Sebastian Janikowski’s late FG spoils Rosen’s first start
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Sebastian Janikowski’s 40-year-old leg had failed him twice earlier in the game on Sunday.
But when it mattered most, the kick went through.
Janikowski kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired to give Seattle a 20-17 victory over Arizona on Sunday and spoil the strong debut of Cardinals rookie Josh Rosen as the starting quarterback.
Jankowski had missed field goals of 38 and 52 yards.
“There is always a next kick,” Janikowski said. “You turn the next page and you try to forget the first one, but it was rough today. My confidence is always there. I prepare myself in practice. I know what I can do but it is all mental.”
The Seahawks (2-2) mounted their winning drive after Arizona’s 43-year-old kicker, Phil Dawson, missed a 45-yard field goal that would have given the lead to Arizona (0-4) with 1:50 to play.
“It was a terrible kick, no excuses,” Dawson said. “I didn’t do my job, just a good, old-fashioned miss.”
The Cardinals are 0-4 for the first time since 1986, two years before they moved from St. Louis, but at least they could point to the poised play of their young QB in his starting debut.
“Hopefully, I can play in the NFL for a while,” he said afterward.
Rosen completed 15 of 27 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. He had several passes dropped.
“I can’t keep saying it enough,” Arizona first-year coach Steve Wilks said. “The guy’s very poised, very confident and I like him back there commanding the huddle and running this offence. You can see the difference.”
He threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Chad Williams to tie it at 17-17 with 8:59 to play, then directed the drive to set up Dawson’s errant field goal try. Dawson also missed from 50 in the game. THOMAS HURT Seattle’s Earl Thomas was hurt on the Arizona TD pass and carted to the locker room with a left leg injury. After the game, coach Pete Carroll said Thomas had a lower leg fracture. The Seattle player, embroiled in a contract dispute with the team, made an obscene gesture toward the Seattle side of the field as he was being carted off.
“Earl wanted an extension and at the end of the day he didn’t get that,” Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark said. “It sucks to see a guy who puts his heart into something, put his all into his team and he doesn’t get what he deserves.” DAVIS’ BIG DAY It was by far the biggest day of Mike Davis’ career.
“I just feel like I have been slept on ever since I came into the NFL,” he said, explaining his touchdown celebration routine, when he lies as if asleep and then bursts awake. “It’s just a reminder that I will wake them up one day.”
Davis rushed for 101 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 21 carries after being pushed into extra duty by the absence of starter Chris Carson, out with a hip injury.
Davis scored on a 20-yard sweep early and bulled in from a yard out for the go-ahead touchdown with a minute left in the third quarter.