Sunday afternoon’s loaded NFL Week 2 slate features an NFC West showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium, with kickoff set for 4:25 p.m. ET.
Both squads kicked off their seasons with a W. The defending champs bested the New England Patriots, 13–10, in a Super Bowl rematch at Lumen Field. The Cardinals, meanwhile, kicked off the Mike LaFleur era with a 26–14 road upset against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Seattle won both matchups against its division rival in 2025 en route to capturing the Lombardi Trophy.
The Seahawks enter as 3.5-point road favorites with -218 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Cardinals are +180 underdogs, with the game total set at O/U 40.5 points.
Seahawks vs. Cardinals Preview for NFL Week 2
Seattle Seahawks
The defending-champion Seahawks hope to keep the parade float steady without their field general. Spurred on by the 12s, the team held on for a Week 1 win over the Patriots after quarterback Sam Darnold went down with a glute injury on the opening drive. They’ll now take the show on the road for Drew Lock’s first start under center since 2024 with the New York Giants.
Fortunately, the longtime backup QB has an elite weapon at his disposal in reigning AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The superstar receiver corralled eight of his 11 targets for 122 yards and the team’s lone touchdown against New England. But aside from JSN, Seattle’s offensive options seem fairly limited in 2026. While rookie running back Jadarian Price showed promise in Week 1, the backfield is noticeably thinner with Zach Charbonnet sidelined and reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III tearing it up in Kansas City.
Seattle’s NFL-best defense, however, was as dominant as ever in Week 1. The Seahawks constrained the Patriots to only 10 points and 277 yards of total offense. Last year’s MVP runner-up Drake Maye got sacked three times and served up three interceptions, including a game-sealing pick in the end zone with 30 seconds left. That type of coverage can provide a reliable fail-safe if the offense isn’t producing.
Arizona Cardinals
The Mike LaFleur era is off to a flying start. Coming off a brutal three-win season, the Cardinals kicked off the 2026 campaign with an epic upset win over the Chargers in LA. The former Jets and Rams offensive coordinator has kept things the same under center with veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett, finding success in Week 1. Following an impressive 2025 campaign, the journeyman field general completed 73 percent of his passes for 277 yards and a touchdown.
Brissett is accompanied by a solid batch of pass-catchers, headlined by WR1 Michael Wilson and superstar tight end Trey McBride. The latter — who finished with the NFL’s second-most receptions in 2025 (126) — hauled in nine of his 13 targets for 95 yards and a score against the Chargers. Still, Arizona’s offensive ceiling is considerably lower against this stout Seahawks defense — especially on the ground. The Cardinals backfield duo of Tyler Allgeier and No. 3 pick Jeremiyah Love will now face a coverage that held Patriots running backs to just 2.5 yards per carry in Week 1.
The Cardinals will likely have to keep leaning on their defense after a surprisingly strong performance against the Chargers. They held the Justin Herbert-led offense to just 14 points and 268 yards of total offense, racking up three sacks and forcing two turnovers.
Seahawks vs. Cardinals Pick, Best Bet for NFL Week 2
Even without Sam Darnold, the Seahawks are far more dangerous than the Cardinals and should dictate both sides of Sunday’s matchup. That said, the QB’s absence — coupled with Seattle’s stalwart defense — likely keeps a tight lid on the matchup’s offensive outlook. The defending champions should remain undefeated following another low-scoring affair in Week 2.
