Seahawks end Cardinals winning streak in 36-6 rout

In a game that meant next to nothing for the Seahawks on Sunday, they derailed the hottest team in the NFC with a 36-6 thrashing of the Arizona Cardinals, avoiding a sweep by the Cardinals and handing Arizona its first loss in 10 games.

Bruce Arians got anxious when he saw the sluggishness at Wednesday’s practice. The Vikings have plenty of momentum and confidence heading into this game.

It turned out as bad as he feared. When these two teams last met, Seattle (10-6), the two-time defending NFC champion, thrashed Minnesota 38-7, with Wilson throwing for 274 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for another score on a very productive day that assisted in building a five-game winning streak.

The Cardinals already know a lot about Seattle, a division foe, and the Vikings, who they beat on December 10. It’s a nice wakeup call.

Though the game was dominated from start to finish by Seattle, Arizona did have a couple bright moments, including the first play of the game.

Wilson broke single-season franchise records for touchdown passes (34) and passing yards (4,024), while becoming the first player in National Football League history with 4,000 yards, 30 passing touchdowns and 500 rushing yards in the same season. Baldwin had 94 yards receiving and two touchdowns against the Vikings giving him 778 yards and eight touchdowns on the season. This was the second game of Seattle’s 5-game dominant stretch in in the second half of the season.

A nightmare second quarter did in the Cardinals. “This offseason I think the kid Brown said I couldn’t guard him one on one”. Seahawks safety Earl Thomas recorded five interceptions this season. Michael Floyd dropped a good pass on third down. Lockett later scampered 31 yards on another return that ended with a missed field goal.

The special teams? Tyler Lockett set a Seahawks record by gaining 139 punt-return yards – smashing the previous mark of 106.

The Arizona defense failed to cover Will Tukuafu on a 7-yard TD – his first catch of any kind this season. But it certainly posed some questions about Seattle coming to the end of the season. After last season’s heartbreaking Super Bowl loss to New England, Carroll and the Seahawks will likely carry a chip on their shoulders into this season’s playoffs. Really, since the Seahawks started 2-4, Sherman has seen them as grinders.

Seattle has won six of seven games since losing to the Cardinals 39-32 on November 15 at Seattle. Wilson made some franchise history in the process.

The Cardinals had a chance to claim the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win and a Carolina loss to Tampa Bay.

When officials only flagged Seahawks’ defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin in the first quarter for an obvious face mask on running back David Johnson during a carry after Palmer lobbied the umpire for a penalty, Sherman argued with the officials and pointed at Palmer.

Wilson was 19 of 28 for 197 yards in addition to his three passing TDs.

After their bye through the Wild Card Round, the Panthers will host the lowest remaining seed on Sun., Jan. 17 at 1:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast by FOX.

Seattle improved to 3-0 at Arizona since Arians became the Cardinals’ coach.

After a down week against the Rams (what is it about St. Louis this season?), the Seahawks were back with a vengeance Sunday against the Cardinals.

Drew Stanton replaced Palmer and was intercepted twice. “They’ve got two good pass rushers and “Pork Chop” (Terrance Knighton) is in the middle there”. “It’s disheartening with the way we performed today”.

“You obviously don’t play the game to lose”, he said, “but we’ll bounce back”.

Most of the offense – though there wasn’t much of it – went through Larry Fitzgerald, who finished with 55 yards and his ninth touchdown of the season. Cardinals DT Cory Redding suffered a right ankle injury in the first half and did not return….