Seahawks and Cardinals Prove Special Teams Is So Underrated

Divisional games like the one between the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night prove why the NFL is king among American sports.

Not because it was a superior bit of play on both sides. More because there was absolutely no way to predict what would happen from one moment to the next. One thing that was certain about the mess? It was the defenses that ruled the evening. As usual Seattle was brilliant despite being on the field for well over 40 minutes. Meanwhile the Arizona front seven made life miserable for Russell Wilson and the Seahawks rushing attack most of the night.

However it was the special teams moments that defined this 6-6 ending. The first tie the NFL has seen in two years. It began with a blocked field goal early in the second half, a controversial play by linebacker Bobby Wagner where he jumped over the center. Many felt it should’ve been a penalty, but it wasn’t called.

It didn’t end there though. Later with the Cardinals nursing a 3-0 lead, the Seahawks third phase came through again. This time it was rookie Tanner McEvoy who got enough of a push to block an Arizona punt. The play would give Seattle a much-needed field goal to tie the game with time winding down.

The craziness didn’t end there though. Regulation expired and the two teams battled into overtime. Arizona drove down the field and hit another field goal to take a 6-3 lead. Seattle responded with a drive of their own, going right back down the field to tie it again 6-6. Again the Cardinals moved the ball into field goal position. Two times they had a shot at the end zone with David Johnson but just missed punching it in.

Then kicker Chandler Catanzaro doinked a chip shot field goal off the left upright.

Things looked dead in the water for Arizona as Wilson again put together a late drive with time winding down. He set up Seattle for the win with a 28-yard field goal from Steven Hauschka. Or did he?

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The normally automatic Seahawks kicker, who has had problems in Arizona for years, was haunted by them again. He hooked the kick left badly and the game ended in a draw. It was further proof to every NFL fan around the country that it’s important to never take special teams play for granted.