Whew! It was a really close game. At halftime, the Seahawks led by 14-3. And the Cardinals made a turnaround, yet still lost 20-23. For Kyler Murray, it was a disappointing finish as the Cardinals slipped to 4th position in the NFC West with a 2-2 win-loss record. But for thousands of fans at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, it was a great game.
Here are the 5 takeaways from those chilling last minutes of the game. It was chaotic, but truly mesmerizing.
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1. Competition of QBs – Kyler Murray vs Sam Darnold
In the last 10 minutes of the game, Kyler Murray erased the 14-point fourth-quarter deficit with two late touchdown drives, the last coming with 0:28 left on the clock. State Farm Stadium erupted as Murray found Emari Demercado for the game-tying score. But football is a game of inches, and Arizona’s biggest mistake came right after its greatest moment.
Chad Ryland’s kickoff missed the mandated landing zone, spotting Seattle the ball at its own 40. Sam Darnold didn’t blink. On the very next snap, he hit Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 22-yard dagger with 0:23 remaining, flipping the field and putting Seattle in striking distance.
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A quick Zach Charbonnet run forced Arizona to burn time, and with just four seconds left, Jason Myers stepped up for a 52-yard attempt. As the clock hit zero, the kick split the uprights, giving Seattle a 23–20 win.
2. WRs shaped the game for both teams
Seattle’s night started with rookie A.J. Barner’s 16-yard touchdown, the kind of early strike that settled Sam Darnold and set the tone. Then came Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who turned four catches into 79 yards and, more importantly, the 22-yard laser with 0:23 left that set up the winning kick.
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Arizona’s story ran through Marvin Harrison Jr. He had the brutal drop-turned-pick that swung momentum away, then redeemed himself with a 16-yard fourth-quarter touchdown that sparked the comeback. The wideouts kept landing the punches. Barner, Harrison, JSN, each flipped momentum until Myers’ kick finally stopped the fight.
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3. Struggling running back room
Seattle’s run game did just enough, but it wasn’t perfect. Zach Charbonnet’s 1-yard TD in the second quarter increased the lead to 14-3, giving Sam Darnold breathing room and forcing Arizona to play catch-up. But outside of that, they struggled at times, with stalled runs stalling and gaps closing too fast, leaving Darnold to carry more of the load than usual.
Arizona’s ground game had no answers. Without their heartbeat, RB James Conner, the Cardinals averaged a little over five yards per carry, forcing Kyler Murray to improvise and carry the offense. That imbalance made them predictable until Murray’s furious fourth-quarter rally.
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4. Special teamers decided the match
Special teams made the difference when it counted most. Chad Ryland’s kickoff after Arizona’s tying touchdown came up short, landing Seattle at their own 40 with 28 seconds left. Suddenly, what looked like a Cardinals comeback was handed back to the Seahawks on a silver platter. Small margin, big impact! It changed the outcome.
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And then there was Jason Myers, who had struggled earlier with a missed 53-yard attempt. But under pressure, he made the redemption kick. A 52-yard game-winner as time expired. In a game defined by quarterback duels and offensive heroics, the special teams were the quiet deciders.
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5. Mike Macdonald’s defense finally shines
Seattle’s defense finally looked like the unit Macdonald promised. Early, Murray found some openings, but by the second half, discipline clicked. Assignments were tighter, passing lanes clogged, and third-down stands became game-changers. Opportunistic stops forced Arizona into tough reads and short drives, giving Darnold’s offense room to work.
It wasn’t just schematics; the offseason shake-ups paid off. Darnold replacing Geno Smith, DK Metcalf out for cleaner matchups, and Klint Kubiak calling plays all helped Macdonald’s plan flourish. The unit controlled the field position, forced mistakes, and played aggressively without over-committing.
While these were the highlights of the Seahawks vs Cardinals game, there were plenty of other insightful moments.
Some exceptional moments from Cardinals vs Seahawks
Kicker Jason Myers made headlines not just for his game-winning 52-yard field goal but also for his pre-kick ritual. As he prepared for the crucial attempt, cameras captured him using smelling salts, which quickly went viral on social media. While the NFL had banned teams from supplying smelling salts to players for the 2025 season due to health concerns, individual players were still permitted to use them if they brought their own supply.
Maybe that’s what helped him remain focused even after missing a similar attempt. But there was another highlight.
The Arizona Cardinals debuted their Nike Rivalries uniform against the Seattle Seahawks. It’s part of the NFL’s new initiative to celebrate local culture during divisional matchups. The jersey features a sand-colored base with speckled accents, red and copper stripes, and a matte-finish helmet, evoking the spirit of the Arizona desert. Details like the state outline on the jersey and a 3D birdhead logo reinforce the team’s connection to its community.
This Built to Last design isn’t just for show. It’s part of a three-year program highlighting one home game per season for each NFC West and AFC East team. With its sleek, aggressive look, the uniform demands attention and respect every time the Cardinals step on the field.
