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Seahawks get TDs from rookies Smith-Njigba, Bobo and rely on defense to topple Arizona 20-10

Kenneth Walker III rushed for a season-high 105 yards, rookies Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jake Bobo both caught first-half touchdown passes, and the Seattle Seahawks beat the Arizona Cardinals 20-10

By TIM BOOTH, , AP Sports Writer,
Published: October 22, 2023, 6:38pm
2 Photos
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) celebrates his touchdown catch against the Arizona Cardinals with Seahawks tight end Will Dissly (89) after an official review during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Seattle.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) celebrates his touchdown catch against the Arizona Cardinals with Seahawks tight end Will Dissly (89) after an official review during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Photo Gallery

SEATTLE (AP) — Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jake Bobo come from opposite ends of the spectrum for NFL rookies.

Smith-Njigba was a first-round pick carrying the expectations that come with that spot. Bobo was an undrafted rookie just looking for a shot.

The Seattle Seahawks consider themselves fortunate to have landed both.

Smith-Njigba and Bobo both caught first-half touchdown passes, Kenneth Walker III rushed for a season-high 105 yards, and the Seahawks beat the Arizona Cardinals 20-10 on Sunday.

With DK Metcalf out because of injury and missing the first game of his career, Seattle’s rookie pass catchers connected with Geno Smith on big plays in the first half before its defense was asked to come up with some key stops in the second half after a handful of mistakes by the Seahawks.

“It was huge not only for Jaxon and Bobo but I think it was huge for our overall offense to see those guys continue to step up and make great plays,” Smith said.

Seattle (4-2) rebounded from last week’s loss at Cincinnati that was filled with missed opportunities, but a shaky second-half performance by Smith allowed the Cardinals to hang around into the fourth quarter.

Smith completed 18 of 24 passes for 219 yards. He hit Smith-Njigba on a 28-yard reception in the first quarter for his first NFL touchdown. Bobo made a terrific 18-yard TD catch in the second quarter that included a toe-tap on the sideline.

Smith-Njigba and Bobo each had four receptions and became the first set of Seattle rookies to catch TDs in the same game since 2015.

“With (Metcalf) out we knew we were going to have to step up. Obviously he’ll be back soon, but I was just looking to semi-fill his big shoes and felt like we did a little of that today,” Bobo said.

But the Seahawks missed a chance to put away the Cardinals much earlier. Smith was intercepted at the Arizona 1 in the third quarter by Garrett Williams on an underthrown pass intended for Bobo. Smith later fumbled a snap and Arizona recovered at the Seattle 34 early in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks were able to avoid giving up points on the drive after Matt Prater missed a 34-yard field-goal attempt.

Arizona later attempted a fake punt on fourth-and-9 near midfield with 5:09 remaining, but Michael Wilson was tackled 4 yards short of the first down line on a pass from backup QB Clayton Tune. Seattle kicker Jason Myers hit a field goal from 48 yards with 2:17 left to put the victory away for the Seahawks.

Arizona QB Joshua Dobbs was 19 of 33 for 146 yards and was sacked four times. On the week that Kyler Murray was activated from the physically unable to perform list and rejoined Arizona’s practices, Dobbs was unable to get anything working in the downfield passing game. Dobbs’ longest completion was 21 yards on Arizona’s final possession.

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“There were opportunities to get the passing game going quicker and earlier in the game. I feel like that would have put us in a better position to continue to execute throughout the game,” Dobbs said.

Dobbs did run for a 25-yard touchdown in the first half, the longest run play allowed this season by Seattle. That touchdown capped an 80-yard drive, but Arizona finished with 249 yards and 88 yards in the second half.

Seattle’s defense has allowed fewer than 250 total yards in three straight games.

“The consistency showed up with our defense,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “They did a fantastic job again today to go back out after halftime and shut them down and not give anything up.”

EARLY EJECTION

Arizona left tackle D.J. Humphries was ejected in the second quarter for making contact with an official following a wild play where Dobbs was intercepted by Devon Witherspoon in the end zone but the turnover was negated by a roughing the passer penalty against Boye Mafe.

At the end of the interception return there was a scrum where Humphries and Seattle’s Jordyn Brooks both swung hands at each other and made contact with an official. Humphries was ruled to be the guilty party and was disqualified.

FIRST ABSENCE

Metcalf missed the first game of his career because of injuries to his ribs and hip. Metcalf had played in 71 straight games from the start of his career in 2019. Metcalf had been listed as questionable on the final injury report. Seattle was also without starting center Evan Brown (hip) and starting right guard Phil Haynes (calf) leaving rookies Olu Oluwatimi and Anthony Bradford to fill in.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

Carroll was 2 for 2 on challenges in the first half, the first time he won two challenges in a game since Dec. 15, 2016, vs. the Rams. The second challenge came on Bobo’s touchdown, which was initially ruled incomplete for being out of bounds.

INJURIES

Seattle edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu suffered a strained pectoral muscle. Carroll did not have an update on his status, but it would be a big loss if Nwosu misses an extended period.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Host Baltimore next Sunday.

Seahawks: Host Cleveland next Sunday.

Seattle 20, Arizona 10

Arizona 3 7 0 0 10
Seattle 7 7 3 3 20

First Quarter

Sea_Smith-Njigba 28 pass from G.Smith (Myers kick), 4:47. Drive: 3 plays, 61 yards, 1:01. Key Play: Walker 25 run.Seattle 7, Arizona 0.

Ari_FG Prater 44, 1:57. Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 1:22.Seattle 7, Arizona 3.

Second Quarter

Ari_Dobbs 25 run (Prater kick), 9:11. Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 4:20. Key Plays: Demercado 18 run; Dobbs 11 pass to Mi.Wilson on 3rd-and-7; Moore 15 run; Witherspoon 0 interception return to Seattle 10.Arizona 10, Seattle 7.

Sea_Bobo 18 pass from G.Smith (Myers kick), 4:41. Drive: 10 plays, 76 yards, 4:30. Key Plays: Dallas kick return to Seattle 24; G.Smith 12 pass to Smith-Njigba; G.Smith 13 pass to Smith-Njigba; G.Smith 15 pass to Lockett on 3rd-and-10; G.Smith 8 pass to Lockett on 3rd-and-5.Seattle 14, Arizona 10.

Third Quarter

Sea_FG Myers 21, 7:37. Drive: 14 plays, 72 yards, 7:23. Key Plays: G.Smith 5 run on 3rd-and-2; G.Smith 27 pass to Parkinson; G.Smith 25 pass to Fant; G.Smith 5 run on 3rd-and-5.Seattle 17, Arizona 10.

Fourth Quarter

Sea_FG Myers 48, 2:17. Drive: 9 plays, 25 yards, 2:41. Key Play: G.Smith 5 pass to Bobo on 3rd-and-5.Seattle 20, Arizona 10.

A_68,781.

___

Ari Sea
FIRST DOWNS 15 18
Rushing 6 6
Passing 7 11
Penalty 2 1
THIRD DOWN EFF 5-15 7-13
FOURTH DOWN EFF 0-3 0-0
TOTAL NET YARDS 249 318
Total Plays 63 58
Avg Gain 4.0 5.5
NET YARDS RUSHING 127 115
Rushes 25 32
Avg per rush 5.08 3.594
NET YARDS PASSING 122 203
Sacked-Yds lost 4-28 2-16
Gross-Yds passing 150 219
Completed-Att. 20-34 18-24
Had Intercepted 0 1
Yards-Pass Play 3.211 7.808
KICKOFFS-EndZone-TB 3-3-2 5-2-2
PUNTS-Avg. 5-48.0 3-47.667
Punts blocked 0 0
FGs-PATs blocked 0-0 0-0
TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE 36 71
Punt Returns 2-8 4-47
Kickoff Returns 2-28 1-24
Interceptions 1-0 0-0
PENALTIES-Yds 7-60 5-32
FUMBLES-Lost 1-0 2-2
TIME OF POSSESSION 29:21 30:32

___

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING_Arizona, Demercado 13-58, Dobbs 7-43, Moore 4-24, D.Williams 1-2. Seattle, Walker 26-105, G.Smith 6-10.

PASSING_Arizona, Dobbs 19-33-0-146, Tune 1-1-0-4. Seattle, G.Smith 18-24-1-219.

RECEIVING_Arizona, Demercado 4-17, Brown 3-49, McBride 3-29, Mi.Wilson 3-26, Ertz 3-19, Moore 2-2, Swaim 1-8, Higgins 1-0. Seattle, Smith-Njigba 4-63, Bobo 4-61, Lockett 4-38, Parkinson 2-26, Walker 2-6, Fant 1-25, Dallas 1-0.

PUNT RETURNS_Arizona, Dortch 2-8. Seattle, Dallas 4-47.

KICKOFF RETURNS_Arizona, Dortch 2-28. Seattle, Dallas 1-24.

TACKLES-ASSISTS-SACKS_Arizona, Baker 6-0-0, Chachere 6-0-0, Woods 4-2-0, Ma.Wilson 4-1-0, S.Thomas 4-0-0, K.White 3-2-0, Ledbetter 2-2-.5, Gardeck 2-2-0, Fotu 2-1-0, G.Williams 2-0-0, Strong 1-4-.5, Collins 1-1-1, Stills 1-1-0, Lopez 0-4-0, C.Thomas 0-2-0, Ojulari 0-1-0. Seattle, Brooks 6-3-.5, Wagner 6-3-0, J.Adams 5-1-0, Love 5-1-0, Witherspoon 4-0-0, Diggs 3-0-0, Mafe 2-1-1, Edwards 2-0-0, Woolen 2-0-0, Taylor 1-2-1.5, Jones 1-2-0, Ja.Reed 1-1-1, Hall 1-1-0, Nwosu 1-1-0, T.Brown 1-0-0, Jackson 1-0-0, Rhattigan 0-1-0.

INTERCEPTIONS_Arizona, G.Williams 1-0. Seattle, None.

MISSED FIELD GOALS_Arizona, Prater 34.

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