The Seahawks are walking into Week 2 with a little more noise around them than you might expect for a 1-0 team.
Seattle opened the 2026 season by surviving Sam Darnold’s injury and hanging on for a 13-10 win over the New England Patriots. Now comes a road trip to Glendale, where the NFC West always has a way of turning tidy storylines into a mess. Arizona is no longer being treated like the easy target it was in recent years after the Cardinals went to Los Angeles and beat the Chargers 26-14.
That result has changed the temperature around this matchup fast. With Darnold’s injury hanging over Seattle and the national conversation already circling around the reigning Super Bowl champs, some have started putting the Seahawks on upset alert. A few analysts are even picking Arizona to pull the shocker in Week 2.
And there’s at least enough substance behind that buzz to make this one interesting.
The Cardinals have a young offense with real talent, especially at the skill spots. Trey McBride is the centerpiece, and he has already given Seattle problems.
In two games against the Seahawks last season, McBride caught 16 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. That’s not the kind of production Seattle wants to see again, especially if Nick Emmanwori misses a second straight game.
Arizona also brings Kendrick Bourne and Marvin Harrison Jr. at receiver, plus a dynamic backfield and Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, a passer who doesn’t throw interceptions. That combination gives the Cardinals a chance to stress Seattle’s Dark Side Defense if the Seahawks lose discipline for even a few series.
The other side of the ball is where the questions get louder for Arizona. The Cardinals didn’t do much to upgrade a defense that was already near the bottom of the league, yet they still handled the Chargers in Week 1. That leaves open the possibility that they can do enough again to make life difficult for Seattle.
History, though, is on the Seahawks’ side. Seattle has won nine straight against Arizona and 10 of the last 11 meetings overall. The Seahawks have also been the steadier franchise over the last two decades, and Mike Macdonald should have his group ready for the challenge.
There’s also a matchup angle that could swing things Seattle’s way. The Cardinals are dealing with key injuries or absences in the secondary, and that opens the door for the Seahawks to attack those spots if they want to.
So yes, there’s enough here to make Week 2 feel dangerous for Seattle. But there’s also plenty to suggest the Seahawks can walk out of Glendale in control if they play clean and take advantage of the openings Arizona is giving them.
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
Brady Russells role with the Seahawks has changed quickly, and not just because he was already known as a useful special teams piece. With Robbie Ouzts on injured reserve, Russell has stepped in as Seattles fullback, and the season opener offered a first look at how the offense might use him there. He played a career-high 17 offensive snaps in Week 1 and even chipped in as a receiver, catching two passes for 20 yards.
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 Defense Faces An Unexpected Cardinals Threat This Week
Jacoby Brissetts quick release is already giving the Seahawks a specific problem to solve this week, and it starts with the ball coming out before the rush can fully arrive. Arizona has leaned heavily on Brissetts timing passing, and no connection has mattered more than the one he has built with tight end Trey McBride. The Seahawks will be spending plenty of prep time trying to make that rhythm harder to find, because once it gets rolling, the Cardinals offense can stay on schedule in a hurry.
McBride has been Brissetts most reliable target so far, including a massive 13-target outing in Week 1, and that volume is exactly why Seattle has to treat this as more than a normal matchup issue. The Seahawks know the path to slowing Arizona runs through taking away the easy throws and disrupting the quarterback-tight end pairing before it can dictate the game. If they cant do that, Brissetts comfort throwing quickly could turn one of the weeks quieter storylines into a real test for the defense. [Read more 🡒]