The NFC West is shaping up as the most competitive division in football, and it takes center stage on Thursday Night Football when the Seattle Seahawks (2-1) visit the Arizona Cardinals (2-1). No division has more combined wins than the NFC West’s nine, and both Seattle and Arizona are trying to keep pace early in the season.
Seattle enters the desert riding a seven-game winning streak against Arizona, dating back to 2021. The Seahawks have built their September around fast starts, aiming to win at least three of their first four games for a third straight season. Last week’s 44-13 dismantling of the Saints was their most dominant performance yet, featuring a potent offense and opportunistic defense.
Quarterback Sam Darnold is coming off the best game of his Seattle tenure, posting a 154.2 passer rating — the second-best single-game mark in franchise history and the second-highest of his NFL career. He’ll again look to top target Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who trails only the Rams’ Puka Nacua by 10 yards for the NFL lead in receiving yards. Rookie Tory Horton has added another spark, catching touchdowns and returning a punt 95 yards last week, while Cooper Kupp and Kenneth Walker continue to round out a versatile attack.
Seattle’s defense has been equally effective. The Seahawks are tied for second in the league with five interceptions, with Derion Kendrick recording picks in back-to-back weeks. Josh Jobe set a career high with 11 tackles against the Saints, and kicker Jason Myers remains reliable, drilling a season-long 56-yarder on Sunday.
Statistically, Seattle ranks 6th in scoring offense and 2nd in scoring defense. If there’s a weak spot, it’s the ground game, where the Seahawks have averaged the fourth-fewest yards per carry in the NFL.
Arizona is playing on Thursday night for the first time in nearly three years. They’ve been tough at home, winning six of their past seven in Glendale, and nearly knocked off the 49ers last week before falling 16-15.
Veteran Calais Campbell, now in his 18th season, has anchored the defense with two sacks and a forced safety-inducing hold. Mack Wilson Sr. leads the team with 28 tackles and remains the centerpiece of a unit that ranks fourth in rush defense but last against the pass.
On offense, Kyler Murray surpassed 20,000 career passing yards last week and continues to rely on tight end Trey McBride, who torched Seattle for 133 yards last season. With starter James Conner sidelined for the year, second-year running back Trey Benson steps into the lead role. Benson has already shown big-play potential with runs of 29 and 52 yards this season.
Seattle’s inability to consistently establish the run collides with Arizona’s top-tier rush defense. If Kenneth Walker and the Seahawks’ offensive line can find success on the ground, it will open lanes for Darnold and Smith-Njigba to attack Arizona’s struggling secondary. If not, the Cardinals could tilt the game by forcing Seattle into one-dimensional play.
Odds and Ends: Line: Seahawks by 1. Series history: Seattle leads 29-22-1, including last season’s 30-18 win in Glendale. Against the spread: Seahawks 2-1; Cardinals 2-1.
The Seahawks have momentum, a quarterback playing at a high level, and a track record of dominance in the series. The Cardinals counter with a stingy run defense, a home-field edge, and a dynamic quarterback in Kyler Murray. With just a one-point spread, Thursday night promises another tightly contested NFC West battle.
