"For a non-playoff team, the Cardinals are armed and dangerous.

They are among a minority of teams that will finish the season with a victory. Their 8-8 record speaks of resiliency, not mediocrity. They won seven of their last nine games, defying a six-game losing streak that would've fractured most teams.

Statistics are their ally, and a good friend to have entering the long off-season.

"We wanted to win our first game of 2012," rookie Patrick Peterson said. "And we did that."

Yet the beauty of Sunday's 23-20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks can't be found in the numbers. It was in the way both teams played the game.

You could see it in the personal fouls, the late hits and the sweat-soaked uniform of Larry Fitzgerald. You could hear it in Daryl Washington's motor, and the way he pumped his fists after most of his 11 tackles.

You could feel it every time Seahawks coach Pete Carroll chose to punt to Peterson, a noble gesture with history on the line.

Peterson nearly returned an NFL record fifth punt return for a touchdown, only to be tripped up by the opposing punter. After the game, he said he had a great deal of respect for Carroll's sense of sportsmanship, and the lack of gamesmanship."