Seahawks sack Murray six times in 23-20 win over Cardinals
Seattle's defense harassed Kyler Murray while the offense found balance in a late rally to hold off Arizona.
In Seattle, the Seahawks overwhelmed the Cardinals with pressure, sacking Kyler Murray six times as Seattle earned a 23-20 victory Thursday night and improved to 3-1.
Murray finished with a season-high 41 rushing yards on five carries, but Seattle’s defensive front dominated most of the night. The Seahawks totaled 12 sacks through four games, with three players recording two or more. Uchenna Nwosu, who had been sidelined for parts of the season with a thigh injury, brought Murray down twice, and Leonard Williams III added 1.5 sacks. "News to me, but I’m happy for him. We rushed (Murray) well," Seattle defensive coach said after the game. The Seahawks bent at times in the late going, but their defense largely contained Arizona’s attack while the offense staged a late push for the win.
Seattle’s balance showed up on the ground as the run game found a rhythm for a season-best 155 yards on 35 carries. Kenneth Walker III led the way with 81 rushing yards, and Zach Charbonnet added 39 yards after returning from a foot injury. The Seahawks’ offense helped keep Arizona off balance, and Seattle preserved the win with field goals and a fourth-quarter defense that withstood a rally from the Cardinals.
On offense, Seattle benefited from a productive receiving corps, including a strong showing from the tight end room. Elijah Arroyo posted a career-high 44 receiving yards, and AJ Barner added a season-high 32 yards along with his second touchdown catch of the year. The Seahawks also got critical contributions from their young pieces as the game wore on, reinforcing confidence in the depth across the lineup.
Arizona exposed some vulnerabilities at the corner position, with Riq Woolen flagged twice on deep passes as he continues to adjust to the NFL’s pace. Coach Pete Carroll’s staff has noted Woolen’s aggressiveness as a growth area, and the club’s tackling and coverage fundamentals were stressed after the game. The Cardinals’ second-year quarterback, Marvin Harrison Jr., connected on a 16-yard touchdown to cap one drive for Arizona, a play set up by a Woolen penalty that extended the sequence.
Defensively, Seattle also leaned on its front to overwhelm Murray, accounting for most of the night’s production. DeMarcus Lawrence sustained a thigh injury and did not return, and tackle Josh Jones sat out with an ankle issue, limiting Seattle’s rotational options at times. Still, the Seahawks’ pass rush disrupted Arizona repeatedly, contributing to Murray’s uncomfortable evening and the team’s ability to keep the Cardinals from stringing together long drives.
Eight straight wins over Arizona now separate Seattle from a recent skid against the NFC West rival, with the last Cardinals victory coming on Nov. 21, 2021. The Seahawks will try to extend the streak again when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-0) on Sunday, Oct. 5, a matchup that will test Seattle’s continued defensive prowess and its evolving balance on offense.
The win came with Seattle’s defense delivering the kind of performance that had been teased through the early portion of the season. With Murray’s ability to improvise and scramble, the Seahawks emphasized pressure and containment, using their depth up front to force quick decisions and incomplete balls when possible. Seattle’s offense, meanwhile, sustained drives when needed and finished with a late field goal by Jason Myers that sealed the victory as time expired.