The Seattle Seahawks are in the final stretch of prep for their Week 2 meeting with the Arizona Cardinals, and the early read on Arizona suggests this one could come down to the wire.
To get a better sense of what the Seahawks are walking into, Seattle’s Week 2 opponent was sized up by Arizona Cardinals On SI publisher Donnie Druin. His take starts with the Cardinals looking far more complete in their opener than they have at other points in recent memory.
It was, as Druin put it, “truly the first time in what's felt like an eternity where the Cardinals played complementary football.” Arizona put up 26 points in a strong debut for offensive mastermind Mike LaFleur, while the defense - the unit that has usually been the big question - held up by allowing only 14 points and forcing multiple turnovers. The Cardinals moved the ball efficiently and kept Los Angeles’ offense off the field.
A big part of that offensive picture is Love, who has begun to look like the kind of player you expect from a third overall pick. The running back label has brought its share of criticism, but he’s showing he can affect the game as both a runner and a receiver.
Even so, Druin noted LaFleur does not appear interested in using Love as a true bellcow back. Love is one week further removed from an ankle sprain and is expected to get around 15 touches, with Tyler Allgeier handling the rest.
On defense, Mack Wilson Sr. may not get the same national attention as names like Walter Nolen, Josh Sweat and Budda Baker, but his return matters. Arizona’s defense dipped sharply after he was injured last season, and his Week 1 impact was obvious. Druin pointed to Wilson’s athleticism, leadership and green dot responsibilities as immediate help for Nick Rallis’ group, along with his ability to drop into coverage and make plays all over the front seven.
There’s also a schematic wrinkle Seattle will have to sort through. Arizona ran Cover 6 more than any other team in Week 1, barely ahead of the Seahawks.
The Cardinals are using two coverages at once in an effort to confuse quarterbacks, though Druin said it can get exposed when communication slips. He’s curious to see whether Seattle can pick up on that tendency through its own use of the concept.
As for the forecast, Druin sees a tight one: Seahawks 20, Cardinals 17. His expectation is another early-season NFC West battle that ends with a late field goal.
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For Arizona, that kind of change matters because Week 2 already carries the usual early-season uncertainty, and now the opponents offensive plans will look different before the teams have even lined up. The practice participation updates for both clubs will keep drawing attention as the week goes on, but the biggest shift so far is simple: the Cardinals are preparing for a Seahawks team with a new face under center. [Read more 🡒]
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Jeremiyah Loves Ankle Puts Cardinals Fans On Edge Before Seattle
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For a team that already has one win banked, Loves availability matters because Arizonas offense could use the same spark it got from him against Los Angeles. The Seahawks will be a different test, and the Cardinals will be watching closely to see whether the rookie can carry that debut momentum into a division game, with his ankle still the one detail hanging over the buildup. [Read more 🡒]