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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 1:56 p.m., Sunday, December 28, 2008

NFL: Warner, Fitzgerald lead Cards past Seattle 34-21

By BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald sent the Arizona Cardinals into the playoffs as winners.

Warner threw four touchdown passes, his most in seven years, then sat out the fourth quarter Sunday and the Cardinals beat Seattle 34-21 to spoil the final game of Mike Holmgren's decade as Seahawks coach.

Two of Warner's TDs went to Fitzgerald, who caught five passes for 130 yards.

The Cardinals (9-7), who had been blown out twice since clinching the NFC West title, finished the regular season with a winning record for the first time in a decade and only the second time since 1984. They will play a first-round playoff game at home against Atlanta next weekend.

Fitzgerald, in a spectacular performance with teammate Anquan Boldin out with a shoulder injury, had touchdown catches of 5 and 38 yards and caught a 50-yarder to set up another score.

Warner completed 19-of-30 for 263 yards and was intercepted once. His four touchdown passes gave him a franchise-record 30 for the season. Matt Leinart played the final quarter in relief of Warner and directed the team to a pair of field goals.

Edgerrin James, in his first extensive play since he was benched eight games into the season, carried 14 times for 100 yards. His 35-yard run, the longest in his three seasons with the Cardinals, set up Neil Rackers' 23-yard field goal that put Arizona ahead 31-21 with 8:26 to play.

Seneca Wallace threw two touchdown passes and was intercepted twice for the Seahawks (4-12). Arizona finished 6-0 against NFC West foes.