John Skelton carted off as Kevin Kolb leads Arizona Cardinals to victory over Seattle Seahawks 20-16
The Arizona Cardinals were the last team in the National Football League (NFL) to announce their starting quarterback, just a few days before the start of the season, but their starter John Skelton could not even play the first game completely as he was
carted off the field owing to an ankle injury, paving the way for Kevin Kolb, who assumed the charge and led the team to victory over Seattle Seahawks 20-16.
The game that marked the beginning of the season for both teams took place on Sunday, September 09, at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Seahawks, who had also taken considerable time to name rookie Russell Wilson as their starting quarterback, struggled on the offence as the rookie got strayed from the path he had taken during the preseason games to impress the observers.
Wilson could only complete 18 of his 34 attempted passes for 153 yards The Seahawks quarterback scored a touchdown and also threw an interception.
Seahawks could only provide one scoring move in the first half of the game, but they managed to slightly find their rhythm in the next half.
Nevertheless, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll appreciated Wilson for his performance. The head coach said:
"I thought Russell battled. They pressured a lot and made it tough on us but he hung in there, came back, and did a very nice job getting us back into the game in the second half."
Seahawks got the first scoring move of the game as they got a field goal in the first quarter towards the end of which the Cards levelled the score. Cardinals got a touchdown in the second quarter to get the lead.
Cardinals increased their lead in the third quarter by scoring a field goal, but Seahawks did well to hit back in the same quarter as they scored a field goal and a touchdown to level the score 13-13.
Seahawks got in the leading position in the final quarter as they scored a field goal. Just when Cardinals needed their quarterback to provide a scoring drive, Skelton got injured and was replaced by Kolb.
As Kolb entered the field, the crowd booed. However, he provided a scoring drive that resulted in a touchdown with less than five minutes left on the clock, forcing the crowd to change their stance.
He said of the boos:
“I really didn't hear it until somebody said it to me in the locker room. It went from boos to cheers in a matter of three plays, but that's the way this league is."
Carroll said of Kolb:
“He is a gunslinger, he has always been like that. He just came in and was shooting from the hip and did a great job."
Kolb is expected to start the next game as well.
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