In a thrilling match against the Arizona Cardinals, the Seattle Seahawks secured a 21-20 victory, with Geno Smith showcasing his prowess with two crucial touchdown passes. However, the Seahawks’ hopes for a playoff spot were dashed as the Green Bay Packers triumphed over the Chicago Bears earlier that same day, sealing Seattle’s fate for postseason exclusion.

Familiar Situation But Unsuccessful Outcome

Entering Week 18 of the regular season, the Seahawks found themselves in a familiar scenario, requiring both a victory in their final game and assistance from another team to secure a playoff berth. This situation bore resemblance to the previous season when a win against the Rams combined with the Lions’ victory over the Packers propelled them into the playoffs.

Playoff Hopes Dashed

Unfortunately, history did not repeat itself for the Seahawks this time. The team needed to conquer the Cardinals and rely on the Bears to upset the Packers. Both matches unfolded concurrently on Sunday, and while the Seahawks fought hard against the Cardinals, the Packers solidified their 17-9 triumph over the Bears, effectively eliminating the Seahawks from playoff contention midway through the Arizona-Seattle game.

Critical Plays and Determined Effort

During the game against the Cardinals, pivotal moments unfolded, including Arizona’s bold move on fourth-and-3 at the Seattle 8. Instead of opting for a field goal, a clever play saw Prater shift to receiver as quarterback Kyler Murray swiftly took control, resulting in an 8-yard touchdown pass to McBride and a 20-13 lead for the Cardinals. Despite knowing their playoff fate, the Seahawks showed resilience, rallying in the final moments with Smith connecting a 34-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Lockett and a successful 2-point conversion, bringing the score to 20-19.

Individual Performances and Season Recap

Amidst the game’s intensity, standout performances emerged, notably James Conner’s impressive 29-yard touchdown run and a season rushing record of 1,040 yards, despite missing four games due to a knee injury. Additionally, Kyler Murray’s return from an 11-month ACL injury layoff showcased his resilience, contributing 262 passing yards during the game.

Game Highlights and Momentum Swings

The Seahawks secured an early 3-0 lead through Jason Myers’ 33-yard field goal, only for the Cardinals to equalize with Prater’s 23-yard kick in the second quarter. Key moments included Smith’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Will Dissly and Myers’ halftime buzzer-beating 29-yard field goal, granting the Seahawks a 13-6 lead.

Injury Update

Throughout the game, injuries plagued the Seahawks, with notable players such as RT Abe Lucas and LB Jordyn Brooks sidelined due to knee and ankle injuries, respectively. Despite these setbacks, some players, like Brooks, returned after receiving medical attention.

Season Overview

The Seahawks concluded the season with a 9-8 record, missing the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, while the Cardinals finished at 4-13, reflecting on a challenging season despite moments of resilience and strategic gameplay.

Injury Update Source: Associated Press