One of two things happens to teams after they win a championship. Some become self-satisfied and splinter into individuals chasing notoriety and fortune. Others ascend to this higher plane of existence, where they enter each game with an air of inevitability. They know they are going to win. Their opponents know they are going to win. It does not matter if calls go against them, or starters are injured, or they fall behind. This Seahawks squad has youthful and experienced talent. They have elite coaching and rare continuity. They are mature and vicious. They no longer believe they are the best. They know it. It is a recipe worthy of a Michelin Star, even if the taste is bitter for the rest of the NFL.
Drew Lock was a backup quarterback only in name on this Sunday. He prepared all week to be the starter, and then put together one of the cleanest games from a Seahawks starter in some time. He finished 19/26 and that included three dropped passes. He threw three touchdowns without an interception, and never put the ball in harm’s way. The only sack came on a hail mary attempt at the end of the first half.
The collection of throws he made in this game belong next to any throw by any quarterback in the NFL this week. There were passes threaded between three defenders. There were fadeaway first downs off his back foot with a blitzer in his chest. There were patient deep bombs that allowed silver surfers to blow by their defenders.
You can certain there were fans of opposing teams watching this game with the hope that the plucky 1-0 Arizona Cardinals would be able to take advantage of Lock at quarterback and send the Seahawks reeling. Imagine how deflating it must have been to watch him outplay their own starters.
Lock was better than Justin Herbert this week. He was better than Caleb Williams. He was better than Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix.
Your only hope as a Seattle opponent is to hold down the Seahawks offense. This was a discouraging game on that front for a variety of reasons.
Lock was excellent as the starter. The offensive line once again looked like it has taken a step forward, even with a starter missing for them as well. The run game was slow to start, but it ultimately did not matter as the passing game was highly efficient and the rushing attack eventually gained steam. Seattle was already without Zach Charbonnet, and the lost Jadarian Price to an injury. No matter. Emanuel Wilson was excellent in his place. Nick Emmanwori barely played. Tory Horton Jr. had just a few snaps and no targets. The tight ends had barely any production. Seattle had just 7 points at halftime.
They won by 24 points. On the road.
What tales must you tell yourself to believe you have a shot to beat this Seahawks team? This is not even the best version of what this team can be.
Brian Fleury now has two games of play calling experience. As good as Lock was in this game, Darnold has consistently been the better player in practice this offseason. Rodney Thomas II has been very good at safety. Ty Okada easily won the starting job and will return from a hamstring injury soon. Emmanwori will get his feet under him. Charbonnet will return, possibly as soon as Week 5.
This defense has been outstanding. It can be better. Seattle has not pressured the quarterback well so far. They rank 18th in pressure rate, after finishing 6th last season. That will need to improve against elite quarterbacks.
They have flourished in spite of mediocre pass rush due to exceptional coverage and tackling. Josh Jobe, Nehemiah Pritchett, and Devon Witherspoon have been terrific. Julian Love has looked like an All-Pro.
Mike Macdonald came out with a conservative game plan. The Seahawks blitzed on only 4.7% of the Cardinals dropbacks in the first half. That is a low number, even for Macdonald. That changed immediately in the second half. Macdonald called blitzes on 50% of Arizona dropbacks in the second half. Seattle ended the game with a 19.3% blitz rate.
Brissett and the Cardinals pass attack had 16 net passing yards after halftime. They had 44 total yards in that half, and 18 of them came on a garbage time run on the second-to-last play of the game.
It was suffocating. They have room to get even better. Macdonald said as much in the postgame press conference.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is so good, so consistently, that his excellence almost becomes an afterthought. Having 155 yards receiving and 3 TDs is nasty work. Doing it with the array of routes and plays he made is what makes him the best receiver in the game, and maybe the best player.
It felt like the rout was on early when he glided to an 82-yard touchdown. That play stood alone for some time before he added a second, and then a third. His concentration and strong hands make contested catches feel anything but a 50/50 proposition. He is athletic enough to sprint past a defender, savvy enough to disguise his routes, and physical enough to be comfortable with contact.
The offense will be better when Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp and Tory Horton Jr. and AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo start to emerge. They are each capable of more, but it is easy to understand why every quarterback that plays for Seattle favors Smith-Njigba.
Shaheed was featured more in this game, and had mixed results. His drop early was one he surely wants back. It was a miraculous play by Lock.
The game plan was different this week, but one thing is already emerging about Fleury. Seattle has the lowest rate of 11 personnel (3 WRs) in the NFL through two weeks (32.2%). Last week, that was a ton of two tight end sets. This week, he had Nick Kallerup active and used 13 personnel (3 TEs) on 22% of their plays.
He is making heavy TE usage a staple of the offense so far. That will make it harder for WRs (outside of JSN) to get as many snaps and targets.
We will see what comes of the Beau Stephens and Christian Haynes split at right guard if Anthony Bradford misses more time. Both players had good moments on Sunday. Haynes had the better overall game, but it speaks volumes that John Benton and the coaching staff wanted to get the rookie on the field this early.
Seattle heads to Washington D.C. this week to face a Commanders team that just lost their starting quarterback. Macdonald hinted that Darnold has a chance to be back for this game. This game proved they do not need to rush anyone to return. This team can beat your starters with their backups. They can make you tap out on your home field. They are running it forward, and you are in their path.