Coby Bryant's pick-6 highlights big day for Seahawks' defense in 16-6 win over Cardinals

SEATTLE (AP) — Coby Bryant returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown and Leonard Williams had 2 1/2 sacks as the Seahawks tormented Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, and Seattle beat Arizona 16-6 on Sunday to move into a tie for the NFC West lead.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba had six catches for 77 yards and the first offensive touchdown against the Cardinals (6-5) in three weeks. But it was the defense that made the difference for the Seahawks (6-5) against their division rivals, who had their four-game winning streak snapped.

“I thought he was dominant,” Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said of Williams. “I knew he played great and then I looked at the stat line and I realized he played out of his mind.”

Williams finished with six tackles and four quarterback hurries for Seattle, which has beaten Arizona six straight times. The teams play again in two weeks.

The Cardinals averaged more than 29 points per game in their previous three, but the Seahawks held them to 298 total yards and 49 yards rushing while sacking Murray five times.

Williams said the team has been coming together since a leadership meeting following their bye week two weeks ago. He said the Seahawks declared the remainder of the season a playoff run and he woke up Sunday feeling positive about the team.

“I think that made it just crunch time for us,” Williams said. “We just understood the urgency of getting the job done.”

Geno Smith threw for 254 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception for Seattle. Murray threw for 285 yards, and tight end Trey McBride had 12 catches for 133 yards.

Seattle led 7-3 midway through the third quarter when Arizona went for it on fourth-and-2 from the Seahawks 40. Murray was flushed right, then threw the ball over defender Devon Witherspoon and his own receiver into the arms of Bryant, who dashed to the end zone for a 13-3 lead.

“I don’t think I’ve ever run that fast,” said Bryant, who finished the score with a dive into the end zone that resembled Marshawn Lynch's “Beast Mode” celebration. “I know I’m going to get fined, so hopefully Marshawn saw it.”

Murray drove the Cardinals to the Seattle 4 early in the fourth quarter, but Arizona settled for a 22-yard field goal by Chad Ryland. Arizona had converted 16 straight touchdowns in goal-to-go situations coming into the game. Ryland missed a field goal with about 40 seconds remaining that would have set up an onside kick try.

“Obviously, it's a hostile environment,” Murray said. “We just didn’t execute, did not execute at a high enough level to win that game.”

Smith-Njigba set up his touchdown when he took a pass on a shallow cross and sprinted downfield for a 46-yard gain to the Arizona 4. He scored two plays later on a 3-yard pass from Smith to the right side of the end zone, with a clear-out by DK Metcalf, for a 7-3 halftime lead.

It was the first touchdown allowed by the Cardinals' defense since the fourth quarter against Miami three weeks ago.

Arizona's James Conner, who entered with 697 yards rushing, was held to 8 yards on seven carries. It was Seattle's best defensive performance of the season under first-year coach Macdonald, who had lost his previous four home games.

“Coach was in his bag this week,” Witherspoon said.

The Seahawks prepared this week while dealing with the effects of a storm that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of residents and team facilities. Some fans were still without power as more rain began to fall Sunday.

“We were happy for the hot shower, I’m not gonna lie,” Witherspoon said. “Boy, it felt so good.”

Both teams had apparent touchdowns overturned.

Late in the first quarter, Williams appeared to complete a strip-sack of Murray that Tyrice Knight recovered and returned for a touchdown. A review determined Murray's arm was moving forward when Williams hit him, making it an incomplete pass.

Murray hit Michael Wilson for an apparent 7-yard TD midway through the second, but Paris Johnson Jr. was flagged for holding. Later in the drive, an apparent completion to Marvin Harrison Jr. in the left front corner of the end zone was overturned because officials determined that he only got one foot down. Arizona settled for a field goal on that drive.

Cardinals: Murray received trainers’ attention after he appeared to injure his shoulder on a hard hit in the fourth quarter, but never left the game. … DL Roy Lopez was helped off the field late in the fourth quarter.

Seahawks: G Anthony Bradford was helped off the field in the first quarter with an apparent leg injury.

Cardinals: At Minnesota next Sunday.

Seahawks: At the New York Jets next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) watches at Seattle Seahawks cornerback Coby Bryant (8) as he makes an interception during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. Bryant ran the ball in for a touchdown on the play. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) celebrates with Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, right, after Smith threw to Smith-Njigba for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) scores a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon, left, and cornerback Coby Bryant, right, tackle Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) reacts after an incomplete pass on the third down in the end zone during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) lies on the field after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates a sack during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) watches at Seattle Seahawks cornerback Coby Bryant (8) as he makes an interception during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. Bryant ran the ball in for a touchdown on the play. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) defends as Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) looks to get around him during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) celebrates with wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) after he scored a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) is pressured by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) runs the ball for 46 yards, setting up a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Coby Bryant (8) returns an interception for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates a sack during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Coby Bryant (8) runs the ball for a touchdown after making an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel said Sunday that the body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found after he was killed in what it described as a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.”

The UAE's Interior Ministry later said authorities arrested three suspects involved in the killing of Zvi Kogan.

The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel “will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death.” Israeli authorities did not say how they determined the killing of Kogan was a terror attack and offered no additional details.

Kogan, 28, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi who went missing on Thursday, ran a kosher grocery store in the futuristic city of Dubai, where Israelis have flocked for commerce and tourism since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in the 2020 Abraham Accords.

The agreement has held through more than a year of soaring regional tensions unleashed by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack into southern Israel. But Israel's devastating retaliatory offensive in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon, after months of fighting with the Hezbollah militant group, have stoked anger among Emiratis, Arab nationals and others living in the the UAE.

Iran, which supports Hamas and Hezbollah, has also been threatening to retaliate against Israel after a wave of airstrikes Israel carried out in October in response to an Iranian ballistic missile attack. Iran’s Embassy in Abu Dhabi denied Tehran was involved in the rabbi’s slaying.

The Emirati government did not respond to a request for comment. However, senior Emirati diplomat Anwer Gargash wrote on the social platform X in Arabic on Sunday that “the UAE will remain a home of safety, an oasis of stability, a society of tolerance and coexistence and a beacon of development, pride and advancement.”

Early on Sunday, the UAE’s state-run WAM news agency acknowledged Kogan’s disappearance but pointedly did not acknowledge he held Israeli citizenship, referring to him only as being Moldovan. The Emirati Interior Ministry described Kogan as being “missing and out of contact.”

“Specialized authorities immediately began search and investigation operations upon receiving the report,” the Interior Ministry said.

The ministry later said that three “perpetrators” had been arrested “in record time” without giving additional details.

Netanyahu told a regular Cabinet meeting later Sunday that he was “deeply shocked” by Kogan's disappearance and death. He said he appreciated the cooperation of the UAE in the investigation and that ties between the two countries would continue to be strengthened.

Israel's largely ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, condemned the killing and thanked Emirati authorities for "their swift action." He said he trusts they “will work tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Israel also again warned against all nonessential travel to the Emirates after Kogan's killing.

“There is concern that there is still a threat against Israelis and Jews in the area,” a government warning issued Sunday said.

Kogan was an emissary of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent and highly observant branch of ultra-Orthodox Judaism based in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood in New York City. It said he would be buried in Israel.

“The targeting of Rabbi Kogan was an attempt to destroy the sacred Jewish values that he represented: light, goodness and kindness,” the movement said. “No country, no community, no society can afford the loss of these sustaining values.”

The UAE has a burgeoning Jewish community, with synagogues and businesses catering to kosher diners.

The Rimon Market, a kosher grocery store that Kogan managed on Dubai’s busy Al Wasl Road, was shut Sunday. As the wars have roiled the region, the store has been the target of online protests by supporters of the Palestinians. Mezuzahs on the front and back doors of the market appeared to have been ripped off when an Associated Press journalist stopped by on Sunday.

Kogan’s wife, Rivky, is a U.S. citizen who lived with him in the UAE. She is the niece of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, who was killed in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

In a statement, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett called Kogan's killing “a horrific crime against all those who stand for peace, tolerance, and coexistence.”

“We condemn in the strongest terms the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the UAE and our prayers are with his family, the Chabad-Lubavitch community, the broader Jewish community, and all who are mourning his loss,” Savett said.

The UAE is an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and is also home to Abu Dhabi. Local Jewish officials in the UAE declined to comment.

While the Israeli statement did not mention Iran, Iranian intelligence services have carried out past kidnappings in the UAE.

Western officials believe Iran runs intelligence operations in the UAE and keeps tabs on the hundreds of thousands of Iranians living across the country.

Iran is suspected of kidnapping and later killing British Iranian national Abbas Yazdi in Dubai in 2013, though Tehran has denied involvement. Iran also kidnapped Iranian German national Jamshid Sharmahd in 2020 from Dubai, taking him back to Tehran, where he was executed in October.

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

A man walks past Rimon Market, a Kosher grocery store managed by the late Rabbi Zvi Kogan, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)