The Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks clash for the second time this season on Sunday. This time it is in Seattle. Drew Lock will start at quarterback for Seattle, as Sam Darnold is dealing with quad and rib injuries. Lock beat the Cardinals 31-7 when he started in Week 2, throwing three touchdown passes.
For the Cardinals, this time, Gardner Minshew will make the start at quarterback after he led a comeback against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Seahawks are 4-4 with three losses to some of the toughest teams in the NFL — the Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears.
As we prepare to watch this matchup, Seahawks Wire lead writer Kole Musgrove gives us some insight to the team he covers, and he gives us his game predictions. He takes us “behind enemy lines”.
Seahawks injuries and impact
The Cardinals already saw a Seahawks team without Sam Darnold, but how do things look differently not only without Darnold, but without left tackle Charles Cross, guard Quenton Nelson, receiver Rashid Shaheed and defensive lineman Leonard Williams?
I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say the Seahawks might have one of their biggest tests of the season. The NFL is a “next man up” caliber league, so Seattle’s depth and coaching is going to come on full display on Sunday. I suspect Seattle’s gameplan will continue to be conservative, keeping Drew Lock away from difficult situations like the last time he started.
Since Week 2
What has changed for the Seahawks since they played the Cardinals in Week 2?
What has changed has been inconsistent quarterback play. Drew Lock exited and in came Sam Darnold again, as expected. Unfortunately, he has not been the Sam Darnold we saw last year or with the Vikings. In fairness, it’s also not the same caliber of coaching, either. Still, Darnold has been outperformed by Drew Lock considerably this year. Sadly for the Cardinals, y’all will be getting the seemingly “better” QB again… at least as far as this year goes.
The Cardinals’ QB change
How does the Cardinals’ move from Jacoby Brissett to Gardner Minshew look from the perspective of the Seahawks and their fans?
We are a little nervous, not going to lie. This is twice now the Seahawks will have to face a backup quarterback in the first week of a start, and we already lost to Marcus Mariota. If there was ever a time for the Cardinals to upset Seattle, this would be it! Arizona’s offense looked a lot more explosive with him slinging it, and plenty of Seahawks fans are also Wazzu fans so they are well aware of what Minshew Mania can do.
Players to watch
Who are the guys to watch for Seattle with so many players down with injuries?
I would say this is as good a time as any for Tory Horton to make a name for himself. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but with Lock coming in perhaps the backups will have better connection with one another. Defensively, watch out for Rylie Mills at defensive tackle who will no doubt be filling in for Leonard Williams.
Prediction
Who wins this time, and how does it happen?
I’m still picking the Seahawks. Their season feels on the verge of spiraling out of control and I am picking them in a desperation spot. Seattle owns Arizona, but games between these teams are always more competitive at Lumen Field for some reason. The three of the last four games in Seattle have been decided by scores of 16-6, 20-10 and 19-9. So I’m taking the Hawks 18-8.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Cardinals-Seahawks Week 9 opponent preview, predictions
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