Seahawks grind out victory over Cardinals

On a quick turnaround following a Monday night defeat, the Seattle Seahawks arrived at Lumen Field looking to steady their season and maintain its recent dominance over an NFC West rival that has proved a difficult opponent in 2026. The Arizona Cardinals, meanwhile, came into the contest hoping to build on an encouraging victory the previous week and turn its attention towards climbing the divisional standings.

Both offenses struggled to take command in the early going. Seattle’s first possession ended in a 3-and-out, while Arizona initially found more success moving the ball.

Gardner Minshew II connected with Reggie Virgil for a significant 3rd down gain before Michael Wilson and Tyler Allgeier helped carry the Cardinals into the red zone. However, Seattle tightened considerably near its own goal line. Nick Emmanwori made an important stop on Trey McBride to force a field goal, allowing Chad Ryland to put Arizona ahead 3-0.

The Seahawks struggled to respond immediately, with Drew Lock and his receivers unable to sustain a promising drive. Yet the momentum began to shift late in the opening quarter as Seattle found greater success on the ground. Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price combined to move the chains, with Price also providing a crucial 3rd down catch-and-run to keep the possession alive. AJ Barner finished the drive from a yard out early in the second quarter, giving Seattle a 7-3 lead.

For much of the remainder of the first half, the contest became a battle of field position. Both defenses consistently forced punts, and Arizona appeared to escape a potentially costly turnover when officials ruled that McBride’s forward progress had been stopped before Seattle could recover the ball.

The Seahawks eventually found another breakthrough just before the interval, however, putting together an 81-yard march that featured several important connections between Lock and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Lock capped the possession by finding Barner over the middle for a 7-yard touchdown, extending the advantage to 14-3 with just seconds remaining in the half.

Seattle’s defense ensured that Arizona would have little opportunity to build momentum after the break. Dante Fowler Jr had already registered a sack before halftime, and the Seahawks continued to make life uncomfortable for Minshew II in the third quarter. DeMarcus Lawrence brought the quarterback down for another sack, forcing yet another Cardinals punt and keeping the visitors from generating any sustained attacking pressure.

The Seahawks then pieced together a lengthy possession of their own, consuming more than half of the third quarter. Lock completed several timely throws, while Charbonnet helped Seattle maintain a manageable position on the field. With the quarterback appearing to experience discomfort in his hip, the hosts leaned more heavily on the running game before Jason Myers converted a 45-yard field goal to make it 17-3.

Arizona’s attempts to mount a response were repeatedly smothered. The Cardinals struggled to find room on the ground, with Allgeier unable to make a significant impact, while Minshew II was given little time to operate comfortably in the pocket. Seattle’s pass rush and coverage worked in tandem, preventing the visitors from finding the explosive plays needed to make the scoreline interesting.

The Cardinals did produce one final opportunity to get back into the contest late in the fourth quarter, moving deep into Seattle territory. But with the game on the line, the Seahawks stood firm. On 4th and goal, Minshew II looked towards McBride in the end zone, only for Emmanwori to break up the pass and preserve Seattle’s 14-point cushion. It was an emphatic final stand from a defense that controlled proceedings for much of the afternoon.

Lock finished with 175 passing yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception, while Barner proved the difference-maker on offense with both Seattle touchdowns. Charbonnet contributed 77 rushing yards, and Smith-Njigba remained a reliable target throughout. Defensively, Seattle limited Arizona to just 3 points and 116 total yards, recording 3 sacks and holding the Cardinals scoreless after their opening possession.

Touchdowns
Arizona: N/A
Seattle: Barner 2

Top Performers
Arizona: Wilson, Melton, Gillikin
Seattle: Barner, Charbonnet, Price, Lawrence, Hall, Murphy II

Injuries
Arizona: Lopez (toe)
Seattle: N/A

Crowd: 68,636 @ Lumen Field