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09/20 18:37 CDT Drew Lock connects for 3 TDs with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks
roll past Cardinals 31-7
Drew Lock connects for 3 TDs with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks roll past
Cardinals 31-7
By DAVID BRANDT
AP Sports Writer
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) --- Drew Lock threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns to
Jaxon Smith-Njigba in a stellar first start subbing for the injured Sam Darnold
and the Seattle Seahawks continued their dominance over the Arizona Cardinals
with a 31-7 win on Sunday.
The defending Super Bowl champions have now won 10 straight over their NFC West
rival dating to 2022 and closed this one by scoring the final 24 points.
Smith-Njigba finished with nine catches for 155 yards and the career-high three
TDs in one of the best performances of his four-year career.
Arizona has lost eight straight games at home in a streak that's lasted 360
days. The Cardinals finished with just 150 total yards.
Lock got off to a good start, taking advantage of a busted coverage by the
Cardinals' secondary and hitting a wide open Smith-Njigba in stride for an
82-yard touchdown on the team's second offensive play of the game for a 7-0
lead. Early in the third quarter, he found the reigning AP Offensive Player of
the Year on a crossing route for a 7-yard score and a 14-7 advantage.
That Seattle touchdown was set up by some good fortune on the opening kickoff
of the second half. Rashid Shaheed fumbled on the return, but teammate Chazz
Surratt picked up the ball and ran 35 yards all the way to the Arizona 37.
Seattle safety Julian Love intercepted Jacoby Brissett on the ensuing drive,
making a spectacular sliding catch as he got his hand under the ball just
before it hit the ground. It gave the Seahawks (2-0) great field position again
at the Arizona 44, which they parlayed into Jason Myers' 33-yard field goal and
a 17-7 lead.
Smith-Njigba's third touchdown came early in the fourth quarter when Lock threw
a perfectly placed ball for a 12-yard strike and a 24-7 lead.
The Cardinals (1-1) opened the season with an impressive 26-14 road win over
the Chargers in first-year coach Mike LaFleur's debut, but couldn't recreate
that success against the talented Seahawks defense. Brissett threw a 2-yard
touchdown to All-Pro tight end Trey McBride to tie the game at 7-all on the
first play of the second quarter.
Seattle had a chance to retake the lead late in the second quarter but couldn't
ram the ball into the end zone from the 1-yard line on fourth down. The game
stayed tied going into halftime, but it was all Seahawks after the break.
Brissett threw for 95 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Rookie
Jeremiyah Love led the team with 29 yards rushing and McBride caught eight
passes for 41 yards.
Lock made his first start since the final week of the 2024 season, taking over
for Darnold, who suffered a glute injury in the opener against New England. The
29-year-old played most of that game and performed well, completing 16 of 22
passes for 187 yards and a touchdown.
Injuries Seahawks: DL Brandon Pili was evaluated for a concussion. RB Jadarian Price left in the second half with a chest injury. Cardinals: CB Max Melton left in the third quarter with a toe injury. CB Will Johnson left with a neck injury in the fourth quarter.
Up next Seahawks: At Washington next Sunday. Cardinals: At San Francisco next Sunday. ___ See AP's full NFL coverage here
Injuries Seahawks: DL Brandon Pili was evaluated for a concussion. RB Jadarian Price left in the second half with a chest injury. Cardinals: CB Max Melton left in the third quarter with a toe injury. CB Will Johnson left with a neck injury in the fourth quarter.
Up next Seahawks: At Washington next Sunday. Cardinals: At San Francisco next Sunday. ___ See AP's full NFL coverage here
