Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona (Part 2) – 4 Takeaways from 28-21 win
2. Seattle Seahawks Defense
*rubs eyes*
Is this real or just a mirage? Did Seattle’s defense really do this? Did they actually stop an opponent’s offense, a really high octane offense? Or is this just another case of Thursday Night Football not being very good because of the short turnaround?
For example, there were only three combined offensive plays that went for 20 yards or more. All night long, Murray and the Arizona offense were bottled up and struggled to get out of their own way. The visitors committed four false starts. Shocking because the stands were empty of the 70,000 plus screaming 12s who typically drive other teams nuts.
Let’s not forget that one beautiful hold in the endzone which gave the Seahawks both a two-point safety and possession of the football in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks really needed their defense to step up after Arizona pulled to within 2 points. They did. L.J. Collier exploited the A-gap and earned a hold in the endzone.
2a. Run defense
Seattle held Arizona, the NFL’s best rushing team coming into the game, to less than 60 yards on the ground all night! That was very impressive considering Murray’s running prowess. Running back Kenyan Drake had 100 yards rushing and averaged 6.25 yards-per-carry last week against Buffalo. Seattle held him to only 29 yards on 11 attempts.
2b. Pass rush
Carlos Dunlap recorded a pair of sacks, which ups his total to three in three games wearing Seattle Seahawks colors.
The most important sack he had was at the end of the game. With the Cardinals facing fourth-and-ten at Seattle’s 27-yard-line and 38 seconds remaining, the game was on the line. Seahawks new LEO took down Murray, ending Arizona’s hopes of another late comeback. There’s a reason the Seahawks went out and got Dunlap.
2c. Pass defense
Playing without starters Quinton Dunbar and Shaquill Griffin, Seattle’s “B” team cornerbacks did an excellent job on Cardinals receivers. Arizona’s vaunted receiving trio combined for 17 receptions, 163 yards, and no touchdowns. As a matter of fact, the only two passing scores Arizona made went to a running back when the Seahawks sold out for a blitz on the two-yard line and a back up tight end. Cheers to Tre’ Flowers and D.J. Reed.
.@Carlos_Dunlap SACK ON KYLER MURRAY TO END THE GAME!!!#AZvsSEA: https://t.co/2cxHPcAjwx https://t.co/QKGyn24UJz
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 20, 2020