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Wilson, Seahawks down Cards

Oct 18, 2013 - 5:54 AM Glendale, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Russell Wilson threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Seattle Seahawks to a 34-22 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in an NFC West clash at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Wilson completed 18-of-29 passes and added 29 rushing yards on eight carries, while Marshawn Lynch racked up 91 yards and a score on 21 totes for the Seahawks, who are 6-1 to start a season for the first time in franchise history.

"This was a really cool night for our football team," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. "We wanted to get on the road and get this thing done and continue to feel good about our ability to win on the road."

Carson Palmer struggled to get Arizona's offense going against Seattle's stout defense for much of the night, with the veteran signal-caller throwing a pair of interceptions before finally finding the end zone in the fourth quarter.

Palmer finished 30-of-45 passing for 258 yards, while Rashard Mendenhall added a rushing score, but managed just 22 yards on 13 carries for the Cardinals (3-4), who were coming off a 32-20 setback in San Francisco.

"Not good enough. Not enough points, not enough in the air, not enough on the ground, not enough in the red zone, not good enough against a good defense and an opposing good offense," Palmer said of his team's struggles. "We knew we needed to be great and we were not great today."

After the defense forced an Arizona punt on the game's opening drive, Wilson quickly went to work, as he guided the Seahawks on a quick 5-play, 83-yard trek, culminating in a 31-yard scoring strike to Sidney Rice to make it 7-0 with 7:13 left in the first quarter.

Palmer picked up a pair of first downs on Arizona's next touch, but on 1st- and-10 from the Arizona 41, Brandon Browner broke up a pass intended for Larry Fitzgerald and Earl Thomas got his hands under the ball just before it hit the ground, giving Seattle possession at its own 30-yard line.

Wilson found the end zone again on Seattle's ensuing series, converting a pair of third downs along the way before a roughing the passer penalty gave the Seahawks a 1st-and-10 from the Arizona 12.

Two plays later, Wilson put the perfect touch on a post route to tight end Zach Miller, who made a diving grab in the back of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown to make it 14-0 just over 2 1/2 minutes into the second stanza.

Golden Tate returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown following a quick three- and-out from the Cardinals, but the Seahawks were whistled for a block in the back on the play to nullify the score.

Seattle then turned the ball over on downs after Wilson was stuffed for no gain on 4th-and-1 from the Arizona 43, but the Cardinals failed to fully capitalize on the good field position, as they settled for a 49-yard field goal from Jay Feely to pull within 14-3 with 4:02 left before halftime.

The Cardinals' defense came up with a big turnover on the second play of Seattle's ensuing touch to turn the tide, as Matt Shaughnessy beat his man off the edge and stripped the ball out of Wilson's hands.

Defensive end Calais Campbell, who was taken off the field on a stretcher in the fourth quarter of last week's game, emerged from the scrum with the football to give the Cardinals possession at the Seattle 3.

Arizona took full advantage this time, with Mendenhall punching it in from three yards out to make it 14-10 with 3:40 left.

With plenty of time to work, Wilson moved the Seahawks down the field, with Rice's 18-yard grab along the right sideline helping set up Stephen Hauschka's 51-yard field goal that sent Seattle into the break with a 17-10 edge.

Feely knocked down a 52-yard field goal on Arizona's opening touch of the second half to trim the margin back to four, but the Seahawks answered with back-to-back touchdowns to create some breathing room.

Wilson finished off a 10-play, 80-yard trek with a 1-yard TD pass to Kellen Davis before Browner picked off Palmer on Arizona's next touch to set up another Seattle score.

Browner came up with the interception near midfield and had a clear path to the end zone, but tripped and was touched down at the goal line.

Two plays later, Lynch surged in from two yards out to make it 31-13 with 3:52 left in the third.

Wilson was sacked and fumbled at his own 15-yard line early in Seattle's next touch, but the Cardinals settled for a 22-yard field goal from Feely to pull within 31-16 early in the fourth.

After Hauschka answered with a 42-yarder on Seattle's next touch, Palmer finally found the end zone with an 8-yard scoring strike to Jaron Brown with 4:34 left, but the two-point conversion failed, and the Cardinals were unable to climb any closer the rest of the way.

Game Notes

The Cardinals had won seven of their last nine home games against Seattle ... Arizona had 22 first downs, compared to 21 for Seattle ... The Seahawks racked up 135 rushing yards while holding the Cardinals to 30 yards on the ground ... Tate finished with four catches for a game-high 77 yards.