Seahawks vs Cardinals NFL Pick: 2-1 NFC West Rivals Meet in the Desert (Sep 25)

• For NFL Week 4 Seahawks-Cardinals, two 2-1 NFC West teams clash in the Arizona desert
• The Seahawks blew out the Saints in Week 3, 44-13
• The Cardinals lost a tight battle to the 49ers 16-15 on a last-second field goal
• Arizona lost running back James Conner for the season to a foot injury
• Oddsmakers see the game going either way
• Seattle won both matchups between the teams in 2024

Darnold and the Seahawks Have Been a Study in Efficiency

When a team wins 44-13, you’d expect there to be gaudier offensive numbers than what the Seahawks and Sam Darnold put up against the Saints. Instead, Darnold and the offense were efficient and effective. He only threw the ball 18 times, but completed 14 of those passes for 218 yards and 2 TDs. His passer rating was a gaudy 154.2. The game was such a massacre that Drew Lock took over at QB for the entire fourth quarter. Seattle probably could have scored 60 if they wanted.

Granted, it’s the Saints, who are awful. But Darnold and Seattle’s attack was flawless apart from a George Holani fumble. They scored a special teams TD on a Tory Horton 95-yard punt return.

Coach Mike Macdonald and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak have kept Darnold within a tight, risk-averse offense so far. For the Cardinals, whose defense is fourth in the league against the run, Darnold will need to push the ball downfield.

Zack Charbonnet did not play against the Saints with a foot injury. He is expected to play against the Cardinals.

Cardinals Need To Get By Without Conner

In the Cardinals’ 16-15 loss to the 49ers, running back James Conner was lost for the season with a foot injury. Conner was imperative to Jonathan Gannon’s offense as a runner and pass catcher out of the backfield. This brings Trey Benson to the forefront. He ran for 42 yards on 10 carries and has averaged 6 yards per carry (albeit in 21 rushes) this season.

Against the 49ers, the teams grappled throughout. Kyler Murray was 22 for 35 for 1 TD. He ran for 37 yards on 6 carries.

The inability to get the ball to Marvin Harrison Jr. is becoming a legitimate problem. Every star receiver needs to deal with a heavy defensive focus, but the greats figure it out. Randy Moss managed to get open. Marvin Harrison Sr. managed to get open. Their QBs got them the ball. If the Cardinals are going to get anywhere, they must deploy this weapon.

Arizona’s defense controlled Christian McCaffrey on the ground, but he caught 10 balls for 88 yards. Cardinals’ linebacker Mack Wilson was in on 12 tackles against the ‘Niners.

Kicker Chad Ryland’s missed 57-yard field goal in the first quarter cost them.

Seahawks vs Cardinals Pick

Week 4 Seahawks-Cardinals is an evenly matched NFC West tilt. The Seahawks’ receiving corps is still in question, and given Arizona’s ability to handle the run on defense, Darnold will need to go vertical to win this game.

It seems repetitive, but every week, the Cardinals need to get the ball to Harrison, but they rarely do. Without Conner, it becomes even more important. They can’t rely solely on Trey McBride and Murray’s creativity to win.

Darnold cannot turn the ball over.

Expect another close game with Seattle winning late.