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Cardinals take on Seahawks in home opener

Sep 16, 2007 - 11:10 AM Seattle (1-0) at Arizona (0-1) Sunday 4:05 pm EDT

GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- A new coach did not change the fortunes of the Arizona Cardinals.

After suffering a last-minute loss in their season opener, the Cardinals go for their first victory under coach Ken Whisenhunt against the visiting Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Arizona was three minutes from victory in its season opener Monday night, but allowed the San Francisco 49ers to go 86 yards in 12 plays for the winning touchdown with 22 seconds to play.

To that point, the Cardinals had put forth one of their finest defensive efforts in years, limiting the 49ers to 109 total yards.

That was not enough to offset their own meager offensive output. Edgerrin James rushed for 92 yards but the vaunted passing game was wretched, with second-year quarterback Matt Leinart finished 14-of-28 for 102 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald combined for seven receptions and a paltry 44 yards.

Arizona was also hurt by penalties, committing 10 infractions for 71 yards, including getting flagged four times in the first six plays of the second half.

The Seahawks got off to a solid start, rallying for a workmanlike 20-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Shaun Alexander, who missed six games with a broken foot in 2006, carried 27 times for 105 yards and a touchdown.

In 10 career games against Arizona, Alexander has rushed for 962 yards and scored 15 touchdowns.

Matt Hasselbeck was an efficient 17-of-24 for 222 yards and a 34-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Morris that broke the game open in the fourth quarter.

A knee injury sidelined Hasselbeck for the final four games last season, including Arizona's 27-21 win on December 10 that snapped a four-game losing streak in the series.