect home record with a 28-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals at Seahawks Stadium on Sunday, December 21.
The Cards defense struggled early on and when turnovers presented themselves, the Cards offense could not capitalize, going 0/3 in the redzone.
“We had so many opportunities in that ballgame,” bemoaned Head Coach Dave McGinnis. “Especially as ugly as that started out. We couldn’t stop Seattle’s offense at all early on. Defensively, we kept finding a way to get the ball but our redzone offense completely let us down. We are in the redzone and we get no points and we miss two field goals. The opportunities were sitting right there for us and you have to be able to capitalize on those if you are going to be a team that wins anywhere.”
The Seahawks offense set the tone on their opening drive as quarterback Matt Hasselbeck marched his team 72 yards in 12 plays, ending with running back Shaun Alexander hammering it up the middle for nine yards and a score.
The Hawks offense continued to produce big plays against the Cards defense in the first half including a 49-yard touchdown run by Alexander early in the second quarter. They amassed 271 yards in first-half total offense, also scoring on 3 out of their first 4 possessions to enjoy a 21-3 lead early in the second quarter. The only stop on those first four drives came on the Cards one-yardline when cornerback David Barrett knocked the ball loose from Alexander. Linebacker LeVar Woods recovered for the Cards, his third straight fumble recovery in the last three consecutive games.
With 12:42 to go in the second quarter, the Cards got their first points of the day with a 49-yard field goal by kicker Neil Rackers. A 41-yard completion by quarterback Josh McCown to receiver Bryant Johnson and a 13-yard scramble by McCown positioned Rackers for the kick.
Two second-quarter defenses gave the Cards a chance to close the gap before the half.
With 6:13 left in the second quarter, Hasselbeck suffered an injury and was replaced by backup quarterback Trent Dilfer. Dilfer fumbled the handoff and the ball was recovered by defensive end Fred Wakefield at the Hawks 18-yardline, but the Cards came up empty when Rackers 38-yard attempt went wide left.
“Our defense came back and did a nice job of figuring out what they were trying to do,” offered McGinnis. “The big thing was we got some turnovers. We were plus today and couldn’t win because we could not score. You’ve got to be able to score and you’ve got to be able to capitalize on field position.”
The Hawks took over on downs and Dilfer’s pass on first down was miraculously intercepted by cornerback Renaldo Hill. The ball bounced off his hip and between his legs before he finally came down with the interception in between his heels and buttocks. A quick-thinking Hill got up and returned the pick 18 yards to set the Cards up at the Hawks 40-yardline.
Following a false start, a 45-yard flea-ficker pass from McCown to Boldin was ruled incomplete in the endzone. McGinnis challenged the ruling as it appeared Boldin had palmed the ball with one hand and had possession for the touchdown before the ground knocked the ball loose. The officials upheld their ruling. Forced to settle for a field goal, Rackers missed again from 33-yards out to allow Seattle to enjoy a three possession cushion at the half.
“It hurts because we had a chance,” offered McCown. “The defense got the ball back for us with great field position and we missed out on it and that hurts. It could have been a huge difference in the game.”
An interception by Dexter Jackson with 3:25 to go in the third helped spark a Cards offensive drive that was highlighted with Boldin’s fifth catch of the day, shattering receiver Terry Glenn’s all-time rookie record for the most receptions (90) in a season. Unfortunately, the drive came to an abrupt end for the Cards. Facing 4th and 5 at the Hawks 16-yardline, McCown was hit and fumbled the ball.
McCown made amends for the turnover by connecting with Boldin on the following drive for a 60-yard touchdown with 12:49 remaining. Boldin finished the day with 10 catches for 122 yards, moving him into second place for the most all-time purpose yardage by a rookie. He needs only 123 yards to break the record set by Bill Groman in 1960.
Trailing 21-10, the Cards fate was sealed when the Hawks stopped McCown’s forward progress on a 4th and 1 at the Cards own 41-yardline with 8:07 left in the game. The Hawks took advantage of the short field, going 41 yards in 10 plays, resulting in a 3-yard touchdown catch by Bobby Engram from Dilfer and a final score of 28-10.
“Clearly they captured the line of scrimmage and we didn’t get it,” stated McGinnis. “Until I can look at it and see specifically whose pads got under whose pads… I know this. Third and that short, fourth and that short, you’ve got to be able to make it to make something good happen for your team.”
Game Inactives
#15 Preston Parsons (3rd QB)
#46 Josh Rue
#49 Lorenzo Diamond
#66 Pete Kendall
#82 Kevin Kasper
#84 Mike Banks
#91 Wendell Bryant
#95 Derrick Ransom
Roster Moves
The Cards placed safety Justin Lucas on injured reserve on Saturday and activated tight end Lorenzo Diamond from the practice squad.
Special Guest
Former Cards safety Pat Tillman, who left the NFL to join the Army, attended Sunday's game to cheer on his old team. Tillman was warmly greeted by his former coaches and teammates Sunday morning at the team's pregame brunch.
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