Both Seattle and Arizona enter this game 1-0 and atop the NFC West. One team will suffer their first loss on Sunday, and while the odds point to that being the Cardinals, these teams are more closely matched than they were a season ago.

An injured Sam Darnold and a stabilized Cardinals roster coming off a rousing road win over the heralded Los Angeles Chargers, makes this a game both teams come in believing they can win. The talent gap is considerable, though, and some injuries at the wrong position for Arizona could push this back into a longshot.

The best part of this Seahawks team is their interior defensive line. The Cardinals have already lost 2nd-round pick, Chase Bisontis, to injury and were missing the presumed starter, Isaiah Adams, in week one. Newly signed starting guard, Isaac Seumalo, did not practice on Wednesday, raising doubts about his availability. Part of what held Jacoby Brissett and this offense back in 2025 was the amount of sacks he took. Seattle got him five times, including two strip sacks returned for touchdowns, when they played. He was sacked just once for a loss of zero yards against the Chargers.

Brissett is a credible professional quarterback. He is not mobile. Even if their best guards were playing, the Seahawks defensive tackle rotation and Mike Macdonald’s mind might be too much too handle. Being down to deep reserves could make for a rough go.

The Seahawks need to find a rhythm that was missing on offense in their first game. It was understandable that things were stagnant for a while after the shock of losing their starting quarterback in the first series. That is no longer an excuse. This Seattle offensive line showed signs of being a mismatch themselves.

Unlike the Legion of Boom, who’s best players were mostly off the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, this Seahawks squad is built from the trenches out. That is not to say they are without excellence away from the line of scrimmage, but their foundation is on the offensive and defensive lines.

Teams with those strengths tend to be more resilient and consistent. Arizona is still in the process of identifying their foundation. The departure of mercurial quarterback, Kyler Murray, gives them a chance to find the players worth building around. Expect a spirited effort from the Cardinals. Expect the Seahawks to play a style that will be difficult to match.

Programming note: Tale of the Tape relies on data from the season to preview games. Week 2 means we have only a one game sample size. They tell us less about the teams now than they will in a few weeks. You will also notice far more data than has been provided in past years. Thanks to the folks at FTNFantasy.com and SumerSports for providing access to a deeper set of insights for me to explore and provide to you.

Lineup Notes

The first injury reports came out Wednesday and the absence of Seumalo certainly will spark concern in Arizona. Hayden Connor would take over in that situation. He is a 2025 6th round pick who played 29 snaps as a rookie. It is not clear if Garrett Williams will make it back for this game, but he has been one of the best nickel corners in football when healthy. Denzel Burke has taken slot corner snaps in his absence.

For Seattle, Nick Emmanwori was listed as limited for practice. Tory Horton Jr. was a full go. Emmanwori looms large in every game, but his availability to match up with Trey McBride would be a boon for the Seahawks. Ty Okada likely misses this game, but Rodney Thomas II played well in his debut.

Team Overview

Seattle starts the year with the top turnover differential in the NFL, which is where they ended last season. They have gone five straight games without turning the ball over. They have won 11 straight games, tying a franchise record. Arizona shows up here as a team that has a very strong first week.

Styles Make Fights

This is a new section this season where we look at the offensive styles of both squads to see how they like to attack opponents.

The Seahawks ran play action the 2nd-most often in the NFL (as a percentage of dropbacks) in week one. They were the 2nd-most efficient when doing so. Arizona was 27th in the NFL at defending it. That is one to watch.

Arizona was 1st in the NFL in defending outside zone running plays. Seattle was 1st in the NFL in percentage of runs that were outside zone.

Those two items will loom large in this game.

Arizona lives in shotgun, where many offenses are moving back under center. They are not a heavy play action team. Their running game is varied. Sean McVay moved the Rams to be a more man/power scheme a few years ago. LeFleur is still figuring out which style of run game will be their bedrock. Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love will contribute to that decision with how he plays.

Seattle remains one of the best run defenses in the NFL, no matter which style their opponent uses.

Seahawks Offense vs Cardinals Defense

Overview

Seattle will need to possess the ball more with sustained drives in this game. Their passing offense was propped up by one big pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on 4th and 1, and one big pass to Cooper Kupp. Neither was a repeatable, reliable way to move the ball. Arizona was stingy against the Chargers.

Passing game

DVOA was not super impressed by the Cardinals pass defense.Seattle ranked low in pressure rate allowed, but their time to pressure was 8th. That indicates the pressure was not as much about pass protection, or their use of play action created longer-developing plays.

Abe Lucas had a rough game against the Patriots. He needs to be better.

Seattle relied heavily on two tight end sets (12 personnel). It was their most used personnel group, which is rare. Nearly every team has 11 personnel (3 WRs) as their most common grouping. We will find out of that was opponent-specific as time goes on. Seattle getting Horton Jr. back could shift some things, and finding ways to get Rashid Shaheed more involved will impact personnel as well.

Arizona struggled to defend 12 personnel versus the Chargers and excelled against 11 personnel. That could lead to more of the same deployment for Seattle this week.

When the Seahawks passed against base defense in week one, they were the most efficient passing team in the NFL.

Receiving game

Seattle struggled versus man coverage and the Cardinals performed well there. The screen game was not used much by Seattle. Jadarian Price can be a weapon there. Arizona struggling against out routes is notable given how much the Seahawks like to throw that pass.

Run game

It is surprising to see how poorly the Seahawks run game measured out statistically. It felt far more encouraging than the numbers would indicate. Arizona had a terrific day stuffing the run, and Roy Lopez was a big part of that. As good as the Seahawks were passing against base defense versus the Patriots, they were dead last in the NFL when trying to run against it.

That will make for an interesting decision for Brian Fleury, as 12 personnel is more likely to result in Arizona playing base defense.

Cardinals key advantages on defense

This is good, young, cornerback room that can be sticky in coverage, especially when Williams is on the field. Budda Baker is still a quality safety, and Mack Wilson Sr. can be disruptive as a blitzer from the linebacker spot. Lopez is a rugged run defender. Walter Nolan Jr. is an athletic interior player, who can get after the quarterback. Josh Sweat can be threat as an edge rusher when he’s motivated.

Seahawks key advantages on offense

JSN remains a cheat code against any defense. At some point, we will see Shaheed emerge as a key concern for defenses as well. Horton Jr. is such a promising player, but it’s not even clear how he gets on the field. It should be noted that he has more reps with Drew Lock than any other receiver. They have chemistry. The Cardinals do not have an intimidating pass rush. If Seattle can create push in the run game, they could put up some points.

Cardinals Offense vs Seahawks Defense

Overview

Arizona benefitted from a blocked punt that gave them the ball at the 3-yard line for one of their touchdown “drives.” Otherwise, they were a competent offense that moved the ball reasonably well without being very explosive.

They are a heavy 3 WR team, and did well with that personnel package. They brought the 13 personnel package over from Los Angeles, but did not get good results from it.

Pass game

Seattle did not allow an explosive pass in the first game. Brissett is a quarterback who completes a lot of passes, but does not threaten deep very often. They struggled against base defense in LA, but did well against extra defensive backs. Seattle did not defend the pass well out of base.

The biggest thing here is pass protection. Brissett was sacked a ton last season and was only sacked once in week one.

Receiving game

Kendrick Bourne was a big part of the passing attack, with 8 catches in 8 targets. He has not fared well against this Seahawks defense before. McBride is the one to watch. He has had productive days against the Seahawks, even if not during wins. Michael Wilson got paid this offseason and finished strong with Brissett. He has been locked up by Josh Jobe and Devon Witherspoon.

Wilson has 4 catches for 41 yards in 79 reps against that cornerback duo since 2024.

Running game

Arizona is counting on their new backfield to take pressure off the passing attack. Tyler Allegier and Love are talented backs who have the potential be one of the most dynamic duos in the NFL. Allegier is an excellent pass protector as well as a bully in the run game. Love can do it all.

They face arguably the best run defense in football.

Cardinals key advantages on offense

Love is compared at times to Bijan Robinson in terms of talent. Seattle held up well against Robinson in Atlanta last year, but that was with a lot more tape on who he is as a runner and receiver. The newness of LeFleur provides a little edge, but Leonard Williams has already noted familiar aspects of the McVay offense. McBride almost always gets his. Paris Johnson Jr. is a very good left tackle. The rest of the line has some work to do against a dynamic Seattle front. Marvin Harrison Jr. has size that can give a player like Witherspoon some problems.

Seahawks key advantages on defense

The interior defensive line for Seattle could take over this game. Seattle corners played mostly great football against the Patriots and have good history against these receivers.

Special Teams

A good start for the Seahawks special teams unit.

Key to a Cardinals win

They need to force turnovers and hold the Seahawks offense under 20 points.

Key to a Seahawks win

Early down offense will be a big part of this one. Getting into advantageous 2nd down situations could lead to the big plays they will need to score points. They will need to pass protect better than they did against the Patriots as well.