Week 2 Game Recap: Arizona Cardinals 10, Seattle Seahawks 21

What you need to know

Arizona Cardinals

QB Kurt Warner has to be feeling some soreness after this contest. The Seahawks’ defense sacked him five times and hit him on at least a dozen other occasions. It didn’t seem to matter how many men the Seahawks sent in pursuit of Warner, the Cardinals’ offensive line was overpowered and Warner paid the price. He finished the game 24 of 38 for 231 yards and one touchdown.

RB Edgerrin James struggled mightily against the Seahawks’ defense in the first half, running the ball eight times for only 14 yards. Kurt Warner fed him a bit more often in the second half and James responded with 50 yards on ten carries. It’s worth noting that even down by 18 points in the fourth quarter, Arizona continued to run the ball. James was also targeted eight times by a hurried Kurt Warner and caught seven passes for 33 yards.

The powerful WR duo of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin were fairly well contained in this game, combining for 114 yards on ten catches. QB Kurt Warner was often distracted by blue jerseys in the backfield and Seattle’s defensive backs handled the big receivers admirably, getting a hand in at the last second to break up several passes. Fitzgerald and Boldin were kept out of the end zone.

Seattle Seahawks

It looked like the Seahawks’ offensive line woes from last week might continue when QB Matt Hasselbeck was sacked for a big loss on the first play of the game. He recovered and drove the Seahawks down the field for an opening drive touchdown, but continued to receive quite a bit of pressure when he dropped back. Normally a very efficient passer, he completed less than 50% of his passes in this game. He wore extra protection for his sore ribs and came up cringing, holding his side after taking a light hit in the second quarter. He didn’t miss any playing time, but this is certainly something to watch.

RB Shaun Alexander played an excellent first series, capping it off with a 14 yard run and the subsequent two yard touchdown. He averaged six yards per carry on that drive and it accounted for better than one-third of his rushing total for the day. For the balance of the contest, Alexander averaged less than three yards per carry and was stopped for a loss on four occasions. There’s a lot of talk about the loss of Steve Hutchinson and how this offensive line is just a Walter Jones injury away from being in trouble. The yards aren’t coming easy for Alexander and two games into the season it’s obvious that the loss of Hutchison is affecting Alexander.

This game could have been a Seahawk blowout if it wasn’t for a pair of penalties. The Cardinals’ J.J. Arrington fumbled a kickoff return in the first quarter and Seattle recovered, but the Seahawks were ruled offsides on the kick. In the third quarter, Kurt Warner fumbled on a sack deep in Cardinals’ territory. The Seahawks again recovered the ball, but a defensive holding penalty nullified the play. Both missed opportunities would have given the Seahawks a very short field to play with.

What you ought to know

QB Kurt Warner, Pass: 24 - 38 - 231 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 1 - 0

Warner felt the heat of Seattle’s pass rush frequently and took a number of big hits, including five sacks. He did show good patience in the pocket on the occasions he was allowed to remain upright, including his fourth quarter touchdown pass to a streaking WR Bryant Johnson. Warner finished the day 24 of 38 for 231 yards and one each of TDs and INTs.

RB Edgerrin James, Rush: 18 - 64 - 0, Rec: 7 - 33 - 0 (8 targets)

It took quite a while for James and the Cardinals’ offense to get the running game off the ground. He struggled in the first half, gaining only 14 yards on eight carries and did not seem to be playing with his characteristic vision. He was a key factor in setting up Arizona’s lone touchdown, carrying the ball four times for 23 yards on the drive. His final stat line showed 64 yards on 18 carries and an additional 33 yards on seven pass receptions. James’ owners should note that he continued to get carries in the fourth quarter with his team down by three scores.

RB Obafemi Ayanbadejo, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (2 targets)

The big fullback caught both of his targets for a total of 17 yards.

WR Anquan Boldin, Rec: 6 - 62 - 0 (11 targets)

Boldin was the only WR that Kurt Warner threw to in the first quarter and he finished as the Cardinals’ leading receiver in this game. He pulled in six of Warner’s 11 targets for 62 yards, but was held out of the end zone.

WR Larry Fitzgerald, Rec: 4 - 52 - 0 (9 targets)

Fitzgerald didn’t see a ball tossed his way until the ten-minute mark of the second quarter when QB Kurt Warner tried to thread double coverage to hit his big WR. The ball was intercepted by Ken Hamlin, but the pick was nullified as Hamlin got called for pass interference. Fitzgerald finished the game with 52 yards on four catches and nine targets.

WR Troy Walters, Rec: 2 - 10 - 0 (3 targets)

Walters caught all three of his targets, though one was called back by false start penalty.

WR Bryant Johnson, Rec: 1 - 40 - 1 (3 targets)

Johnson made the best of his lone catch sprinting 40 yards for the Cardinals’ only touchdown.

TE Adam Bergen, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (4 targets)

Bergen was seemingly wide open for a big gain at the end of the first quarter, but Warner put a bit too much air under the ball and it was picked off. He had a costly fumble after a fourth quarter catch that really took the wind out of the Cardinals’ sails. Bergen was the only tight end targeted by QB Kurt Warner in this game and finished with a pair of receptions for 17 yards.

PK Neil Rackers 1 - 3 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 4 points

Rackers hit the crossbar from 51 yards out in the first quarter and missed again in the second quarter as he rushed his kick with the game clock nearing zero. He connected on his other attempt from 43 yards and made his only extra point attempt.

ARI Rush Defense

Though Shaun Alexander recorded a respectable 89 yards rushing, Arizona’s defense did a good job shutting him down for most of the game. Alexander recorded only one double-digit run in the contest and was limited to a gain of two or fewer yards on half of his 26 carries. More often than not, the holes just weren’t there.

ARI Pass Defense

Arizona’s pass defense prevented Seahawks’ QB Matt Hasselbeck from completing more than 50% of his passes; the first time Hasselbeck has had this problem in nearly two years. They recorded only three sacks, but pressured or hit him a number of times. The Cardinals picked Hasselbeck off twice, the first being an acrobatic, diving interception by Gerald Hayes and the second an easy pick of a severely under thrown Hasselbeck ball by Adrian Wilson.

QB Matt Hasselbeck, Pass: 12 - 27 - 221 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 2 - -2 - 0

Hasselbeck was not his usual, efficient self, completing less than 50% of his passes for the first time since November 14, 2004. He wore extra protection around his sore ribs and that may have been a factor. His lone touchdown came on a deep ball to Darrell Jackson on Seattle’s second possession of the game. Hasselbeck threw a pair of interceptions, one of which was a very ugly, under thrown ball intended for Darrell Jackson. Overall, his offensive line did a better job of protecting him than they did last week against Detroit, but Hasselbeck still saw more than usual pressure and had to pick himself up off the field turf more often than he’d like. He finished with 221 yards on 12 of 27 passing.

RB Shaun Alexander, Rush: 26 - 89 - 1, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (2 targets)

Alexander had a great first possession, culminating in a two yard touchdown following his longest run of the day, a 14 yard carry off right tackle. This would be his only double-digit run in the contest and Alexander averaged less than three yards per carry over the balance of the game. His offensive line had a difficult time opening holes for him, resulting in a gain of two or fewer yards on half of his 26 carries. Alexander tallied 89 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown. It seems pretty clear he very much misses departed guard Steve Hutchison.

RB Maurice Morris, Rush: 4 - 25 - 0, Rec: 1 - 27 - 0 (2 targets)

Morris continues to spell Alexander when he needs a breather and was brought in for most third down passing situations. He took a little check-down dump pass 27 yards for a clutch first down in the third quarter and carried the ball four times for 25 yards.

RB Mack Strong, Rush: 3 - 30 - 1 (1 targets)

The veteran fullback recorded a rare touchdown from three yards out and tallied a pair of double-digit runs. He showed excellent agility for a big guy when he hurdled a would-be tackler to pick up an extra few yards.

WR Darrell Jackson, Rec: 5 - 127 - 1 (10 targets)

Jackson appeared to be fully recovered from his knee injury and played a full game for the Seahawks. He was Matt Hasselbeck’s primary target and caught the Seahawks’ only passing touchdown of the game on a deep route in the first quarter. Jackson finished with five receptions for 127 yards. It will be interesting to see how the presence of Deion Branch affects his numbers.

WR Bobby Engram, Rush: 1 - 4 - 0, Rec: 4 - 51 - 0 (7 targets)

Engram continues to be a reliable slot receiver for Matt Hasselbeck and the Seahawks. He caught four of his seven targets for 51 yards and carried once for four yards on an end-around.

WR Nate Burleson, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (4 targets)

HC Mike Holmgren can’t be happy with the performance of his newly acquired receiver. Burleson juggled what should have been a first down catch out of bounds near the end of the first quarter and fumbled a second catch out of bounds in the third. He finished with one catch for seven yards in what will likely be his last game as a starter.

TE Itula Mili (2 targets)

Mili was targeted twice, including once in the red zone, but failed to record a catch. He left the field with an undisclosed injury in the fourth quarter.

PK Josh Brown 0 - 1 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 3 points

Brown suffered his third blocked field goal in this young season. Credit this one to a bad hold, but regardless, Josh Brown owners can’t be very happy right now.

SEA Rush Defense

Seattle’s defensive line did an excellent job plugging holes and limiting Edgerrin James to only 14 rushing yards in the first half. James found limited success in the second half, primarily on the Cardinals’ fourth quarter touchdown drive, but overall was limited to only 64 rushing yards on 18 carries. Seattle has not allowed a rushing touchdown yet this season.

SEA Pass Defense

Seattle’s defensive line pressured Arizona QB Kurt Warner well throughout the contest with frequent blitzes. They recorded five sacks and hit Warner at least a dozen other times. The secondary played extremely well also, limiting one of the NFL’s best receiving corps scoreless until the fourth quarter Bryant Johnson touchdown. DB Michael Boulware recorded a timely interception at end the first quarter when he sprinted half way across the field and stepped in front of wide-open Arizona TE Adam Bergen to grab Kurt Warner’s lame duck pass. Hamlin looked to have another pick for the Seahawks, but he was penalized for pass interference prior to making the catch.