AJ Barner became Seattle’s surprise closer Sunday, powering in one touchdown on the ground and catching another just before halftime as the Seahawks beat the Arizona Cardinals 17-3 at Lumen Field. Seattle entered at 4-4, trying to halt a two-game skid and keep its championship defense on course. Arizona arrived at 3-5, seeking a road win that could spark its rebuilding season. Instead, Seattle’s defense turned every Cardinals push into a difficult climb.

Arizona started with its sharpest drive of the day. Quarterback Gardner Minshew found Reggie Virgil for 25 yards after a replay confirmed the catch, then hit Michael Wilson and Trey McBride to cross midfield. Running back Tyler Allgeier broke loose for 17 yards, helping set up Chad Ryland’s 28-yard field goal and a 3-0 Cardinals lead.

Seattle answered with patience. Drew Lock connected often with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, while rookie Jadarian Price added a 15-yard catch and showed his value as a runner and receiver. Zach Charbonnet kept the chains moving with tough runs, bringing Seattle to the 5-yard line as the first quarter ended. Then Barner took a direct snap, which means the ball was snapped straight to him instead of the quarterback, and pushed to the 1. On the next play, he powered across the goal line for a 7-3 lead.

The Seahawks’ defense then began squeezing Arizona’s offense. A sack by defensive tackle Byron Murphy II forced a punt in the second quarter. Lock led another fast drive late in the half, with Smith-Njigba catching three key passes and drawing a 29-yard pass interference penalty. With 15 seconds left, Lock fired to Barner for a 7-yard touchdown. Replay officials reviewed the catch and let the score stand, sending Seattle into halftime ahead 14-3.

Arizona still had chances after the break. McBride finished with seven catches for 54 yards, and Wilson caught six passes for 60 yards. But Seattle’s pass rush brought down Minshew three times, including sacks by linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. and linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence. The Cardinals reached Seattle territory late in the third quarter, but McBride fumbled after a catch and teammate Isaiah Adams recovered it. Arizona could not turn that escape into points.

Jason Myers added a 45-yard field goal late in the third, making it 17-3. Price had a 14-yard run wiped out by a penalty, yet Seattle kept leaning on Charbonnet, who finished with 77 rushing yards. In the fourth quarter, Arizona drove to Seattle’s 2-yard line, but four straight plays failed to produce a touchdown. Seattle then took over near its own goal line and Charbonnet ran for 7 yards, then 17, helping drain the final minutes.

Seattle improved to 5-4 behind a defense that allowed only 198 yards and kept Arizona out of the end zone on two red-zone trips. The Seahawks next face the Las Vegas Raiders with their season steadied. Arizona fell to 3-6 and heads to the Los Angeles Rams knowing McBride, Wilson and its young offense must turn long drives into finishes.

AJ Barner’s Two Goal-Line Scores Steady Seattle Against Arizona