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Late turnover helps Cardinals beat Seahawks

Sep 17, 2007 - 12:42 AM GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- The Arizona Cardinals took advantage of a late miscue to pull out a 23-20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

After a hand-off between Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and halfback Shaun Alexander was fumbled with just under two minutes left, the Cardinals drove 21 yards on four plays into field goal range. That set the stage for Neil Rackers, who drilled a 43-yarder with one second left.

"When that 53-yarder hit the left upright earlier I was really excited to get another opportunity to get one beyond 50 with the way it went last season," Rackers said. "I feel like I conquered my demons.

"That was the exact spot, 41-yards on the left hash that I missed last year in the Chicago game. This summer I probably hit that ball 500 times so I felt pretty confident but it is a big weight that was lifted off my shoulder."

The victory was the first for Arizona (1-1) under rookie coach Ken Whisenhunt.

"The big thing is we made a play, defensively, at the end of the game when things weren't going great," Whisenhunt said. "One of the things people say about this football team is not being able to finish a game."

The Seahawks (1-1) appeared to be in control after a shaky first half, turning a 17-0 deficit into a 20-17 lead early in the fourth quarter.

"It was a game of two halves. We weren't very good in the first half and were a lot better in the second half," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "We had a chance to win at the end and we misfired. The fumble was a miscommunication. We weren't getting too exotic right there."

Nate Burleson got Seattle on the board with 1:20 left in the first half, catching a 17-yard TD pass from Hasselbeck, who was 22-of-36 for 281 yards.

Alexander scored on a 16-yard at the 8:47 mark of the third quarter, and Josh Brown knotted the score five minutes later with a 28-yard field goal.

Brown kicked another 28-yarder in the fourth quarter to put the Seahawks ahead.

Rackers drilled a 52-yarder with 4:53 left, but Seattle took possession and appeared driving toward the game-winning score before the botched play set the stage for Racker's game-winner.

"When they were driving I was looking at the goal post from where we were and I said he can't make it from here so we have to stop them right here," said Cardinals defensive lineman Darnell Dockett, who recovered Hasselbeck's fumble. "We made an adjustment with our coaches and came out and executed exactly how that play broke down."

Rackers opened the scoring with a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter, and Arizona scored a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter.

Quarterback Matt Leinart hooked up with tight end Leonard Pope for a 30-yard touchdown pass, and Edgerrin James scored on a 17-yard run to put the Cardinals ahead 17-0.

Leinart finished 23-of-37 for 299 yards, and James rushed 23 times for 127 yards.

"It kind of feels like a monkey off your back," Leinart said. "All theses games go down the last couple of minutes but something doesn't go our way and we end up losing.

"This game the ball bounced our way and we made a play when we needed it most. I am happy the way I performed and bounced back. What I have to remember is that I have two great receivers, I just have to get the ball in their hands and Edge ran the ball great."

Deion Branch, who did not catch a pass in Seattle's 20-6 season-opening win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, caught seven passes for 122 yards.

Hasselback was 22-of 36 for 281 yards and the one touchdown.

"I guess I am in shock still. I don't know what happened," Hasselbeck said. "I was trying to hand the ball off to Shaun and a guy came through the middle of us. There was some confusion as to what play we were going to run. I can't believe it happened."