Lock completes 19 passes in 17-3 win
Seattle overcame the absence of Sam Darnold as AJ Barner scored twice and Jaxon Smith-Njigba reached a career milestone.
By Julia Wang ·
Drew Lock completed 19 of 28 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Arizona Cardinals 17-3 on Sunday.
The victory snapped a recent losing streak for the Seahawks (5-4), who had fallen 34-17 to the Chicago Bears on Monday night. Lock started in place of Sam Darnold, who was ruled out with a quad injury and a cracked rib sustained during the loss in Chicago.
Darnold had also missed Week 2 due to a glute injury but had not missed a game last season while leading Seattle to the Super Bowl title. The Seahawks had previously lost to the Cardinals in Arizona earlier this season, a contest Lock also started.
AJ Barner provided the offensive spark with two touchdowns, his first of the season. He dived in from one yard out early in the second quarter for a rushing score. Later, he caught a seven-yard pass that remained valid after a replay review. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald noted that Barner is a leader on the offense who provides great energy despite personal frustration over his production.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught seven passes for 51 yards. The performance moved his season total to 1,036 yards. He became the third player in franchise history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, joining Steve Largent and Tyler Lockett. Smith-Njigba is the first NFL receiver to reach the 1,000-yard mark this year.
Gardner Minshew took over as the Cardinals' starting quarterback this week after displacing Jacoby Brissett. Minshew completed 21 of 30 passes for 166 yards. The Cardinals (3-6) dropped their 11th consecutive game against Seattle. Minshew said the team was off on many plays and did not get many chances against a good opponent.
The Seahawks extended their lead to 17-3 in the third quarter on a 45-yard field goal by Jason Myers. Lock showed signs of an oblique injury on that drive and entered the sideline medical tent but stayed in the game. He described the injury as not too bad and said he felt confident in his arm despite tendinitis that limited him in practice and kept him inactive for the previous two games.
Seattle stopped the Cardinals on fourth-and-goal from the two-yard line in the fourth quarter, denying Trey McBride a scoring chance. The Cardinals host the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday, while the Seahawks travel to face the Las Vegas Raiders.
