By TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer
SEATTLE (AP) - Richard Sherman and Bobby Wagner
stood face to face, screaming at each other in celebration, counting up
all the turnovers the Seattle Seahawks accumulated.
There were plenty, along with a franchise record for points in a 58-0 rout of the inept Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Sherman and Wagner each had two interceptions, part
of the eight turnovers forced by the Seahawks. Marshawn Lynch had three
touchdown runs and Seattle (8-5) kept firm grasp on the final NFC
wild-card spot. It also kept alive slim chances of catching San
Francisco in the NFC West.
The Seahawks also picked up their first division
victory of the season and gave coach Pete Carroll his first eight-win
season in three years with the Seahawks.
Leon Washington's 3-yard run with 2:32 left pushed
the Seahawks past the old record of 56 points scored against Buffalo in
1977. The eight takeaways were their second most, equaling a 1998
achievement.
Lynch ran for 128 yards on 11 carries and scored on
runs of 20, 4 and 33 yards. His last score on the first drive of the
second half tied his career high for TD runs in a game and was the
capper to his afternoon. Lynch's backup, Robert Turbin, also topped the
century mark with 108 yards.
Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson wasn't asked to
do much, completing 7 of 13 for 148 yards and one touchdown. But unlike
last week in Chicago, the Seahawks didn't need any heroics from Wilson.
In fact, Wilson got to be a spectator for the last
25 minutes while Matt Flynn finally got his first regular-season action
in a Seahawks uniform.
The Seahawks scored nearly every way possible,
turning their first home game in about a month into a rout that will
only increase debate in Phoenix whether Ken Whisenhunt will be back as
Cardinals coach.
It was an effortless performance by the Cardinals
(4-9), who have lost nine straight, the longest slide for the franchise
since 1944. It was the worst shutout loss in Cardinals history and their
first time being shut out since losing 38-0 to the Seahawks in 2003.
The Cardinals gained just 143 yards and almost as many turnovers as
first downs (10).
Larry Fitzgerald had one reception and that didn't
come until the fourth quarter. John Skelton made numerous ill-advised
throws into coverage and was intercepted four times.
Arizona actually started well, with Skelton
completing his first three passes. When Skelton finally threw in the
direction of Fitzgerald the day quickly spiraled out of control.
Skelton's pass found Fitzgerald's hands, but was wrestled free by K.J.
Wright, tipped from hitting the ground by Walter Thurmond and into
Wagner's hands.
Wagner's return set up the first of Steven
Hauschka's three field goals. The Seahawks then went 85 yards in 11
plays capped by Lynch sprinting around the edge for a 20-yard TD.
Wilson later hit Anthony McCoy for 67 yards to set up Lynch's 4-yard TD.
Skelton was stripped by Chris Clemons and fell on
the loose ball for the second Arizona turnover. Skelton threw into
triple coverage to Fitzgerald and Sherman caught the poor throw,
returning it 19 yards for a touchdown.
Patrick Peterson muffed a punt deep in his zone,
the ball was batted around and eventually tipped to Malcolm Smith, who
recovered in the end zone for a 31-0 lead.
And finally, Peterson was hit from behind and
fumbled on a punt return late in the first half. Wilson hit Zach Miller
for a 24-yard TD with 6 seconds left in the second quarter.
About the only bit of fight shown by the Cardinals
came late in the third quarter during a pushing and shoving match that
resulted in Daryn Colledge getting a personal foul for unnecessary
roughness. By that point, the Seahawks led 51-0.
___
Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Copyright 2012 The
Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
