Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch scored three touchdowns in Seattle's 58-0 win over Arizona. (US Presswire)

There are beatdowns and then there's what Seattle did to Arizona at CenturyLink Field on Sunday. Behind 128 yards and three touchdowns from RB Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks crushed the visiting Cardinals 58-0 to earn the largest win in franchise history. 

The Seahawks (8-5, 1-3 NFC West) made the scoreboard operator earn his paycheck Sunday with the franchise-record 58 points. 

Seattle K Steven Hauschka started the scoring blitz with a 31-yard field goal in the first quarter. After that, Lynch scored two-straight touchdowns and the rout was on. 

The Seahawks' seven touchdowns were scored in almost every way imaginable -- three Lynch runs, a Russell Wilson pass, a Richard Sherman pick-6, a Leon Washington run and a Malcolm Smith fumble recovery in the end zone after Arizona (4-9, 1-4 NFC West) muffed a punt in the second quarter. 

Cardinal QB John Skelton didn't do anything to prove to coach Ken Whisenhunt that he deserves to start next week. Skelton threw four interceptions, including the one to Sherman that was returned for a score. Skelton was 11 of 22 for 74 yards, and his quarterback rating was a putrid 18.2. 

As a team, the Cardinals only had two more first downs (10) than turnovers (8). 

The record for points came despite Seattle only getting an average performance from Wilson. The rookie threw his first home interception of the season and was 7 of 13 for 148 yards. 

The Seahawks offense did most of its damage on the ground with Lynch and rookie RB Robert Turbin each gaining more than 100 yards . It was the first time since October 2005 that Seattle had two guys over the 100-yard mark. 

The shutout was the Seahawks' first since 2009 when they opened the season with a 28-0 win over St. Louis. The game had the fourth largest margin of victory in a shutout game in NFL history.  

Seattle's victory, combined with Chicago's loss to Minnesota on Sunday, moved the Seahawks into the No. 5 spot in the NFC playoff race. Both teams are 8-5, but the Seahawks owns the tiebreaker due to their Week 13 overtime win over the Bears. 

When the game turned: If the game wasn't over before Sherman's 19-yard interception return for a touchdown, it definitely was afterward. With the Seahawks leading 17-0 in the second quarter, Sherman stepped in front of a Skelton pass and returned it 19 yards to give Seattle a 24-0 lead. 

Highlight moments: Sherman intercepted Skelton twice in the second quarter, including one that he returned 19 yards for a touchdown. ... LB Smith recovered a muffed punt in the end zone for a touchdown during Seattle's 28-point second quarter. ... TE Anthony McCoy's 67-yard catch in the first quarter was the Seahawks' longest pass play of the season. ... Lynch's 33-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was his third score of the day and put Seattle over the 40-point mark for the first time since 2009. 

Top Shelf performances:

  • Seahawks RB Lynch -- 11 carries for 128 yards , 3 TDs

     
  • Seahawks CB Sherman -- 2 INTs, fumble recovery, TD

     
  • Seahawks TE McCoy -- 3 receptions, 105 yards

     
  • Seahawks RB Turbin -- 20 carries, 108 yards

Numbers you should know: The Seahawks' 58-point margin of victory was the largest in franchise history, eclipsing a 45-point win over Kansas City in 1984. ... The Seahawks held the Cardinals to 154 total yards, the fewest the team has allowed all season. ... Wilson hasn't made many mistakes at home, but he did make one on Sunday when Arizona CB Patrick Peterson intercepted him. It was Wilson's first home interception in six games this season.

Going forward: Seahawks -- The Seahawks are headed to the Great White North next week for a game against Buffalo in Toronto. The game will be the Hawks' final road game of the season, which is good news for a team that's 2-5 away from home this year. Cardinals -- If Arizona is going to end its nine-game losing streak, next week is the week to do it. The Cards will have Detroit at home. The Lions are 4-8 and have lost four in a row going into their Week 14 Sunday night showdown with Green Bay. 

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Seahawks blogger John Breech follow @JohnBreech and @CBSSeahawks.

For more news and analysis from Cardinals blogger Jon Gold, follow @CBSCards on Twitter.