Jackson plays big
SEATTLE – A week of anticipation and angst after the Seattle Seahawks acquired wide receiver Deion Branch proved highly unnecessary.
Coach Mike Holmgren decided not to activate his new $39 million pass catcher (“I was getting a lot of pressure at home – my daughters wanted to see him play,” he said), and the player likely to be most impacted by the new guy’s arrival came up as big as ever Sunday afternoon.
Darrell Jackson caught a 49-yard touchdown pass from Matt Hasselbeck and set up an earlier touchdown with another long catch, and the Seahawks then relied on their defense to squeeze the air out of the Arizona Cardinals 21-10 at Qwest Field.
The largest home-opening crowd and third largest ever in Qwest’s short history – 67,470 – watched the Seahawks go to 2-0 despite another modest effort by its high-octane offense, which was held without a touchdown in last week’s opener against Detroit.
This time, the Seahawks scored three TDs – the first two times they had the football, and then after an 80-yard drive late in the third quarter when fullback Mack Strong surprised just about everyone with a 3-yard touchdown burst up the middle.
Otherwise, it was again another impressive performance by Seattle’s defense, which didn’t surrender its first touchdown of the season until Arizona’s Bryant Johnson split the safeties to snag a 40-yard pass from Kurt Warner three minutes into the fourth quarter.
“Our defense really stepped up to the plate today,” said Holmgren. “I think they have a chance to be a special group, I really do, by the end of the season.”
They’re pretty special now. Warner threw for 231 yards, but was sacked five times and hurried another 12. Running back Edgerrin James managed 64 yards, but only 14 in the first half. And if not for three untimely penalties, the Seahawks would have produced two more Arizona fumbles and an interception.
“That’s three turnovers, three big plays,” said linebacker Lofa Tatupu. “This easily could have been a lopsided game on the scoreboard.”
It appeared early that it was going to be just that, thanks mostly to Jackson.
The Seahawks made a big splash last week by acquiring the talented Branch from New England and signing him to a six-year contract. It’s been assumed that might bother the mercurial Jackson, who has been chafing for a contract extension of his own that he said he’s been promised.
But it was Arizona, not Jackson, that appeared agitated on Sunday.
He got behind cornerback Robert Tate on the game’s third play – third-and-12 – to gather in a pretty 47-yard pass by Hasselbeck. That led to a 2-yard touchdown run by Shaun Alexander – his 101st career touchdown, tying him with Steve Largent for the club record.
On Seattle’s second possession, Jackson burned past safety Adrian Wilson – who had an otherwise outstanding afternoon – for a 49-yard touchdown reception.
Seattle’s offense hasn’t lived up to its billing in the early season. On Sunday, Hasselbeck completed just 12 of 27 passes with two interceptions, and Alexander managed 89 yards rushing on 26 carries. And still it wasn’t close.
“I don’t think we ever caught up to their defense,” said Arizona coach Dennis Green. “I think they beat us to the punch on a pretty consistent basis. And we still had some opportunities with field position and we missed them.”
Indeed, the Cardinals crossed midfield six times in addition to Johnson’s touchdown and managed just three points, on a 43-yard Neil Rackers field goal. Tight end Adam Bergen’s fumble and Tatupu’s recovery in the fourth quarter wiped out the Cardinals’ last chance.
Hawks 21, Cards 10
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | — | 10 |
| Seattle | 14 | 0 | 0 | 7 | — | 21 |
First Quarter
Sea—Alexander 2 run (Brown kick), 10:43.
Sea—Jackson 49 pass from Hasselbeck (Brown kick), 4:51.
Third Quarter
Ari—FG Rackers 43, 7:02.
Fourth Quarter
Sea—Strong 3 run (Brown kick), 14:22.
Ari—Bry.Johnson 40 pass from Warner (Rackers kick), 11:20.
A—67,470.
| Ari | Sea | |
| First downs | 17 | 20 |
| Total Net Yards | 256 | 341 |
| Rushes-yards | 20-65 | 36-146 |
| Passing | 191 | 195 |
| Punt Returns | 4-29 | 4-27 |
| Kickoff Returns | 4-102 | 1-17 |
| Interceptions Ret. | 2-0 | 1-1 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 24-38-1 | 12-27-2 |
| Sacked-Yards Lost | 5-40 | 3-26 |
| Punts | 6-39.7 | 5-38.6 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 5-1 | 1-0 |
| Penalties-Yds | 11-66 | 7-73 |
| Possession | 28:07 | 31:53 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Arizona, James 18-64, Warner 2-1. Seattle, Alexander 26-89, Strong 3-30, Morris 4-25, Engram 1-4, Hasselbeck 2-(minus 2).
PASSING—Arizona, Warner 24-38-1-231. Seattle, Hasselbeck 12-27-2-221.
RECEIVING—Arizona, James 7-33, Boldin 6-62, Fitzgerald 4-52, Ayanbadejo 2-17, Bergen 2-17, Walters 2-10, Bry.Johnson 1-40. Seattle, D.Jackson 5-127, Engram 4-51, Morris 1-27, Alexander 1-9, Burleson 1-7.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—Arizona, Rackers 51 (SH), 53 (WL). Seattle, Brown 30 (BL).