Quick Hits: Seahawks rout Cardinals 58-0
Dec 9, 2012, 3:45 PM | Updated: 4:38 pm
By Brady Henderson
A few notes and thoughts after watching the Seahawks rout the visiting Cardinals 58-0 Sunday at CenturyLink Field:
The lead. The Seahawks improved to 8-5 with an absolutely dominant performance against the lowly Cardinals, forcing eight turnovers and scoring in seemingly every way imaginable. Seattle’s 58 points broke the franchise record of 56, set in 1977 against Buffalo. The win ensures the Seahawks at least a .500 regular season for the first time under coach Pete Carroll. More importantly, it strengthens the Seahawks’ hold on a playoff spot. Seattle remains a game and a half back in the NFC West standings as San Francisco beat Miami.
The good. Where should we start? Offensively, Marshawn Lynch had his first multi-touchdown game of the season, scoring three of them to go along with 128 yards yards on just 11 carries. Russell Wilson didn’t have to do much. He was 7 of 13 for 148 yards, a touchdown pass to Zach Miller and one interception.
Seattle finished with a season-high eight takeaways. Bobby Wagner and Richard Sherman each had two interceptions. Sherman returned his 19 yards for a touchdown. Chris Clemons forced and recovered a fumble on a strip-sack. Jeron Johnson also had a strip-sack that was recovered by Sherman. Malcolm Smith recovered a muffed punt by Arizona’s Patrick Peterson in the end zone. Peterson later lost a fumble on another punt return.
Go figure. The Seahawks entered the game without a 100-yard receiving performance this season, a streak that came to an end thanks to backup tight end Anthony McCoy. He finished with 105 yards on three receptions. Backup running back Robert Turbin also topped the century mark, finishing with 108 yards on 20 carries
The bad. This might seem like nitpicking in such a dominating win, but the Seahawks did commit 10 penalties for 97 yards. Five of them were personal fouls.
Wilson’s interception was his first at home and his first time since Week 8.
Flynn’s debut. Backup quarterback Matt Flynn hadn’t taken a regular-season snap until making his debut in the second series of the third quarter. He finished 5 of 9 for 68 yards.