A NFC West matchup always carries extra weight, and Sunday’s meeting between the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals is no exception. Seattle enters Week 9 with a 4-4 record after a disappointing 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears, while Arizona arrives at 3-5 following an impressive 33-30 overtime victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
The two teams already met in Week 2, when Seattle dominated Arizona 31-7 on the road. Drew Lock started that game in place of an injured Sam Darnold, completing 19 of 26
passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns. Now, with Darnold sidelined once again, Lock is expected to get another opportunity against the Cardinals.
There is, however, a different challenge awaiting Seattle this time around. Arizona has made a quarterback change of its own, turning to Gardner Minshew after Jacoby Brissett struggled to close out the game against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cardinals are coming off their best offensive performance of the season
Arizona’s comeback against Dallas was largely powered by two players: Gardner Minshew and Tyler Allgeier. After Jacoby Brissett struggled throughout the first half, completing just 10 of 23 passes for 119 yards and throwing an interception, head coach Mike LaFleur made the decision to turn to Minshew.
The veteran quarterback immediately changed the complexion of the game. Minshew completed 17 of 23 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns, leading four consecutive touchdown drives to bring Arizona back from a 17-3 deficit. His connection with Michael Wilson was particularly important, with the receiver finishing the afternoon with eight catches for 111 yards and a touchdown, including the game-tying score with six seconds remaining.
However, the biggest surprise was the Cardinals’ running game. Tyler Allgeier (who would’ve been an amazing addition for the Seahawks in the last offseason…) exploded for 147 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries, adding 44 receiving yards and another score. His performance was instrumental in Arizona’s 33-30 overtime victory.
That is an important development for Seattle. The Seahawks have had their own difficulties defending the run in the edge, and allowing Allgeier to find the same kind of space he enjoyed against Dallas could make this a much more difficult afternoon for Mike Macdonald’s defense.
There are still questions surrounding Arizona’s backfield. Jeremiyah Love suffered another ankle injury against Dallas, while Bam Knight entered concussion protocol. Their availability will be worth monitoring throughout the week.
Trey McBride remains Arizona’s biggest receiving threat
Even with the emergence of Michael Wilson, Trey McBride remains the centerpiece of Arizona’s passing game. The tight end has recorded 66 receptions for 544 yards and five touchdowns this season, making him one of the most productive players at his position.
Seattle has historically had difficulties containing McBride. His ability to find space between linebackers and safeties, particularly in the middle of the field, presents a challenging matchup for the Seahawks’ defense.
This becomes even more important considering some of Seattle’s recent defensive struggles. The linebackers have had difficulties consistently covering the space behind them, and McBride is exactly the kind of player who can exploit those situations. If Arizona can establish a rhythm with Minshew, expect the Cardinals to look for their tight end frequently.
Michael Wilson also deserves attention. Despite playing through fractured ribs, he managed to produce a big performance against Dallas. His availability and effectiveness will be important, particularly with Arizona looking to build on the chemistry developed with Minshew.
Can Seattle’s defensive line control the game again?
The first meeting between these teams provided a pretty clear blueprint for Seattle. The Seahawks dominated the line of scrimmage, generated 18 quarterback pressures and limited Arizona to just 151 total yards.
Jacoby Brissett struggled under pressure, completing only 4 of 11 attempts for 9 yards when pressured, while Seattle effectively shut down the Cardinals’ running game.
However, Arizona’s offensive situation has changed since then. Minshew brings a different style of play, and the Cardinals are coming off a performance in which they accumulated 467 total yards against Dallas.
Seattle will need to rediscover the defensive intensity it displayed in September. Getting pressure without consistently committing extra defenders will be particularly important against Minshew, who showed against Dallas that he can punish defenses when given time to find his receivers.
The health of the defensive front is another concern. Leonard Williams left the game against Chicago with a stinger, while Uchenna Nwosu and other defensive contributors are also dealing with injuries. Their availability could have a significant impact on Seattle’s ability to control the line of scrimmage.
The biggest question: Drew Lock
For Seattle, the biggest storyline heading into Sunday is undoubtedly the quarterback position.
Sam Darnold will miss the game after suffering a quadriceps injury against Chicago. Head coach Mike Macdonald also revealed that Darnold played through a cracked rib suffered early in that game. He will not be placed on injured reserve, but his return will depend on his recovery.
Drew Lock is expected to start, although he has been dealing with an elbow injury that limited his participation over the previous two weeks. Seattle is also preparing Jalen Milroe to serve as the backup.
There is some reason for optimism. Lock already faced Arizona in Week 2, when he threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns in Seattle’s 31-7 victory. He demonstrated that he can take advantage of opportunities against this defense, particularly when connecting with Jaxon Smith-Njigba downfield.
Still, the circumstances are different. Lock will be coming off an injury of his own, and Seattle’s offense has struggled to find consistency in recent weeks. The offensive line also needs to provide better protection, especially against an Arizona defense featuring Josh Sweat and Budda Baker.
If Lock is unable to play effectively, the Seahawks could be forced to lean more heavily on their running game and short passing concepts. That makes establishing the ground attack early even more important.
Final Thoughts
This is an important opportunity for both teams. Seattle needs to respond after its disappointing loss to Chicago, while Arizona has a chance to build momentum following an impressive comeback against Dallas.
The first meeting was a one-sided affair, but the Cardinals are a different team offensively with Minshew under center. Their passing game has a new spark, Allgeier is coming off a tremendous performance, and McBride remains a difficult matchup for any defense.
For the Seahawks, the key will be controlling the line of scrimmage, limiting explosive plays and giving Drew Lock a manageable situation. Seattle has already shown that it can dominate this opponent, but doing so again will require a much more complete performance.
Playing at Lumen Field should help, but the absence of Darnold makes this a far more intriguing divisional matchup than the first meeting suggested.
