And with that, Arizona is 8-8. This caps off an improbable come from behind season. After falling 1-6, many fans thought the season was over. But behind John Skelton, the Cardinals went 6-2. This may just spark a quarterback battle this offseason. Hit the jump for the season finale of the "Cardiac Cards"
The biggest factor for today's win was yet again the defense. Daryl Washington finished up the season with a great game, notching up 11 tackles, recording one sack and knocking down two key pass attempts to Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch and TE Cameron Morrah. The defense recorded four sacks, an Interception and blocked a field goal attempt. After several weeks of watching the defense, we've come to love them. With a full season, and an entire offseason with Ray Horton, the Cardinals should be one of the best defenses next season, and possibly, seasons to come.
The offense had one of their better games this season. I say 'game' because we know them for their improbable fourth quarter and overtime wins. Today the Cardinals started off early scoring a one-yard touchdown by RB Chester Taylor. Other than that he was a no factor as LaRod Stephens-Howling ran 21 times for 93 yards. We got a sighting of Todd Heap as he caught two passes for 35 yards and a touchdown. Larry Fitzgerald was a beast as usual, reeling in nine catches for 149 yards a no TD's.
Our special teams unit with another solid performance, Patrick Peterson broke the single season punt return yards previously held by Louis Lipps. Peterson came in with 636 yards and broke the record on his 42 yard punt return that nearly broke the single season punt return TD record. And to top it all off, Peterson also blocked his second field goal attempt this season, which if the Seahawks had made it, would have been the games winning points.
Time of Possession favored Arizona, 35:19 compared to Seattles 33:42. Arizona was penalized 9 times for 76 yards, acquired 20 first downs compared to Seattles 19, and converted 41 percent of their third down attempts while Seattle converted just 18 percent.
Arizona also broke an NFL record with this game, winning four overtime games in a single season.
So with a somewhat disappointing season behind us, we have a very important offseason ahead of us. It will determine who our Quarterback of 2012 will be, it will allow our defense to grow, and it will give us back our players who missed out this season.
*UPDATE* Forgot to add this as well... We ended Marshawn Lynches 100 yard rushing streak, and his 11 straight Games with a TD. Good thing Skittles were band from the game huh?