For the second week in a row, a standout performance by the Seahawks defense led to a win over an NFC West foe, and thanks to Sunday's 16-6 win over the Arizona Cardinals, the Seahawks improved to 6-5 to match the Cardinals at the top of the division. Thanks to a third-straight game of standout run defense, a dominant pass rush and a huge play created by Devon Witherspoon and Coby Bryant, the Seahawks held the Cardinals out of the end zone and paved the way for an impressive win, one that also ended a four-game losing streak at home.
Here are six rapid reactions to Sunday's win.
- The defense led with way with a dominant performance.
The Cardinals came to Seattle as one of the hottest teams in the NFC, having won four straight games to take over first place in the division. The Cardinals had scored at least 28 points in their past three games, and gained at least 350 yards in each of those contests.
But Seattle's defense, which previously played very well in its last two games against the Rams and 49ers, had perhaps its best game yet, holding the Cardinals to just six points on a pair of field goals. The Cardinals managed 298 yards, a good chunk of which came on a final drive down two scores, and they were 3 for 12 on third down. The Seahawks also held the Cardinals to 49 rushing yards, sacked Kyler Murray five times, and for the third time this season, scored a touchdown, this one a Coby Bryant pick-six.
Seattle's defense also ended a pretty remarkable streak by the Cardinals, who prior to settling for a 22-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, had been perfect on goal-to-goal situations this season, scoring touchdowns on all 16 of their previous possessions that got into goal-to-goal situations.
- Coby Bryant kept his starting job, and kept making plays.
With Rayshawn Jenkins returning from injury, there was some question this week as to who would start at safety alongside Julian Love. Jenkins held that spot for Seattle's first six games before landing on injured reserve, but Bryant played very well in Jenkins' absence, and as a result he still got the start on Sunday. Jenkins still had a significant role with Seattle using three safeties frequently in the game.
And, starting for the fifth straight week, Bryant made one of the biggest plays of his three-year career, intercepting an errant pass from Kyler Murray in the third quarter and returning it 69 yards for the first touchdown of his NFL career. That interception was also made possible by an outstanding play by Devon Witherspoon, who spun away from his initial responsibility at the line of scrimmage to chase Murray, keeping the speedy quarterback from running for the first down, and leading to Murray forcing the floated pass that Bryant was able to intercept.
Bryant celebrated the occasion with an homage to Marshawn Lynch on his way into the end zone, replicating the celebration Lynch first used to punctuate his famous Beast Quake touchdown run in a playoff win over the Saints, which ended in the same south end zone at Lumen Field.
- Leonard Williams was a game-wrecker in Arizona's backfield.
Leonard Williams, who the Seahawks acquired in a midseason trade last year and signed an extension this offseason, has been influential all season, even if the stat sheet hasn't always shown his value to Seattle's defense.
On Sunday, however, Williams definitely showed up in the stat sheet as he dominated Arizona's interior line throughout the game. In what might have been Williams's best game as a Seahawk, the veteran defensive lineman was a menace in the Cardinals backfield, recording 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, including a run stuff for a loss of four yards just before one of his sacks, four quarterback hits, as well as six tackles and a pass defensed.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba had another big game.
After totaling 290 yards in his previous two games, Jaxon Smith-Njigba was once again a focal point of Seattle's passing attack.
Smith-Njigba wasn't able to reach the 100-yard mark for a third-straight week, but he did lead the team with six catches for 77 yards, including two of the biggest plays of the game for Seattle's offense, a 46-yard catch-and-run on a screen pass, and the 3-yard touchdown reception to cap that same drive.
With his six catches Sunday, Smith-Njigba is now up to 66 this season, already eclipsing his rookie season total of 63, and doing so with six games left to play.
- It was an inconsistent day for the offense.
The Seahawks were able to make several big plays on offense, most notably Smith-Njigba's catch-and-run to set up a touchdown, and they also had gains of 29, 21 and 17 yards on Geno Smith completions to DK Metcalf, Kenneth Walker and Tyler Lockett, but those occasional big plays did not lead to a lot of sustained drives.
Smith was also intercepted trying to connect with Tyler Lockett in the end zone, ending a promising second-half drive, and pass protection struggled, particularly on third down.
Then again, there were also some great moments, most notably a fantastic third-down throw from Smith to DK Metcalf on Seattle's final drive, helping the Seahawks move the chains, use up clock, and set up Jason Myers's 50-yard field goal that all but put the game on ice.
The offense did enough to win the game on a day the defense was so dominant, but they'll need to find more consistency down the stretch for the Seahawks to be at their best.
- Michael Dickson was a big factor early in the game.
On a day when both offenses struggled to sustain drives, punter Michael Dickson played an important role for the Seahawks, especially in the first half. Early in the game, Dickson had a 51-yard punt that was downed at the 9-yard line, then a 52-yard punt to the 20-yard line. He also had a punt downed at the 3-yard line, though a penalty after the whistle then pushed the ball out to the 18. Even so, he still had three of his five punts downed inside the 20, helping set up the defense for success.
Must-see shots of the Seahawks at their Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) and Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) and Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) and Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) and Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Dee Williams (33) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Julian Love (20) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Julian Love (20) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (51) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris (98) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Coby Bryant (8) and Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Coby Bryant (8) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Coby Bryant (8) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Coby Bryant (8) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Coby Bryant (8) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Coby Bryant (8) and Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Dre'Mont Jones (55) and Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
