The Seattle Seahawks remain atop the NFC West and have another crucial game ahead. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers face each other, while Seattle takes on the Arizona Cardinals. It’s worth
noting that the Seahawks’ earlier win over Arizona is what currently keeps them in first place.
A loss would drop Seattle to 1-2 in division play, with two games left against the Rams and one against the 49ers. The Seahawks can’t afford to stumble against the Cardinals (as they’ve done in past seasons), especially with tough matchups against the Minnesota Vikings defense and the Indianapolis Colts still to come.
Let’s go!
Very different teams from the first matchup
Seattle beat Arizona in Week 4 with a last-minute field goal. Both teams look very different now. To start, Kyler Murray is on IR and will likely be with another franchise next season. Jacoby Brissett has taken over and has led the offense more efficiently than Murray.
On defense, rookie Walter Nolen has stepped into a starting role, and his presence has significantly boosted the Cardinals’ defensive line. The secondary also improves with Garrett Williams returning. On offense, Will Hernandez, while not in top form, is still an upgrade over Isaiah Adams. Zay Jones missed the first matchup, and the backfield will now be shared between Bam Knight and Emari Demercado.
Seattle will likely be without two key defensive players: Julian Love (IR) and Ernest Jones. Cooper Kupp and Tory Horton might miss the game or play below 100%. On the other hand, the team will debut Rashid Shaheed, and also get back DeMarcus Lawrence (who played just 10 snaps in the first meeting) and Nick Emmanwori, who has greatly strengthened the defense.
A challenge for the passing game
The Cardinals were the only team that managed to contain Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He didn’t record a catch in the entire first half and finished with a season-low 79 yards — one of only two games where he failed to surpass 100. Still, his receptions came at key moments that helped secure the win.
As mentioned, Arizona’s secondary should be stronger now with Williams back. The Commanders tried double coverage on JSN, which opened the door for touchdowns by Horton and Elijah Arroyo.
Exploiting the linebackers could be Seattle’s best approach. The Seahawks’ tight ends combined for four receptions, 53 yards, and one touchdown in the previous matchup. The concern is that AJ Barner appeared on the injury report, and if he’s out, it adds to the absence of Eric Saubert, who went to IR before the Washington Commanders game.
Big test for the offensive line
Arizona’s pass rush has 17 sacks, five of which came against the Cowboys. It’s worth remembering that the Cardinals also recorded three sacks on Darnold in the first matchup — double Seattle’s average at that time.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon continues to dial up creative blitz packages, but two players stand out as threats. Josh Sweat was one of the best free-agent additions this offseason, and Arizona has used him in various alignments to create favorable rushing angles.
The biggest concern, however, is Walter Nolen, who posted 4 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 QB hit, 1 pass breakup, and 2 pressures in his last game. Facing Anthony Bradford and Jalen Sundell could be a clear advantage for the Cardinals.
Seattle ran for 155 yards in the first meeting. Even in Monday’s strong showing against the Cowboys, Dallas still surpassed 100 rushing yards — meaning this is another key chance for Seattle to establish its ground game.
Can the defense stay hot?
Jacoby Brissett has improved Arizona’s offense, spreading the ball around and boosting Marvin Harrison Jr.’s production. In Monday Night Football, four receivers recorded 30+ yards. One of the key matchups will be Seattle’s pass rush against Brissett on third downs.
The issue for Arizona is that Brissett tends to hold the ball longer than Murray. He’s less mobile but tougher to bring down. Seattle faced him back in Week 2 of 2024 when he was with the Patriots, and the defense struggled to finish plays. Against the Cowboys, the Cardinals allowed 5 sacks — another chance for Seattle’s defense to keep the pressure going.
The matchup I’m most curious about is Trey McBride vs. Nick Emmanwori. The rookie DB has been playing nickel, but he’s not known for covering quicker slot receivers. The real question is whether he can develop into a reliable tight end defender.
Final thoughts
This could be a tricky game. Weird things always seem to happen when Seattle faces Arizona. When projecting the Seahawks’ post-bye stretch, most fans likely penciled in this game as a win. But a slip-up here could seriously hurt Seattle’s playoff hopes.
