Tyler Lockett set the tone on the first play from scrimmage.
The Seahawks receiver was jammed at the line of scrimmage by Pro-Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson, and Peterson was stride for stride with Lockett as the two ran down the field, but as the two jostled for position, Lockett reached out his left hand and hauled in a diving, 1-handed grab for the 34-yard gain.
Lockett was just getting started.
The Seahawks lost to the Cardinals on Sunday night, falling 37-34 in overtime, but what shouldn't be lost in that end result was a performance for the ages by Lockett.
That spectacular first play was one of 15 catches Lockett had on Sunday, and one of several with a very high degree of difficulty, matching Steve Largent's single-game franchise record. Lockett finished with 200 yards, the second-highest receiving total in team history behind Largent's 261-yard game against Detroit in 1987, and three touchdowns, matching his career high.
"Tyler Lockett's game was just crazy," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "He just did so many terrific things, so many special plays. He's just a great football player, and he showed it again."
Lockett scored Seattle's first touchdown not long after that big gain on the first play of the game, then he capped a big first half with a 47-yard touchdown on another tough, contested catch. Lockett's third touchdown was arguably even more impressive, with him somehow getting both feet in bounds in the back of the end zone on fourth-and-goal.
"He did everything," Carroll said. "He ran great routes, he got open, he scrambled to get open. He caught and ran the football. Just available to Russ all night long. The great touchdown catches, what we've seen him do—we figured it because Tyler did it, he was in bounds before we could even see the replay, that he would have figured that out, and he did. I still haven't seen the play clearly, but I know what he was doing, he was dragging his toes and he just made an extraordinary catch. It's one thing to make a catch like that sometime in your life, but to do it every time you get a chance, it's pretty crazy, and particularly under pressure and the stress of the game and the situation and all that. He's a phenomenal, phenomenal football player."
Lockett, who now has two three-touchdown games this season, has 34 in his career, tied with Brian Blades for sixth most in team history. Lockett is also now tied with Minnesota's Adam Thielen for the NFL lead in receiving touchdowns with seven, and he ranks seventh in the league in receptions with 45, and eighth in receiving yards with 542.
"He just made so many special plays," said quarterback Russell Wilson. "He was unbelievable. The post route he caught in the back of the endzone, that was an amazing catch by him. He just kept making play after play after play after play, and that's what we're looking for him, just continue to show up."
The best photos from Week 7's Seahawks-Cardinals game at State Farm Stadium. Fueled by Nesquik.
Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson (32) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) jumps to make a catch while Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (33) makes the tackle an NFL football game on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) throws the ball into the stands during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks running back Carlos Hyde (30) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Seattle Seahawks running back Carlos Hyde (30) celebrates his touchdown with teammate David Moore (83) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Will Dissly (89) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf tackles Arizona Cardinals strong safety Budda Baker (32) short of the goal line after Baker intercepted a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) looks to pass during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
during an NFL football game against the XXXX on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett, left, pulls in a touchdown catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) celebrates a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws the ball during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks strong safety Ryan Neal (35) eyes Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) looks on during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks free safety D.J. Reed (39) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks strong safety Quandre Diggs (37) celebrates with Seattle Seahawks cornerback Ryan Neal (35) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reacts during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks running back DeeJay Dallas (31) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks running back DeeJay Dallas (31) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) pulls in a touchdown pass as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (20) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) makes a catch during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) talks with Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Shaquem Griffin (49) during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks running back Carlos Hyde (30) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Ryan Neal (35) celebrates as Arizona Cardinals punter Andy Lee (4) and Arizona Cardinals place kicker Zane Gonzalez (5) react during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Arizona Cardinals place kicker Zane Gonzalez (5) makes a kick during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
