The NFL’s new kickoff rules struck again Thursday night, and this time they cost Arizona dearly. After battling back from a 20-6 deficit to tie the game with 28 seconds left, the Cardinals botched the kickoff. Because the kick fell short of the 20-yard “landing zone,” it was treated like going out of bounds, giving Seattle the ball at its own 40.
That short field was all Sam Darnold needed. He hit Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 22-yard gain, setting up Jason Myers’ game-winning 52-yard field goal as time expired. Seattle escaped with a 23-20 win and moved to 3-1.
The Seahawks’ defense dominated early, forcing turnovers and stifling Kyler Murray as Arizona’s offense sputtered without James Conner. Darnold tossed a touchdown to A.J. Barner and Zach Charbonnet added a short score, but Seattle’s offense couldn’t put the game away. That opened the door for Arizona, who came alive late behind rookie Marvin Harrison Jr.’s rebound TD and Emari Demercado’s game-tying score.
But the new kickoff rules flipped momentum back to Seattle in seconds. A comeback that could have defined Arizona’s season unraveled with one kick, reminding everyone how much this year’s rule change can alter outcomes.
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