The Arizona Cardinals weren’t supposed to be a problem this early. Not after the way this season was framed, not after the way people talked about the NFC West, and definitely not after a Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi. Yet here the Seattle Seahawks are, staring at a division game that could get shaped by a quarterback nobody was eager to label a difference-maker.
That quarterback is Jacoby Brissett.
Brissett is not the kind of passer who usually drives the conversation. He’s not a star, and he’s not in that top tier of quarterbacks.
But he does enough to tilt games, and that’s exactly why Seattle has to take Arizona seriously on Sunday. The Seahawks and Cardinals meet once, and the way Drew Lock performs could go a long way toward deciding the result.
Still, Brissett is the piece that could quietly make life difficult for Mike Macdonald’s defense.
What makes Brissett dangerous is not flash. It’s speed and precision.
He gets the ball out fast, and he’s efficient enough in the short game to keep drives moving. Those throws to checkdowns or receivers working in the 10-to-15-yard window may not light up the highlight reel, but they add up.
Brissett has made a career out of being quick and calculated, and Seattle can’t let that rhythm take hold.
Then there’s Trey McBride.
The Cardinals tight end is the kind of target that can force a defense to stay honest snap after snap, and Brissett has leaned on him heavily. Going back to last season, the two have combined on more than 100 target attempts, more than any other Arizona pass-catcher. In Week 1, Brissett looked McBride’s way 13 times, which was six more targets than Michael Wilson and 10 more than Marvin Harrison Jr., who is supposed to be Arizona’s primary option.
McBride’s production last season backed up the usage. He finished with 1,239 yards, and most of that came with Brissett delivering the football.
Seattle has the kind of secondary that can usually make life hard on an opposing top receiver, and the Cardinals don’t exactly present an overwhelming offense. But if the Seahawks lose track of Brissett’s quick-release game or let McBride settle in as the easy answer, Arizona has enough to make this a lot more uncomfortable than it should be.
In Other News...
Sam Darnold Recovery Gives Seahawks Fans Real Reason For Relief
Sam Darnolds glute injury has been one of the early tests of Seattles first month, but the Seahawks have reason to feel better about where things stand now. After hurting himself in Week 1, Darnold has reportedly progressed faster than expected, and the club has already handled the first stretch without him well enough to buy time.
According to NFL Networks Ian Rapoport, Darnold could be back on the practice field in the coming week, with Week 4 looking like the likeliest target for his return to game action. Week 3 remains a possibility, though a less likely one, and Seattle now gets a brief run of games before it has to decide exactly how soon it wants its quarterback back under center. [Read more 🡒]
Brady Russell May Be Giving Seahawks Offense Something It Didn't Have
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For a Seattle offense that has been searching for more flexibility in certain packages, Russells ability to handle multiple jobs could matter sooner rather than later. Mike Macdonald singled out Russells versatility and his showing in the opener, which is a good sign for a player who may now have a larger lane into the game plan. The bigger question is how far that role can grow as the Seahawks keep adjusting without Ouzts. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Offense Faces A Bigger Week 2 Test Than Arizona
The Seahawks came out of their opener with more questions than they likely wanted, especially on offense, where procedural penalties and uneven quarterback play slowed the rhythm against New England. There was some recovery as the game wore on, with Drew Lock settling in during the second half and finishing with a better quarterback rating than Patriots rookie Drake Maye, but the overall performance still left plenty for Brian Fleury and the staff to clean up.
Fleury said the group made adjustments as the game unfolded and sounded confident in where the quarterback room stands heading into Week 2. Arizona is next, and after what Seattle showed against the Patriots, the Cardinals figure to be a stiffer test of whether those fixes actually travel from a halftime correction into a full four quarters. [Read more 🡒]