A6 BAKER CITY HERALD • TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022
SPORTS
NFL REGULAR SEASON ENDS
Seahawks win 38-30
to spoil Cardinals’
shot at NFC West title
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BY DAVID BRANDT
Associated Press
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Seat-
tle’s locker room was deafen-
ingly loud in the aftermath of
Sunday’s impressive win, with
the bass from some speakers
rattling the concrete walls in
the midst of constant cheers
and laughter.
The Seahawks aren’t going
to the playoffs. They defi-
nitely still have their pride.
Russell Wilson threw three
touchdown passes, Rashaad
Penny ran for 190 yards and
a touchdown, and the Sea-
hawks spoiled a shot at the
NFC West title for the Ar-
izona Cardinals by beating
them 38-30 on Sunday, Jan. 9.
“I don’t think they’re going
to schedule a parade in Seattle,”
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll
said, grinning. “But right now,
we don’t really care about that.
It was about putting it together,
playing like we’re capable, so
that we can see the future.
“That was really, really fun.”
It was a back-and-forth game
supplemented by a healthy dose
of scoreboard watching. The
Cardinals (11-6) were still in the
running for the NFC West title
with a win, especially since the
49ers beat the Rams.
In the end, the scoreboard’s
results were moot. The Car-
dinals couldn’t take care of
business against the Sea-
hawks and will settle for the
No. 5 seed after starting the
season with a 7-0 record.
Arizona is 4-6 since that
hot start, including losing
four of its last five. The Car-
dinals will play at the Rams in
the wild-card round.
Coach Kliff Kingsbury cited
the usual reasons for the team’s
struggles during the late-sea-
son fade, especially a handful of
ill-timed penalties. He also said
there was no time to pout.
“Everybody is zero and zero
and our guys understand that,”
Kingsbury said. “We are disap-
pointed today, but we got to get
it out of our system quick and
come back because anything
can happen once you make the
postseason.”
Bulldogs
Continued from A5
“I’ve told the guys all season,
we’re not going to live and die
by the 3-pointer,” Jones said.
“I’d rather have a lot of 2’s con-
sistently than a lot of 3’s once
in a while. Madras has 12 3’s,
but I’d bet they won’t have that
many in another game this
year.”
He said Baker’s advantage in
2-point baskets resulted largely
541-519-1337 | 1935 1st St, Baker City, OR
Darryl Webb/Associated Press
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, left, celebrates his
touchdown run against the Arizona Cardinals with Seahawks wide
receiver Freddie Swain (No. 18) during the second half Sunday, Jan.
9, 2022, in Glendale, Arizona.
Seattle finishes 7-10 and
won’t be in the postseason for
just the second time in the past
10 years. Wilson, playing po-
tentially his final game with the
Seahawks, finished with 238
yards passing.
Seattle closed the season
with a 4-2 record after being
eliminated from playoff con-
tention for most of that stretch.
“Everybody was out there
giving their all,” Tyler Lock-
ett said.
The Cardinals trailed 17-10
at halftime but James Conner
scored two touchdowns in the
third quarter — one on a 20-
yard pass from Murray and
another on a 1-yard run. The
second touchdown was set up
by Jalen Thompson’s intercep-
tion that he returned to the Se-
ahawks 1-yard line.
The Seahawks responded
late in the third quarter when
a wide-open Freddie Swain
caught a 25-yard touchdown
pass to tie it. The Cardinals
went three-and-out on their
ensuing drive and punter Andy
Lee fumbled on fourth down,
giving the Seahawks possession
at the Arizona 10.
Seattle’s Travis Homer
caused the fumble, put-
ting pressure on Lee, which
caused him to drop the ball.
Wilson scrambled for a
4-yard touchdown three plays
later for a 31-24 lead.
Meanwhile, the scoreboard
watching was equally as in-
tense.
from their ability to play tran-
sition offense and to make
passes to open teammates for
easy baskets — the kind that
are much more reliable than
3-pointers.
“When we’re at our best we
do a great job of sharing the
basketball,” Jones said.
Nine Bulldogs scored
against Madras.
Isaiah Jones had a team-
high 23, and Paul Hobson
scored 22. Hudson Spike
added 10, and Long had eight.
The Rams jumped to a 17-0
lead in the first half but the
49ers rallied to force overtime
before winning. That game
was tied at 17 right about the
time Conner dived into the end
zone for his 20-yard score that
tied this game 17-17. Conner,
the Pro Bowl selection who
has scored 18 touchdowns this
season, was back in the lineup
after missing two games with a
heel injury.
But the bad news started
to pile up for the Cardinals in
the final minutes. Not only did
they lose, Conner took a hard
hit to the ribs in the fourth
quarter that knocked him out
of the game.
SNOW TIRES
are cheaper
Fast start
The Cardinals’ defense
scored a touchdown on the
second play of the game when
Chandler Jones sacked Wil-
son and forced a fumble. Zach
Allen picked it up and ran 16
yards for a 7-0 lead just 12 sec-
onds in.
Seattle recovered quickly,
immediately driving downfield
and tying the game when Wil-
son hit Lockett for a 43-yard
touchdown.
than a wreck
Sacks vs. Seattle
Jones’ strip-sack of Wilson
was no surprise considering
the opponent. The 31-year-old
edge rusher has played some of
his best football against the Se-
ahawks with 17½ career sacks
in 12 games.
As Baker prepares to open
Greater Oregon League
play tonight, Jan. 11 at
home against La Grande at
7:30 p.m., Jones said he is sat-
isfied with Baker’s position, a
9-3 record and ranked sixth
in Class 4A. The Tigers are
8-1 and ranked fourth.
“We’re still a work in prog-
ress but I like the strides we’re
making, our improving bas-
ketball IQ,” Jones said. “We just
have to come ready to play. La
Grande is a good team.”
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