Seahawks Allow Three Points to Snap Losing Streak

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Arizona Cardinals 17-3 on Sunday at Lumen Field, securing a win after suffering a 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears the previous week. The victory improved Seattle's record to 5-4 and ended a two-game losing streak. The team managed to limit the Cardinals to a total of three points despite missing several key defensive players and their starting quarterback.

Seattle's defensive unit recorded a critical stop in the fourth quarter. Edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence forced a fumble and recorded two tackles for loss during the contest. His performance culminated in a tackle for loss against Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier on the final defensive play. This stop resulted in a pass break-up by Nick Emmanwori on fourth down, preventing the Cardinals from scoring on a fourth-and-goal attempt.

The defensive effort addressed a persistent issue for the Seahawks, who had allowed opponents to score on 83 percent of red zone trips prior to this game. That rate was the worst in the NFL. The team stopped Arizona in the red zone on both of the Cardinals' opportunities. Safety Julian Love noted that the team emphasized red zone defense in practice during the week leading up to the game.

Lawrence stated that the team is holding together despite external criticism. He said, "It shows that we’re not letting the BS sink in. All the talking heads, all the words around our football team, we’re holding together." Love added that the team displayed a return to its traditional style, citing eight combined tackles for loss and holding opposing runners to 50 total yards.

Backup quarterback Drew Lock started at the helm, replacing Sam Darnold. Lock threw for 175 yards and one touchdown while managing a lingering elbow injury. Running back Zach Charbonnet rushed for 77 yards on 16 carries. Rookie running back Jadarian Price contributed 54 receiving yards. Tight end A.J. Barner scored on both of Seattle's first-half touchdowns, including a sneak at the goal line.

Head coach Mike Macdonald credited the depth of the roster for the defensive performance. He said the team relied on the power of its 70-man roster, with players stepping in without flinching. The defensive line featured contributions from Derick Hall, who had three tackles for loss, and Byron Murphy II, who recorded a sack and two tackles for loss. Dante Fowler Jr. also forced a strip-sack to end the first half.

The offensive line adjusted to the absence of guard Quenton Nelson. Grey Zabel started at left guard, while Anthony Bradford played at right guard. Seattle maintained a balanced attack that kept the ball out of danger, allowing the defense to operate on long fields. Lock noted that controlling the game with the run helped the team manage the clock and field position effectively.

The Seahawks will travel to Las Vegas next week to face the Raiders. This matchup features Klint Kubiak, Seattle's offensive coordinator from last year's Super Bowl win, who is currently coaching the Raiders. The team will then observe a bye week following that contest. Lock's status for future games remains a point of focus given his oblique injury sustained during the second half.