The Arizona Cardinals closed the season playing well but ultimately losing. They gave up a touchdown and a two-point conversion in the last two minutes of the game and Matt Prater missed two field goals, one that would have put the game away and then what would have been the game-winner as time expired.
They lost 21-20, wasting James Conner’s big game, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards for the season and gaining over 200 yards from scrimmage.
The Cardinals finished the season 4-13 but feeling good for what is to come.
Seattle, even with the win, had their playoff hopes spoiled when the Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears.
Below is what happened in the game.
Cardinals have to punt on 1st drive
After not punting the entire game against the Eagles, the Cardinals punted on their first possession after losing the coin toss.
Kyler Murray had a 25-yard pass to Trey McBride but then had three incompletions and they punted away. The ball was downed at the Seattle seven.
Seahawks' Brooks injured
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks entered the game questionable to play with an ankle injury. Breaking up a pass intended for McBride, he appeared to reaggravate the injury.
He left the game and it was announced he was questionable to play.
Seahawks 3, Cardinals 0
The Seahawks scored first, picking up a 33-yard field goal after going 78 yards on 11 plays. Kenneth Walker had 32 rushing yards in the drive and tight end Will Dissly caught a 21-yard pass.
Noah Fant, Julian Love injured
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant and safety Julian Love both exited the game with hand injuries. Both were announced as questionable to return.
Love returned soon after.
Fant was ruled out later in the second quarter.
Almost a Budda Baker INT
On a third-down pass intended for DK Metcalf, cornerback Antonio Hamilton broke up the pass, tipping it in the air. Baker dove for the interception and the crowd thought it was a turnover, but the ball hit the ground. It did force the Seahawks to punt.
Cardinals 3, Seahawks 3
Kyler. A long long way from an ACL injury. pic.twitter.com/TFq3wM0WoX
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) January 7, 2024
The Cardinals tied the score with a 23-yard field goal. They failed to punch in the touchdown after getting it to first-and-goal from the three. Murray had a 33-yards scramble and James Conner had a 20-yard run and an 18-yard catch. But they had to settle on a field goal after Conner gained one, Murray threw incomplete to McBride and then tackled for a loss on a designed run.
Seahawks 10, Cardinals 3
He's got that 𝘿𝘼𝙒𝙂 in him! pic.twitter.com/4CT5Mhg4u9
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 7, 2024
The Seahawks went 75 yards in seven plays and Geno Smith threw a 19-yard pass to Dissly. He had a 37-yard pass to Tyler Lockett on third down to get them in scoring position.
Seahawks 10, Cardinals 6
Flea Flickin'@K1 x @mikewilllyy pic.twitter.com/TbbtwSgr28
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) January 7, 2024
A flea-flicker that went for a 28-yard pass to Michael Wilson led to the Cardinals reaching the red zone but they stalled and had a third-down penalty. They settled on a 34-yard field goal with 1:57 to go in the half.
Seahawks 13, Cardinals 6
OKAY, GENO! 🔥
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 7, 2024
The Seahawks kicked a 29-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to take a seven-point lead.
Geno Smith’s third-down scramble for 21 yards got them in the red zone.
James Conner hurt?
Per @PaulCalvisi, James Conner had an "ice bag on the right knee" and right now is on the bike#SEAvsAZ
— Craig Grialou (@CraigAZSports) January 7, 2024
Conner had 55 rushing yards and an 18-yard reception in the first half but he might have gotten hurt. He was icing his knee in the second quarter and riding the exercise bike on the sideline.
Cardinals 13, Seahawks 13
James Conner dominant on that drive.
– Makes Jordyn Brooks look foolish on a 34 yard screen play
– 29 yard run to the houseConner 26 yards from 1,000 yard season.
— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) January 7, 2024
James Conner was not hurt.
He had a 34-yard catch and then ran 29 yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 13 to start the second half.
Conner hits 1,000 yards
one to remember 👏@JamesConner_ x #BirdGang pic.twitter.com/98qtvIGf19
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) January 7, 2024
With a 26-yard run, Conner reached 1,000 for the season. It was the first time he reached it and he became the first Cardinals running back since David Johnson in 2016 to reach the 1,000-yard mark.
TRICKERATION! Cardinals 20, Seahawks 13
WE ALSO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT JUST HAPPENED!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/SAhcBEUzbe
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) January 7, 2024
The Cardinals used a little trickery to score a touchdown on fourth down.
On fourth-and-three, the Cardinals brought out Matt Prater as if to kick a field goal. Then, Prater shifted out wide, Murray took the snap and threw a touchdown pass to McBride to take the lead.
Michael Carter had a 15-yard run to start the drive, and both Rondale Moore and Michael Wilson had catches to convert on third down.
Jonathan Gannon's 1st challenge of season successful
The Cardinals challenged a call for the first time all season on a third-down throw that went for 15 yards to DK Metcalf. However, upon review, it was incomplete and the Seahawks were forced to punt.
Prater misses FG!
The Cardinals appeared to lock up their fifth game of the year but Prater missed a 43-yard field goal with three minutes remaining, giving the Seahawks life.
Seahawks take lead! Seahawks 21, Cardinals 20
The Seahawks showed some clutch. Zach Charbonnet had a couple of catches and then Smith threw a 34-yard pass to Tyler Lockett for a touchdown. Rather than tying the game on an extra point, they went for two and converted, giving them a one-point lead with 1:54 left in the game.
Prater misses 51-yarder, Cardinals lose
Kyler Murray did his job. He got the offense into field-goal range. However, Prater missed a 51-yarder as time expired to give the Seahawks a 21-20 win.
The Cardinals finished 4-13.
The Seahawks finished 9-8 but did not make the playoffs because the Green Bay Packers won their game.
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