For the first time since 2005, the Seattle Seahawks beat the Arizona Cardinals in the Valley of the Sun. Theyd never beaten their divisional foe in University of Phoenix Stadium, but the real concern among Pete Carrolls crew was less about travel-related records and more about rebounding from a horrible two-week stretch that produced a combined 74-10 result against the Oakland Raiders and New York Giants.
After those two games, it was hard to remember that on Oct. 24 at Qwest Field against the same Arizona team, the Seahawks looked like the near-playoff squad Pete Carroll has been trying to convince the players that they are. The 36-18 victory underscored those points of emphasis big plays, dominance on both sides of the line, stellar special teams and constant quarterback pressure based on varied defensive fronts.
There was a lot of good stuff here, Carroll said, just to respond after the last two weeks and come back and play well.
Even when the Cardinals scored a touchdown on their opening drive, the Seahawks were undeterred. They answered with a methodical 12-play, 77-yard touchdown drive to tie, and never looked back.
We could have gone in the dumpster or whatever, but our guys responded beautifully, Carroll said. Matt (Hasselbeck) leads them downfield for a big touchdown drive, which really made a big statement. We talked about it all week, that we really wanted to hang tough and be there when the opportunities were presented to us, and thats what it felt like today.
The last two weeks were embarrassing for our group, safety Lawyer Milloy said. No matter what happens, and how many injuries weve had, we feel that as long as we play our style of ball, we can win. And that didnt happen the last two weeks.
Injuries were still a concern, but less so than in recent games. Hasselbeck was back after missing the Giants disaster with a concussion — allowing Charlie Whitehurst to display Hasselbecks true value in the absence. Hasselbeck completed 17 of 23 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown in the first half alone, though he left the field just before halftime to attend to a broken bone in his wrist.
Returning early in the third quarter, Hasselbeck displayed why hes the unequivocal starter. In Whitehursts limited activity, he threw a howlingly bad interception to Arizona cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie while targeting receiver Ben Obomanu on a play in which Obomanu was bracketed by two defenders.
Meanwhile, Hasselbeck finished with a season-high 333 passing yards and several big plays, most notable to receiver Mike Williams. Williams matched his season high with 11 receptions in 17 targets and established a new career high with 145 receiving yards. He didnt score, but Williams enjoyed a bravura performance, again showing his ability to move into the catch in short spaces and get acrobatic when need be.
Seattles stop-start running game stayed on pause for most of the day, a phenomenon partially attributable to the continued absence of left tackle Russell Okung, who missed the game with a high ankle sprain. There was some thought that Okung might be able to go, but by holding him out, Carroll may have preserved the rookie while still enjoying a measure of consistency on the left side with tackle Tyler Polumbus and guard Chester Pitts.
Hasselbeck and Whitehurst were each sacked just once, continuing the improvement shown from the Giants game when Whitehurst wasnt sacked. The Seahawks learned against the Raiders that putting Hasselbeck in extreme danger, as they did with weak pass protection that allowed eight sacks, leads to bad results.
One bugaboo that continued to plague the team was the questionable playcalling of offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates in short-yardage situations. One week after an unsuccessful lateral pass to tight end Chris Baker on third-and-1 destroyed a drive and put the Seahawks in a hole they never got out of, Bates got tricky again. This time, it was a fourth-and-1 call from the Arizona 16-yard line. Instead of running Marshawn Lynch or Justin Forsett behind Student Body Right, Bates called for a Hasselbeck quarterback sneak out of a bunch-right formation and Forsett in the backfield. Hasselbeck didnt gain the first down, and injured his wrist.
I didnt think I could go, Hasselbeck said about coming back in the second half. I went in and got X-rays at halftime, While we were waiting for those, we were trying different splint and cast options practicing snaps and handoffs. In my mind, I was like, Theres no way.’
But he finished the game. Based on Hasselbecks pre-game demeanor, Carroll didnt seem all that surprised.
Matt came back this week with an evergy about him that was special,” he said. “He made a comment in the middle of the week that he was really excited to be back and playing. He said something in the locker room before the game, that he was jacked up and trying to get the other guys pumped up, and then he just went out and lit it up in the first half. It was a big week for him. H hated being out a week ago.
Carroll was asked about the wisdom of the fourth-and-1 play. If I knew he was going to get hurt there, I wouldnt have done it, the coach said with a laugh. But I wanted to get the first down there. It was a foot (to go), and we need to knock that foot out. In hindsight, I would have kicked the field goal, but I didnt know that was going to happen.
Carroll would have several more opportunities to make those decisions, as the Seahawks continued to struggle in the red zone. Six of Seattles eight second-half drives ended inside the Cardinals 20-yard line, and only one Justin Forsetts four-yard run with 3:54 left in the game — ended in a touchdown. Kicker Olindo Mare was the man of the game, attempting five and making four field goals in the second half alone.
On defense, the Seahawks were a bit more consistently successful. Arizona was limited to 2 of 11 third-down conversions, gained just 41 yards on the ground, many of quarterback Derek Andersons passing yards came in garbage time, and the Cardinals amassed minus-10 net yards in the third quarter. Linebacker Aaron Curry had his best pass-rushing day as a pro with two sacks. Chris Clemons matched the total.
It just feels great to win in the road, Curry said. It was so important, because we were questioning whether we could get it done or not. To prove that we can do it down here in Arizona is awesome.
One key to that defensive success was the return of defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, who had missed the last four games with a calf injury. With the line nearly at full strength, Carroll and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley dialed up different pressure packages with defenders coming at Anderson from different angles without worrying about losing contain at the point of attack.
Its good to have him actively involved and making things happen, Carroll said of Curry. Hes been trying like crazy to get it done and to have a big game. It was really important.”
A good sign for Curry; a good sign for his team. The challenges dont get easier for the Seahawks; they will face the Super Bowl Champion Saints in New Orleans Sunday, then welcome the surprising Kansas City Chiefs to Qwest in two weeks. That makes any euphoria over a 5-4 record, matching last years win total, and first place in the NFC West short-lived.
Carroll would likely have it no other way. A convincing win that still leaves multiple teaching points might be the best kind of result for a team still finding its way.