Kelcie McCray had been on the field for more than 100 plays when it came time to chase down one of the fastest players in the NFL. With the Seahawks locked in a tense, overtime battle with the Arizona Cardinals, receiver J.J. Nelson caught a pass as Richard Sherman's exhausted legs gave out on him, and the Cardinals receiver broke loose for what looked like it was going to be the game-winning touchdown.
Nelson, who ran a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine, sprinted for the end zone, but McCray managed to run the speedster down and make a diving, game-saving tackle. The tackle would have been an impressive effort play at any point of any game, but it was especially remarkable when you consider that it was near the end of a game in which McCray played 108 snaps, including special teams, the most any NFL player has been on the field in a game this season.
"Thankfully Kelcie was able to save the day, and I appreciate it," Sherman said. "… It was incredibly impressive. He's got a lot of heart. He's fast in his own right—Kelcie's probably 4.3 (40-yard dash)—and it just shows the kind of heart he has. He plays until the last second, just like everybody else on our team, but he went out there and he gave it his all and gave us another chance to play, and that was the remarkable feat that night."
As Seahawks coach Pete Carroll put it, "Kelcie was just an ironman."
McCray's tackle of Nelson was a huge play, and it was also one he wasn't sure he was going to be able to make as the play unfolded.
"At first, I thought it was going to be a touchdown," he said. "I was like, 'This guy's going to score, game over.' But I basically just ran as fast as I could and gave it everything I could to try to get him down… He is a fast guy, but that didn't go through my mind at the time. The only thing I was thinking about was get him out of bounds or get him on the ground. I grabbed his foot and held on as long as I could."
Thanks to McCray's tackle and the goal-line stand that followed, the Seahawks were able to escape Arizona with a 6-6 tie instead of a loss, and now after a couple of days to recover, McCray and the rest of the defense feel like they're ready to bounce back from a very long day at the office. McCray doesn't know what his role will be this week—Kam Chancellor has a chance to get back from a groin injury after missing the past two games, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday—but whether he's starting again or back to being a backup safety and key special teams contributor, McCray says he's ready to go.
"I'm a little bit more banged up, but that was last week, I'm ready to get back to work this week and play 100 more plays if I have to," McCray said.
As for what it was like to play more than 100 snaps on a hot afternoon, McCray said, "It was definitely a challenge mentally, but I feel like everybody in this locker room, everybody who was out there playing felt the same thing I was feeling. Any time you play that many snaps, it's definitely a challenge, but it's part of being mentally strong, and all of us had to fight through it.
"Even after 95 plays or however many it was, there was no quit in those guys. Bobby (Wagner) and K.J. (Wright), I knew those guys were just as tired as I was, but at the same time, we had to maintain a certain level of focus, and there was no quit in us."
Team photographer Rod Mar shares exclusive moments from Seattle's Week 7 tie with the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks defensive line coach Travis Jones gets a farewell kiss from one of his children before boarding the bus taking the team from VMAC to Seatac Airport where they would catch the flight to Arizona.
Loyal 12s send the team off as the convoy of buses approaches Seatac Airport.
Business in the front, comfort in the back, this footwear belongs to a member of the Legion of Boom who was fashionably ready for the flight to Phoenix for the game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Defensive tackle Tony McDaniel is nattily attired as he makes his way from the bus to the charter flight.
Upon landing in Phoenix, head coach Pete Carroll consults with staffer Ben Malcolmson.
With a 5:30pm kickoff for Sunday Night Football, players had meetings and a walk thru in the morning. Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman found time to chat before the defensive backs meeting.
Quarterback Russell Wilson throws a pass during the offensive unit's brief walk thru in a hotel ballroom.
After walk thru, quarterbacks coach Carl Smith and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell stayed behind to review strategy.
Linebacker Bobby Wagne makes his way down a back hallway of the team hotel as players headed to the buses that would take them to the stadium on Sunday afternoon.
At the stadium, players prepared in the visitor's locker room. Doug Baldwin prepares to take the field for his early warmups.
On the field, linebacker Brock Coyle works on agility drills during his early warmup.
Brock Coyle animatedly high-fives teammate Cassius Marsh as the linebacking corps warmed up two hours before kickoff.
Now dressed for pregame warmups, tight ends Brandon Williams and Nick Vannett review before heading to the field.
Offensive tackle Garry Gilliam methodically tapes his fingers before taking the field.
Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin hands a football to a young fan wearing his jersey in the stands.
Rewarded for her loyalty, this young fan is enthralled by the gift of a football she received from Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin.
In the middle of election season, these 12s have found their candidate.
Cornerback Richard Sherman sits in front of his locker and his a picture of focus in the moments before taking the field.
The Seahawks gather around receiver Doug Baldwin and get fired up before leaving the locker room for kickoff.
Pyrotechnics erupt in University of Phoenix Stadium as the home team is introduced.
Quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Russell Wilson shake hands at midfield prior to the opening coin toss.
The Seahawks join arms in their show of unity during the playing of the national anthem as fans from the home team struggle to keep a field-sized American flag from touching the ground.
Quarterback Russell Wilson throws from his own end zone as the Cardinals dominated the early field possession battle.
Flanked by Trevone Boykin and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, quarterback Russell Wilson meets with center Justin Britt in-between offensive series.
After leaping over the center, Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner blocks an Arizona field goal attempt in the first quarter.
Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril pressures Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer into an incomplete pass in the first half.
Quarterback Russell Wilson and the rest of the offensive unit watch from the sidelines as the defense battles to keep the Cardinals out of the end zone in the first half.
Seattle safety Kelcie McCray makes a tackle on Arizona's David Johnson as teammate Bobby Wagner provides help.
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman raises a fist signaling "fourth down" after stopping Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald short of the marker on a third down play.
During halftime, assistant head coach and offensive line coach Tom Cable and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell strategize in the locker room.
Seattle's defensive backs gather near the end of halftime before returning to the field for the second half.
Seattle tight end Jimmy Graham tumbles as he his tackled by two Cardinals defenders after making a first down.
Defensive coordinator Kris Richard manages a quick smile as he watches a replay of his defense on the big screen.
Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer is hit hard from behind by Seattle's Cliff Avril, resulting in an incomplete pass.
Seahawks Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett celebrate after another stop by the Seahawks defense.
Defensive end Frank Clark playfully grabs an overhead boom mic on the sidelines between series.
Linebacker Brock Coyle fires up his defensive teammates during the third quarter.
Seahawks fans were everywhere at University of Phoenix Stadium, including behind the Seattle bench area.
Cornerback Richard Sherman puts a huge hit on Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald, knocking the ball loose and preventing a first down reception.
Seattle's pass rush beat their way past the Arizona offensive line for a sack by Ahtyba Rubin and Cliff Avril.
Seattle's Cassius Marsh blocks an Arizona punt in the third quarter, leading to a Seahawks field goal that tied the game at 3-3.
Once again, Seattle defensive end Cliff Avril victimized Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer. Palmer managed to hold onto the ball and Avril was credited with a sack on the play.
Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril celebrates his sack of Carson Palmer in the fourth quarter. Avril finished with 2.5 sacks and six quarterback hits.
Seahawks backup quarterback Trevone Boykin went to midfield with Arizona's Patrick Peterson for the coin toss before the start of overtime.
Cardinals fans could taste victory as Arizona wide receiver J.J. Nelson broke free, but Seahawks safety Kelcie McCray did not give up and brought Nelson down at the five-yard line.
These young Seahawks fans console each other as the Cardinals prepared to kick a potentially game-winning field goal in overtime.
With the game on the line in overtime, and Seahawks Bobby Wagner and Richard Sherman applying pressure Arizona kicker Chandler Catanzaro missed a 24-yard field goal that hit the left upright.
The same fans were all smiles after a Cardinals missed field goal gave the Seahawks a reprieve in overtime.
Seattle took over after the missed field goal and receiver Jermaine Kearse got behind Arizona's Marcus Cooper for a 31-yard gain into Cardinals territory.
The Seahawks sideline erupts after Jermaine Kearse's 31-yard reception in overtime.
Seattle's Doug Baldwin makes his way up the right sideline in overtime on his 27-yard reception down to the nine-yard line.
Seattle kicker Steven Hauschka and holder Jon Ryan react after Hauschka's field goal sailed wide, leaving the game tied.
Exhausted Seahawks walk off the field after five full quarters of football resulted in a 6-6 tie.
Exhausted Seahawks defensive leaders Michael Bennett and Earl Thomas hug in the locker room after the game. Seattle's defense was on the field for 90 plays.
Players board the Delta charter flight for the return trip to Seattle.
It's 2:45am when the Seahawks landed back in Seattle, but the late (early?) hour didn't prevent head coach Pete Carroll from greeting and thanking part of the ground crew at SeaTac airport.
