The Seahawks and Cardinals are set for their second meeting of the season, and the Week 9 expert picks are leaning heavily toward Seattle.
This time around, the Seahawks are again expected to roll with Drew Lock after Sam Darnold was ruled out because of a quad injury. Lock already handled this matchup once in Week 2, when he stepped in for the injured Darnold and put together a sharp outing with 235 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-7 Seattle win.
Arizona is making a change at quarterback too, with Gardner Minshew taking over as the new starter. He helped the Cardinals pull off a comeback against a Dallas defense described as hilariously bad, but this assignment looks much tougher. Seattle is coming off a 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 8, and the Seahawks will be eager to respond after that setback.
That’s the main reason the expert consensus tilts so strongly toward Seattle. Out of 38 picks, 32 went with the Seahawks. The six votes for Arizona were against the spread, which suggests those pickers may simply expect a tighter game than the public line implies.
The logic is pretty straightforward: Seattle already handled this matchup comfortably with Lock under center, and there’s little in the source material to suggest a different outcome this time. The Seahawks also get the benefit of facing a Cardinals offense that won’t present the same kind of challenge Chicago did last week. On the other side, Arizona is about to find out that Mike Macdonald’s defense is a much tougher test than what the Cowboys offered.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Week 10 Quarterback Problem Again
Drew Lock took another hit to Seattles quarterback depth chart in the game against Arizona, leaving with a new injury to his right hip area but staying in the contest. Mike Macdonald said Locks status is still uncertain as the team waits to evaluate an oblique injury, adding another layer of concern to a position group that has already been under pressure.
Sam Darnolds situation only sharpens the uncertainty, with the veteran reportedly at risk of missing Week 10 because of quad and rib injuries. His status is being treated as week-to-week, which leaves the Seahawks bracing for another stretch where the quarterback plan may be changing on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Lock Just Gave Seahawks Fans A Real QB Debate
The Seahawks got through a lopsided 17-3 win over the Cardinals in Week 9 without Leonard Williams or Uchenna Nwosu on defense, and the result still felt like it had a little extra weight because of who was under center. Drew Lock started at quarterback and, even while dealing with injuries, kept the offense steady enough to avoid turnovers and help Seattle control the game. Dante Fowler Jr. supplied some timely defensive plays, AJ Barner found the end zone, and the Seahawks left the afternoon with a win that looked cleaner than the injury report suggested.
What makes the conversation linger is the quarterback picture around Lock and Sam Darnold. Darnold did not play, and his season has already included turnover issues, which only sharpens the contrast with a backup who came in and handled his business without giving the ball away. For a team trying to sort out its offensive identity, a game like this does not settle the debate so much as make it harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Head Into Cardinals Game With One Brutal Problem
The Seahawks head into their bye week in a far different place than they expected after dropping three of their last four, and the timing could hardly be worse with Arizona waiting next. Seattles injury report has turned into a weekly storyline, and this one is especially harsh, with seven players ruled out and the offensive line needing another round of adjustments.
Mike Macdonald also confirmed Drew Lock will start at quarterback despite limited practice, adding another layer of uncertainty to a team already trying to stabilize itself. On the other side of the ball, Seattle will be missing Leonard Williams and Uchenna Nwosu against the Cardinals, leaving the defense shorthanded at a time when the Seahawks could use as much continuity as possible. [Read more 🡒]