Seahawks beat Cards in defensive battle
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Seattle Seahawks used a stellar defensive performance to prevent the Arizona Cardinals from beating them at home for a second straight year.
The Seahawks came away with a 19-3 victory to put an end to Arizona's six-game winning streak.
The Cardinals handed the Seahawks their only home loss in 2013, winning 17-10 on Dec. 22 to end Seattle's 14-game home win streak and move within striking distance of the franchise's first postseason berth since 2009. However, the 10-6 Cardinals eventually missed out.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Russell Wilson completed 17-of-22 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown for the Seahawks (7-4), who bounced back from last Sunday's 24-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Wilson also carried the ball 10 times for 73 yards.
"It's a special win because we did it together," said Seahawks safety Earl Thomas. "For the first time this year, I think we played for pure reasons."
Steven Hauschka made 4-of-5 field goals in the win.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Drew Stanton connected on 14-of-26 passes for 149 yards and an interception for the Cardinals (9-2), who lost for the first time since Oct. 5 at Denver.
"Everybody took turns today. It wasn't one position group or anything like that. Offensively, we didn't play well enough to win," said Stanton. "Any time you score three points and come in here and only put up that number, you're not going to be successful."
Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was unable to play due to a knee injury, snapping his consecutive games played streak at 110.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Calais Campbell accounted for three of Arizona's seven sacks.
Neither team found the end zone in the first half. Hauschka kicked a 27-yard field goal on Seattle's first possession of the game.
The Seahawks stayed in front after Arizona kicker Chandler Catanzaro missed a 49-yard field goal. Each team punted once following the miss.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ricardo Lockette's 48-yard catch moved the ball to the Arizona 8-yard line as time expired in the first quarter. Wilson was sacked twice over the next three plays and Hauschka made a 32-yard field goal.
The Seahawks got the ball right back when Byron Maxwell picked off Stanton. Jermaine Kearse's 19-yard catch moved the ball to the Arizona 29-yard line. Wilson was sacked again, however, and the home team settled for a 52-yard Hauschka field goal.
Hauschka attempted another field goal with 5 1/2 minutes left, but this one was blocked by Tommy Kelly.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Cardinals took over at their own 21-yard line and went on a 15-play, 74- yard drive. The series stalled at the 5-yard line and Catanzaro made a 23- yarder to get Arizona within 9-3.
Seattle's DeShawn Shead blocked a punt in the early stages of the second half. The Seahawks, however, had to settle for a 40-yard Hauschka field goal.
The Seahawks finally found the end zone on their next possession. Marshawn Lynch caught a 23-yard pass and Wilson scrambled for 15 yards on 3rd-and-11. Cooper Helfet's 20-yard catch-and-run ended with him diving across the goal line.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Arizona failed to move the ball past the Seattle 40-yard line in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks ran the final 6:53 off the clock to preserve the win.
Game Notes
The Seahawks are two games behind the Cardinals in the NFC West ... Lynch carried the ball 15 times for 39 yards and caught three passes for 43 yards ... Arizona running back Andre Ellington rushed for 24 yards on 10 carries and caught five passes for 39 yards ... Seattle had 293 yards of total offense, compared to 204 for Arizona.