Mack Wilson Sr. won’t have to watch this one from the sideline.
The Arizona Cardinals linebacker missed the Seahawks’ 44-22 win over his team on Nov. 9 last season, and he’s heading into this weekend’s NFC West matchup with a little extra edge after Arizona’s 26-14 win over the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday.
That victory gave the Cardinals defense a clean lift heading into Week 2, and Wilson is looking to carry that momentum straight into a date with Seattle. Arizona needed just 31 tackles to handle the Chargers, which left the unit well rested for what comes next.
Seattle’s offense didn’t exactly light things up against the New England Patriots in Week 1, and Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis may already have spent plenty of time on that tape. Seahawks rookie running back Jadarian Price finished with 52 yards on 10 carries, while Seattle was forced to punt five times. The Seahawks did escape with the win after a late interception of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, and reserve quarterback Drew Locke also drew credit for his part in the result.
Wilson’s absence against Seattle last year left a hole that won’t be there in 2026, and the Cardinals also have reason to believe they can answer back without former running back Kenneth Walker III in the picture. Wilson and safety Budda Baker will be among the players with plenty of motivation to make life uncomfortable for their division rivals.
Arizona is trying to stay in the thick of what figures to be a highly competitive NFC West race, and this weekend at State Farm Stadium gives them a chance to do just that - while maybe leaving Seahawks fans with a bad taste for a while.
In Other News...
Seahawks Made A Statement And One Decision Still Demands Debate
The Seahawks 31-7 win over the Cardinals in Week 2 gave Seattle plenty to feel good about, from a defense that set the tone to a quarterback performance that steadied things in Sam Darnolds absence. Julian Love stood out on the back end, and Drew Lock gave the offense enough poise and production to keep Arizona from ever finding a foothold. Even the passing game had encouraging signs, especially in the way Jaxon Smith-Njigba is beginning to look like a bigger part of the plan than he did under the previous setup.
Still, one sequence lingered after the final whistle. Brian Fleurys decision on a 4th-and-goal early in the game left plenty of room for debate, especially in a matchup where Seattle had already established control and could have pushed for an even firmer grip. The result was a statement win either way, but it also served as a reminder that the Seahawks are still sorting through some game-management choices even while the broader picture looks encouraging. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Fans Have Every Right To Be Angry After Another Seahawks Collapse
The Seahawks gave their division rivals another frustrating afternoon Sunday, rolling past the Cardinals 31-7 and keeping a streak alive that has become its own kind of burden for Arizona. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was central to Seattles control of the game, scoring three touchdowns as the offense repeatedly turned drives into points and left little margin for a Cardinals team trying to keep pace.
Arizona did manage one trip to the end zone on a fourth-and-goal play, but it never seriously changed the shape of the game. Even with that score, the Cardinals could not close the gap, and the result stretched Seattles grip on the matchup to ten straight wins, a run that will only sharpen the frustration around a rivalry that has felt one-sided for a long time. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Took Over After One Wild Moment Arizona Couldnt Survive
For a Seahawks team still trying to stack complete games in the early going, special teams provided the kind of jolt that can change the tone of a matchup in a hurry. Seattle beat Arizona 31-7 in Week 2, and the turning point came right after halftime when Chazz Surratt pounced on a fumble on the opening kickoff, then pushed the ball deep into Cardinals territory to set up another Seattle score.
From there, the Seahawks had enough variety to keep control, with Drew Lock finding Jaxon-Smith Njigba for a touchdown, Jason Myers adding a field goal and A.J. Barner finishing a drive on the ground. Arizona never found a way back into it after the second-half surge, and Seattles defense and special teams gave the offense plenty of breathing room to close out a lopsided win. [Read more 🡒]