Seahawks hold off Cardinals for first win of season

SEATTLE — Tarvaris Jackson did just enough to stop the home fans from booing and earn his new team its first victory. Give Kam Chancellor and the Seattle Seahawks defense an assist. Jackson put Seattle in the lead with a bulldozing 11-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and Chancellor sealed the victory with an interception of Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb with 1:04 left in Seattle’s 13-10 win over the Cardinals on Sunday. Jackson went through a day when Seattle’s fickle fans alternated among cheers, boos and chants for backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst. They were all screaming when Jackson bullied his way in for the go-ahead TD run in the third quarter, yet were back to booing Jackson minutes later when the Seahawks (1-2) bumbled a third-down snap and nearly fumbled deep in their own end. Jackson’s play and numbers weren’t spectacular. He was 18 of 31 for 171 yards. But his only turnover came on a desperation throw at the end of the first half, and Jackson made an immediate connection with old friend Sidney Rice, making his Seattle debut. Rice helped Seattle’s offense as a whole. He had eight catches for 109 yards after missing the first two games with an injured shoulder. Rice’s presence also made it easier for the Seahawks to run. Seattle finished with 122 yards rushing after gaining just 95 combined in the first two weeks. Marshawn Lynch finished with 73 yards on 19 carries. For the second straight week, the Cardinals (1-2) couldn’t complete a late comeback after falling 22-21 at Washington a week ago. Kolb finished 25 of 39 for 252 yards and a highlight reel touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald. But Kolb was intercepted twice, the last when Chancellor stepped in front of a pass intended for Todd Heap at the Seattle 25 with 64 seconds left. He also forgot about Arizona’s star. After Fitzgerald’s TD catch midway through the second quarter, he had just one other reception and was shut out in the second half. Arizona played without starting running back Beanie Wells and backup LaRod Stephens-Howling. Wells injured his hamstring in practice earlier this week, while Stephens-Howling had a hand injury. That left the Cardinals running game to veteran Chester Taylor and second-year back Alfonso Smith and put more pressure on Kolb and the passing game. Taylor was mostly ineffective, and the Cardinals turned to Smith in the second quarter when Arizona quickened the pace on offense. Smith finished with 54 yards on 17 carries. Jay Feely also missed a pair of field goal attempts for Arizona, from 51 yards in the first quarter with the wind at his back and coming up well short from 49 yards in the fourth quarter kicking into the swirling breeze. Even after Feely’s second miss, the Cardinals got one more chance. Jon Ryan didn’t help Seattle with a 9-yard punt with 2:57 left when Seattle had a chance to pin the Cardinals deep in their own end. Coach Pete Carroll decided for the punt instead of a long field goal attempt from Steven Hauschka, who hit from 30 and 52 yards earlier in the game. Thanks to the shank, Kolb got possession at his 31 with one timeout and the two-minute warning.