The Arizona Cardinals will take on the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 at State Farm Stadium. It is the Cardinals' home opener. Both teams are 1-0, and the Cardinals are seeking their first win over the Seahawks since the 2021 season. The Seahawks have won nine straight meetings.
To get you ready for this matchup, Seahawks Wire lead writer Kole Musgrove answered a few questions about the Seahawks and the game, taking Cardinals fans "behind enemy lines" in Week 2.
Here is what he has to say about a number of things.
Drew Lock as starter
How much of a difference can we expect with Drew Lock starting instead of Sam Darnold?
I would expect Seattle to be more conservative than they usually are. Not that they don't trust Drew Lock, we saw in Week 1 they let him throw it in the most
crucial spots. But Seattle has such an emphasis on “protecting the ball” at all costs and they're going to do their best to keep Drew in safe situations best suited to succeed.
Strengths and weaknesses
What are the biggest strengths and weaknesses on both offense and defense for the Seahawks?
Their weakness on offense would likely be the interior offensive line on the right side. Right guard Anthony Bradford is a roller coaster of a player. When he's “on” he’s pancaking dudes. When he's not? Man, it seems like he's taking plays off. The strength offensively of course is Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the WR corps. Don’t be fooled, fantasy bros, Cooper Kupp is still just as every bit as talented as he was with the Rams. Defensively, the line led by Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II and DeMarcus Lawrence is a force to be reckoned with. Right now, there are still some questions in the secondary, but some were answered last week against the Patriots. Overall, I'll stick with what Cardinals head coach Mike La Fleur said: there aren't any weaknesses.
Key matchups to watch
What are some matchups you are most interested in watching on Sunday?
I want to see what this Seahawks defensive line can do to Arizona’s offensive line. I admit, as a former defensive tackle myself, I get especially excited when I see dominant defensive line play. I am also curious to see what Seattle’s defense will do to contain Trey McBride. The Seahawks have historically struggled against tight ends and I'm curious what Mike Macdonald will do to slow him down.
Under-the-radar players
Who are some lesser-known contributors who might have an impact on Sunday?
Watch out for cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett who had an interception last week against New England. Pritchett seems to be growing as a defensive contributor and I'm eager to see how he handles a more concerted passing attack.
Predictions
Who wins on Sunday, and how does it go down?
Seahawks vs. Cardinals games are always competitive, at least the first one. I think this game is tight, with Seattle feeling in control the whole time. The Seahawks defense is simply going to be too much for the Cardinals to overcome, especially if they are one dimensional. I'm thinking the Seahawks prevail 20-13.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Cardinals vs. Seahawks Week Q&A preview: Matchups, picks, predictions
