Cardinals win crazy game
Missed kicks, TDS called back, turnovers made game entertaining
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Zane Gonzalez made a 48-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in overtime to give the Arizona Cardinals a 37-34 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night in a thriller that featured 1,091 total yards, huge plays, crucial mistakes and — finally — a winner.
Seattle led all of regulation until Gonzalez made a 44-yard field goal as time expired to tie it at 34.
And that’s when the crazy really got started.
The Cardinals stopped the Seahawks opening drive in overtime and then quickly moved downfield. On second-and-15, Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury elected to go ahead and try for the field goal. Gonzalez made the 41-yarder, but Kingsbury called a timeout just before the snap because the play clock was winding down. Gonzalez missed wide left on the next attempt.
Moments later, it appeared Seattle had won on the ensuing drive when DK Metcalf caught a 48-yard touchdown pass, but the play was called back because of holding on receiver David Moore. Wilson threw an interception on the next play that was picked off by rookie Isaiah Simmons.
That gave Gonzalez the chance for redemption. He nailed the winner to knock off the previously undefeated Seahawks and set off a raucous celebration at midfield.
Arizona’s Kyler Murray threw for 360 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Seattle’s Russell Wilson completed 33 of 50 passes for 388 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Carlos Hyde had a 24-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Tyler Lockett caught three touchdowns passes and had a career-high 200 yards receiving on 15 catches.
The Cardinals pulled to 2724 on Murray’s 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Arizona had a chance to take the lead early in the fourth after Wilson’s pass was picked off by Patrick Peterson in the end zone.
But Murray threw an interception on the next play.
The throw was intended for Andy Isabella but sailed way off target and was caught by a diving Quandre Diggs. That set up Lockett’s third touchdown catch of the night and a 34-24 lead.
He caught a 3-yard pass from Wilson, deftly dragging his feet in the end zone just before he fell out of bounds.
But the Cardinals weren’t done. Christian Kirk caught an 8-yard touchdown pass with 2:28 left to pull Arizona to 3431. Seattle had to punt on the ensuing drive and the Cardinals needed just 52 seconds to move 54 yards and Gonzalez kicked the tying field goal.
The action-packed first half featured 377 yards of total offense from the Seahawks (5-1), who took a 27-17 lead into the break. Wilson had 250 yards passing and two touchdowns to Lockett, while his biggest mistake was erased when Metcalf caught Budda Baker to thwart the pick-six.
The Seahawks opened with a flawless first drive that featured a spectacular, one-handed catch by Tyler Lockett for a 34yard gain on the game’s opening play. Seattle cruised 75 yards in just six plays, finishing with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Lockett.
The Cardinals (5-2) had a few highlights in the first half as well. Murray threw a 35yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins — who made the grab in tight coverage while hitting the front pylon — late in the first quarter.
NEXT: 49ers at Seahawks, 1:25 p.m. Sunday. Cardinals, bye.
■ Who: Chicago Bears (5-1) at Los Angeles Rams (4-2)
■ When: 5:15 p.m. Monday
■ Where: Sofi Stadium, Los Angeles
■ TV: ESPN
■ Radio: KWWN (1100 AM, 100.9 FM) ■ Line: Rams -6; total 45
■ Record vs. spread: Bears 4-2; Rams 3-3
■ Series record: Bears lead 54-37-3
■ Rams notes: The Rams look to remain unbeaten at Sofi Stadium in their third home game of the season. … The Rams have beaten four teams with a combined 7-18-1 record while losing to two teams that made the playoffs last season. … DT Aaron Donald plays his 101st game after posting the fourthmost sacks in NFL history through his first 100 (79 1/2). He has 7 1/2 sacks this season in the best six-game start of his career. Donald also has 3 1/2 sacks in three career meetings with the Bears. … LB Leonard Floyd meets his old team for the first time. Floyd had 18 1/2 sacks in four seasons with the Bears, but never became the game-breaking talent that Chicago hoped. … The Rams are averaging 6.67 yards per play on first downs, second most in the league behind Minnesota. … Los Angeles has scored a touchdown on four of its six opening drives, and the 27 total points on the opening drive is second only to Indianapolis this season.
■ Bears notes: The NFC North-leading Bears are off to their best start since the 2012 team won seven of its first eight games on the way to a 10-6 record. Chicago is also 5-0 against the NFC, and the Bears are 3-0 on the road for the first time since the 2006 Super Bowl season. … The Bears’ five wins are by a combined 20 points. … Chicago has 126 yards rushing over the past three games, compared to 414 the first three weeks. … Nick Foles passed for 198 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score last week in his third start since replacing Mitchell Trubisky as the No. 1 QB. … LB Khalil Mack had a sack last week, giving him three in the past two games and 4 1/2 in all. The three-time All-pro has four sacks and three forced fumbles in four Monday night games.