Arizona Cardinals vs Seattle Seahawks (9/16/07)



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This was a big game for the Cardinals. They should have won last win against the 49ers, but they couldn’t fall on a fumble. Seattle has been at the top of the NFC West for a few years now, and if Arizona wants to be a playoff team, they need to win division games.

Arizona took the early lead with a Neil Rackers field goal. The Cardinals offense looked good in this football game. Edgerrin James had another big day with 128 rushing yards. With Seattle focused on the running game, Matt Leinart had more options than he did last year. In the second quarter he hit their big tight end Leonard Pope for a 30 yard touchdown. The Cardinals special teams did their job later in the second quarter, when Mike Barr pinned the Seahawks on the one yard line. Seattle couldn’t do anything from there, and the Cards had great field position. Edgerrin James gave the Cardinals a 17 point lead with a 17 yard touchdown. This was going to be a cake walk.

Trailing by 17, the Seahawks offense started to get things going. Matt Hasselbeck hit Nate Burleson for a 24 yard touchdown. The Cardinals had a chance for more point before halftime, but Neil Rackers hit the upright. Arizona isn’t the best team when they have the lead.

The Seahawks defense made a big play early in the 3rd quarter when Lofa Tatupu intercepted Matt Leinart. Hasselbeck led the Seahawks into the red zone, and Shaun Alexander scored on a 16 yard touchdown run. The Seahawks tied the game later in the 3rd with a Josh Brown field goal. What is it with the Cardinals that when they have a big lead, they manage to lose it?

Seattle finally took the lead in the 4th quarter with another field goal. The Cardinals offense got back on track, and had a good drive. They tied the football game with a 52 yard Neil Rackers field goal. Seattle was in good position though, when they drove down the field, they were running the clock, and gaining yards. With under two mintues to go, it looked like the Cardinals were going to led this game slip away.

Then a funny thing happened. Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander bumped into each other, and the football was loose. This time the Cardinals recovered. The Cardinals are usually on the wrong on plays like that, but this might be a sign for things to come. The Cardinals got into Rackers range, and he hit the game winning field goal. The Cardinals win 23-20.