The Arizona Cardinals are trying to put an ugly streak behind them in Week 2, and the opponent on the other side makes the task even more pointed: the Seattle Seahawks.
Arizona has not beaten Seattle since Nov. 2021, and the Cardinals also haven’t taken the Seahawks down at State Farm Stadium since Oct. 2020. Nine straight losses have turned this matchup into a painful reminder of where the Cardinals have stood in the division, and 2025 has been the clearest example yet.
Last season, Seattle handled Arizona by 20 points or more in both meetings. The Super Bowl champs controlled those games, but this Sunday brings a different setup. Starting quarterback Sam Darnold will miss the game, and that gives head coach Mike LaFleur a different challenge to solve.
Drew Lock filled in for Darnold last week and kept Seattle’s offense steady in a comeback win over the New England Patriots. After another full week of practice, that group should be even sharper. For Arizona, the path is pretty clear: make Lock work for everything and win the battle up front.
That means pressure has to come early, and the run game has to be contained. If the Cardinals can force Lock off his spot and make him create outside the structure of the play, that’s where turnovers can start to appear. Jadarian Price is playing his second game on Sunday, and Arizona will need to make him uncomfortable to take away a major piece of Seattle’s offense.
The Cardinals also know they can’t expect their defensive backs to erase Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He is going to get his yards and make plays, which puts even more importance on getting to Lock quickly and forcing him to move on before he can find another target.
Arizona’s defense came out of Week 1 with plenty of positives after holding its own against the Los Angeles Chargers, and that performance offered some reason to think the Cardinals could stand up to Seattle. But recent injury news involving Roy Lopez could complicate that picture and leave some of that optimism in doubt.
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Cardinals Suddenly Have A Big Week 2 Problem Up Front
Roy Lopezs Week 1 showing gave the Cardinals a needed jolt up front, but the defensive line now has a more immediate concern as Arizona prepares for Seattle. Head coach Mike LaFleur said Lopez is dealing with a groin injury and is questionable for the Week 2 matchup, a potential setback for a unit that will need to handle a tougher ground challenge.
The Seahawks are expected to lean more heavily on their rushing attack, with rookie running back Jadarian Price leading the way, so Lopezs status carries real weight for Arizonas game plan. If he cannot go, the Cardinals may have to turn to second-year defensive lineman Walter Nolen for more snaps, leaving one of the weeks bigger questions centered on how well the front can hold up without one of its top performers. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Secondary Is Building The Edge Fans Have Been Hoping For
The early signs in Arizonas secondary have been encouraging, and Mike LaFleur made it clear this week that Andrew Wingard is already fitting into the mix as more than just depth. LaFleur called Wingard a great addition to the defense and pointed to his communication with Budda Baker, a pairing that matters for a unit trying to tighten up its coverage and play faster on the back end.
For Cardinals fans, the appeal is obvious: the secondary has spent enough time in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, and any sign of cleaner communication is worth watching closely. Wingards role is still taking shape, but if the chemistry with Baker keeps building, Arizona may have found another piece that helps the defense look more connected when the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Are Sending A Clear Message Before Seahawks Showdown
The Cardinals did not make any practice squad elevations heading into their Week 2 matchup with the Seahawks, a small roster move that says plenty about how they view their available group. Even with several players carrying questionable tags or already ruled out because of injuries, Arizona is acting like it has enough healthy pieces in place to handle a divisional test without adding outside help.
Seattle comes in at 1-0, matching the Cardinals record and raising the stakes for an early NFC West meeting that could matter quickly in the standings. Trey McBride and head coach Mike LaFleur both touched on the challenge ahead and the Seahawks defense, and Arizonas decision to stand pat adds another layer to a game that already has the feel of a measuring stick for where this team stands in September. [Read more 🡒]