The Vikings got a quick dose of the Kyler Murray experience in Week 1, and it looked a lot like what Seahawks fans had already come to expect.
Murray was knocked out early against the Green Bay Packers after taking a late, high hit from Javon Bullard that left him with a concussion. The injury wasn’t on him, but it still fit a familiar pattern. So did what happened on his first throw of the game: Murray tried to force a pass deep downfield under pressure, even though there was little reason to think his receiver had much of a shot at it.
Before Minnesota had even settled into the game, it had already seen the full package - the raw talent, the risky decision-making, and the early exit. Carson Wentz stepped in after Murray left and guided the Vikings to a 39-22 win.
That matters because Minnesota may end up as a playoff opponent for Seattle in 2026, and the early read is that Wentz might be a tougher matchup for Mike Macdonald’s team than Murray would be. Seattle knows what it’s getting with Murray, and it has had his number for a while. The Cardinals haven’t beaten the Seahawks since October 2020 with Murray at quarterback.
The appeal is obvious. Murray has real ability.
But the problems are just as obvious, and Seattle fans know them well: he’s small, he has trouble seeing the middle of the field, and he gets hurt too often. Since 2022, he has played every game in only one season, which was 2024, and he has missed at least six games in every other year.
Minnesota took a shot on him, hoping he could be the quarterback who gets them to the playoffs. Instead, the Vikings may already be finding out what Seattle learned long ago - Murray can be erratic, he can miss time, and he has not been a quarterback who consistently beats the Seahawks.
Wentz has his own injury history, but he also brings a different look and, at least according to the source material, can see the whole field. That could make him the more dangerous option if Minnesota and Seattle ever meet in the postseason.
For now, the Seahawks’ best-case scenario is simple: Murray comes back from the concussion, somehow stays healthy, and ends up under center if Minnesota plays Seattle in the playoffs. Because from Seattle’s point of view, that would be the ideal setup. Murray can’t beat the Seahawks.
In Other News...
Seahawks May Have A Surprise Week 2 Spark Fans Will Love
Sam Darnolds hip and glute issue has opened the door for a different look under center in Week 2, with Drew Lock expected to start for Seattle. It also puts Jalen Milroe in position as the backup, and that alone gives the Seahawks a little extra intrigue heading into the matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.
Dan Graziano of ESPN noted that Milroe could be sprinkled in for gadget or trick plays, which makes sense given the value his running ability can add to an offense looking for an edge. Even if he is not taking over the game plan, the possibility of Milroe popping up in a key spot gives Seattle a wrinkle worth watching as it tries to create opportunities against Arizona. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Week 2 Availability Problem Against Arizona
Tory Hortons return to full practice was one of the brighter notes in Seattles build toward its Week 2 meeting with Arizona, a welcome sign after he spent much of his recovery away from the field following a tibia fracture. After missing so much time since last season, simply getting Horton back into a full session matters for a team trying to settle into the early part of the schedule.
The injury report, though, was hardly clean. Sam Darnold was held out with a glute injury, Nick Emmanwori was limited by ankle and hip issues, and Ty Okada and Cooper Kupp were among the other players who were limited or did not participate. For a Seahawks team trying to sort out its availability picture before facing the Cardinals, the bigger question now is how many of those names will be ready when the game arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Macdonalds Defense Is Changing How Fans See These Seahawks
Mike Macdonalds defense is starting to change the way people look at these Seahawks, and Sunday offered another reminder of why. Seattles unit came up big late, turning the fourth quarter into a showcase with three interceptions and three sacks, the kind of closing stretch that can flip the mood around a team in a hurry. Macdonald credited both his coaching staff and his players for the way they adapted and carried out the defensive plan, which has become a defining feature of this group.
The bigger picture is just as striking. Seattle has now gone 29 straight games without allowing a 100-yard rusher, a run that speaks to how consistently this defense has controlled the ground game. And with uncertainty still hanging over the return of starting quarterback Sam Darnold, the Seahawks may need that edge on defense even more as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]