Seattle Seahawks vs Arizona Cardinals Match Player Stats On Jan 03, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Jan 3, 2016

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The last time the Seattle Seahawks played a game at University of Phoenix Stadium, it ended in heartbreak and controversy, as a late interception at the goal line ruined their chance of winning Super Bowl XLIX and capturing a second consecutive championship.

In a game that meant next to nothing for the Seahawks on Sunday, they derailed the hottest team in the NFC with a 36-6 thrashing of the Arizona Cardinals, avoiding a sweep by the Cardinals and handing Arizona its first loss in 10 games.

Seattle (10-6) will open the playoffs with a wild-card visit to either Washington or Minnesota next weekend. The Cardinals (13-3) have a first-round bye and will open the divisional round of the playoffs at home in two more weeks.

There was plenty at stake in this game for the Cardinals when the day began. With a win over Seattle and a loss by the Carolina Panthers to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Cardinals could have secure the No. 1 seed in the conference and with it, home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

By halftime, those hopes were completely dashed.

The Seahawks, thanks to three touchdown passes from quarterback Russell Wilson and a franchise-record 139 yards in punt returns by Tyler Lockett, already held a commanding 30-6 lead over the Cardinals. The Panthers, meanwhile, were well on their way to a convincing 38-10 victory over the Buccaneers.

Knowing the Cardinals' chances were virtually nil to improve upon the No. 2 seed, coach Bruce Arians elected to sit starting quarterback Carson Palmer the entire second half, letting backup Drew Stanton play. Defensive backs Patrick Peterson and Rashad Johnson, both of whom were nursing tender ankles, joined Palmer on the sideline.

Seattle drove at least 80 yards for each of its first two touchdowns -- a 1-yard rush by running back Bryce Brown and a 7-yard catch by fullback Will Tukuafu -- while building a 17-6 lead. Mixed in was a 52-yard field goal by kicker Steven Hauschka.

Then it was time for the Lockett show.

The rookie from Kansas State reeled off a 66-yard punt return with 3:58 remaining in the first half to set up one touchdown -- an 8-yard pass from Wilson to tight end Chase Coffman. Lockett subsequently returned a second Drew Butler punt for 42 yards with 2:59 remaining to help set up another score, a 24-yard pass from Wilson to wide receiver Jermaine Kearse.

Lockett wasn't done in the half, either, returning a third punt 31 yards that would have resulted in more points had Hauschka not missed a 40-yard field-goal attempt.

Hauschka made good from 33 and 52 yards in the third quarter as the Seahawks padded their lead. With 14:10 left to play in the game, Carroll took Wilson out of the game and inserted Tarvaris Jackson to finish things up.

Wilson was 19 of 28 for 197 yards in addition to his three passing TDs. His touchdown pass to Coffman gave him 33 for the season, eclipsing Dave Krieg's single-season franchise record, and Wilson finished with 34.

Wilson also became the first Seattle quarterback to have a 4,000-yard passing season, besting Matt Hasselbeck's single-season record in the process. Hasselbeck threw for 3,966 yards in 2007. Wilson ended the season with 4,024.

Palmer finished the game 12 of 25 for a season-low 129 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception.

Running back Christine Michael rushed for 102 yards on 17 carries for the Seahawks. The Cardinals finished with only 27 rushing yards on the day, including just 25 by rookie running back David Johnson on 11 carries.

The Cardinals did set a few franchise records despite the blowout loss. They finished with 6,577 yards in total offense on the season, eclipsing the team's 1948 record of 6,345 yards. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald finished 109 receptions, breaking his own record of 103 set in 2005. Palmer, meanwhile, finished with 4,671 passing yards to best Neil Lomax's single-season mark of 4,614 set in 1984.

NOTES: Seahawks CB Jeremy Lane left the game with a rib injury and did not return. ... Cardinals DT Cory Redding suffered a right ankle injury in the first half and did not return. ... Arizona played without starting OLB Markus Golden (knee).