GLENDALE, Ariz. — Sam Darnold is enjoying like a franchise quarterback. And Jaxon Smith-Njigba is enjoying like among the best receivers in soccer.
On an evening when the Seahawks turned what appeared like a lopsided win right into a nail-biter, the Darnold-to-Smith-Njigba connection helped them escape State Farm Stadium with a 23-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals because of Jason Myers’ 52-yard area aim as time expired.
The Seahawks shouldn’t have wanted the late heroics. They led 14-3 at halftime regardless of three essential errors. Coby Bryant fumbled an interception, fellow security Julian Love dropped a simple choose and operating again Kenneth Walker III took Seattle out of area aim vary due to a taunting penalty.
Nonetheless, the Seahawks had been in full management — till late. Their vaunted protection gave up 17 unanswered factors, permitting Arizona to tie the rating with 28 seconds left within the fourth quarter.
Seattle obtained the ball on the 40-yard line after Arizona’s kickoff failed to succeed in the touchdown zone, and on a second-and-10 play, Darnold hit Smith-Njigba for a 22-yard acquire, establishing Myers’ winner two performs later.
Smith-Njigba had 323 receiving yards coming into Thursday, making it the very best three-game begin in franchise historical past. It took him some time to get going in opposition to Arizona, however he completed with 79 receiving yards on 4 catches. Darnold was 3-of-3 for 69 yards when focusing on Smith-Njigba on passes that traveled 10 or extra yards downfield within the fourth quarter. Smith-Njigba had only one such goal within the first three quarters.
That is the newest chapter of untamed video games when the Seahawks face the Cardinals in Arizona, the place Seattle is now 11-1-1 since 2013.
Listed here are crucial issues to know from Thursday night time for each groups:
What to make of the QB efficiency: Darnold continues to indicate he’s an efficient scrambler. That was among the many causes he had been sacked solely thrice over the primary three video games. Arizona obtained to him thrice Thursday, however Darnold once more made performs on the transfer. Late within the first half, he hit rookie tight finish Elijah Arroyo for 32 yards on a scramble throw. On the following play, he ran for twenty-four yards. That drive ended with a landing that put Seattle up 14-3 at halftime. Darnold completed 18 of 26 for 242 yards and a landing.
Turning level: After the questionable fumble on Bryant’s interception return, the Seahawks caught an officiating break. Late within the first half, left deal with Charles Cross wasn’t known as for an apparent false begin on a third-and-2 play that Seattle transformed by way of a Darnold throw to Cooper Kupp. Had it been known as, Seattle would have confronted third-and-7 from the 32, probably resulting in a protracted area aim attempt. As an alternative, Darnold hit tight finish AJ Barner for a 16-yard landing and a 7-3 lead on the following play.
Development to look at: Has Josh Jobe overtaken Riq Woolen because the No. 2 nook? When Seattle introduced in security D’Anthony Bell as an additional defensive again, Woolen got here off the sector, not Jobe. This may need been a number of weeks within the making. Coach Mike Macdonald wouldn’t decide to Woolen beginning in Week 2 after the previous Professional Bowler dedicated two pricey miscues late in Seattle’s season-opening loss. However with Devon Witherspoon sidelined, Woolen remained in an every-down function till Witherspoon returned Thursday. Woolen was penalized thrice in opposition to Arizona whereas Jobe continued his wonderful begin. — Brady Henderson
Subsequent sport: vs. Buccaneers (4:05 p.m. ET, Oct. 5)
After Marvin Harrison Jr. got here down with a 16-yard landing catch within the fourth quarter, the second-year receiver took a knee to rejoice.
The Cardinals had been ready for that sort of play from Harrison all sport, but it surely wasn’t sufficient.
The Cardinals’ offense — Harrison included — didn’t discover a rhythm till the fourth quarter, when Arizona tied the rating at 20 with 28 seconds left. However kicker Chad Ryland’s penalty on the following kickoff led to Seattle hitting a game-winning area aim as time expired to win an important NFC West battle.
Till halfway by the fourth quarter, little or no labored for Arizona. The run sport was stifled. The move sport was brief. Yards had been exhausting to achieve, and factors had been even rarer. And, but once more, it was the Cardinals’ protection that stored Arizona inside placing distance, permitting simply two touchdowns and stopping the end result from being one-sided.
Then, because the clock ticked underneath 10 minutes within the fourth quarter, every thing that wasn’t working for the Cardinals’ offense abruptly labored. Quarterback Kyler Murray led Arizona on two landing drives, the one which culminated with Harrison’s landing and a second that ended with a 7-yard reception by operating again Emari Demercado.
Sadly for Arizona, it misplaced its second straight NFC West matchup.
What to make of the QB efficiency: Murray did what he might with what he had out there to him. Each of his interceptions had been on throws to Harrison, and the receiver contributed to each of them. He stopped operating the route on one and bobbled the ball earlier than it was picked on the opposite. Nevertheless, after going 1-of-5 when focusing on Harrison within the first half, the duo was 5-of-5 for 58 yards after the break. Murray completed 27 of 41 passing for 200 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Stat to know: Harrison’s landing within the fourth quarter was the tenth of his two-year profession, and it was essentially the most by a Cardinal by their first two seasons since John Brown had 12 in 2014 and 2015. — Josh Weinfuss
Subsequent sport: vs. Titans (4:05 p.m. ET, Oct. 5)
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