Drew Lock doesn’t need to light up the scoreboard to keep the Seahawks rolling in Week 2. He needs to do the simple stuff cleanly, because that’s what carried Seattle past the New England Patriots last week and what will matter again against the Arizona Cardinals.
Lock stepped in for Sam Darnold and did exactly what the Seahawks needed: he played turnover-free football. Seattle got the win, but the injury to Darnold left a hole the team now has to manage, and the coaching staff clearly trusts Lock to handle it.
There’s a case to be made that Seattle can survive a shaky night from its backup anyway. The defense has looked so strong - maybe even better than it was last season - that it could smother the Cardinals from start to finish if Lock has an off day. Mike Macdonald’s defense is good enough to cover for a lot.
But Lock still has to hold up his end. Against New England, he was efficient, completing 16 of 22 passes for a 113.3 over-the-air rating. He didn’t reach 200 passing yards and threw only one touchdown, but the bigger point was how steady he was, especially in the second half.
The clean sheet mattered most: no interceptions, no fumbles. In a game decided by three points, one bad mistake could have flipped the result. Lock avoided that, and that same discipline is what Seattle needs from him again.
The other part is just as important: don’t force it. Lock may not be Brett Favre or Josh Allen, but he does have that gunslinger streak.
If the deep shot to Jaxon Smith-Njigba isn’t there, he has to be willing to take the easy throw. He also can’t hold the ball too long and invite trouble.
That kind of hesitation can turn into sacks or turnovers fast. The Seahawks don’t need Lock to be spectacular. They need him to be sharp, patient, and smart enough to let the rest of the offense do the heavy lifting.
If he does want to uncork one, Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Rashid Shaheed can help make him look good. But the main job stays the same: protect the football, and let Seattle’s defense keep doing the rest while Darnold is out.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Week 2 Availability Problem Against Arizona
Tory Hortons return to a full practice was one of the brighter developments around the Seahawks this week, especially after the rookie receiver spent so long working his way back from the tibia fracture that ended his 2024 season in Week 9. Seattle could use any bit of good news on the health front with Arizona coming up, and Horton getting through a full session for the first time since then at least gives the offense another name to monitor as the week goes on.
The bigger concern, though, is the churn on the rest of the roster. Sam Darnold was held out of practice with a glute injury, Nick Emmanwori was limited by ankle and hip issues, and Ty Okada and Cooper Kupp also showed up on the list in some capacity. For a team trying to get through the early part of the schedule without losing footing, the Seahawks are suddenly dealing with a lot of moving parts before a divisional game that already carries more than the usual amount of urgency. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Head To Arizona With Two Big Questions Still Hanging
A Week 1 win over New England gave Seattle an early boost, but the trip to Arizona is already bringing a sharper test of where this team really stands. The numbers paint a mixed picture for both sides, with the Seahawks and Cardinals entering the matchup carrying some encouraging efficiency indicators and some lingering questions from last season and the opener.
For Seattle, the bigger issue is not simply whether the fast start was real, but whether it can travel against a divisional opponent that will force the same kind of clean execution. The statistical case for Sunday points to a game that should be tight, and the Seahawks head into it with two unresolved questions that could shape the tone of their season long before the calendar turns. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Lock Now Faces The Seahawks Test That Really Matters
Drew Locks first start of the 2023 season gave the Seahawks exactly what they needed after Sam Darnold went down in Week 1. Filling in against the Patriots, Lock threw for 187 yards and a touchdown and helped Seattle leave with a win, a solid opening act for a quarterback who had to step in without much runway.
Mike Macdonald came away encouraged by the way Lock handled the moment, pointing to his professionalism and the steadiness he brought in a backup role. Now comes the harder part for Seattle, though, because one good relief outing is only the beginning of the test for a team trying to stay on track while its quarterback situation remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]