The Seattle Seahawks travel to division rival Arizona on Thursday night, with both teams sitting at 2-1 and seeking to stay close to undefeated San Francisco in the NFC West in the opening game of Week 4.
Both teams’ lone loss this season came to the 49ers in games that went down to the wire, so this shapes up as a critical early-season battle to avoid suffering another divisional loss.
ODDS AND TRENDS
The Seahawks, who have won the last seven meetings against the Crdinals, are a consensus 1.5-point favorite and enter with a seven-game winning road streak. That includes a 30-18 win in Glendale, Ariz., last December in a game in which Cardinals quarterback Kyle Murray threw a pair of interceptions against a pair of touchdowns and was also sacked twice.
BetRivers reported that 81 percent of the spread-line money wagered at the book has backed Seattle, while the Seahawks’ -125 moneyline has drawn 90 percent of the money and 79 percent of the total bets.
While the Cardinals have scored the first touchdown in each of their past eight home games, the Seahawks have won the first half in each of the past seven meetings overall and have covered the spread in six of those games.
PROP PICKS
–Over 43.5 Total Points (-110 at BetRivers): Each of Arizona’s past four home games has gone over the total points line. The season-ending injury suffered by Cardinals running back James Conner has contributed to the relatively low total points line, but Trey Benson should prove to be a productive replacement. Seattle’s offensive line remains a major question mark, although quarterback Sam Darnold does have a wealth of talented wide receivers and tight ends.
–Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba 60+ Receiving Yards (-281 at DraftKings): JSN has scored a touchdown in three of the past four meetings. He also averaged 79.5 receiving yards in last year’s meetings and is clearly Darnold’s No. 1 target, compiling 22 catches for 323 yards through the first three games this season.
MEET MR. BENSON
The Cardinals will have to make do without Conner, their stalwart running back, who went on injured reserve with a foot injury suffered in a 16-15 loss to host San Francisco on Sunday.
“One of your leaders, a captain. You hate that it happened,” said Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon. “I feel terrible, but I know he’ll take the right attitude and bounce back.
“Picking up that slack, both the player and the person, we’re all going to have to collectively do it, truthfully. But that’s a bummer just like all of our guys who’ve gotten hurt. But just knowing what type of player and person he is it’s tough to replace, but we have to. So that’s what we’ll do.”
The Cardinals will have to rely on Benson, a second-year back who has a team-high 125 yards on 21 carries this season.
Conner, a Pro Bowl selection in 2018 and 2021, rushed for more than 3,700 yards and 38 touchdowns over the past four-plus seasons.
“JC is everything, means everything,” Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray said after Sunday’s loss. “I really don’t want to talk about it right now.”
Even without Conner, the Cardinals were within a last-second field goal of remaining undefeated.
They’ll have to rely on a defense that ranks tied for fifth in the league in allowing 17 points per game.
The Seahawks have won two straight after a season-opening loss to San Francisco. That includes Sunday’s 44-13 victory against visiting New Orleans.
INJURY REPORT
Seattle fullback Robbie Ouzts and offensive tackle Josh Jones suffered ankle injuries against the Saints. Ouzts was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday and Jones was ruled out for Thursday’s game. Safety Nick Emmanwori (ankle), who missed the last two games, is doubtful. Running back Zach Charbonnet (foot), who sat out last Sunday’s game, is questionable but is reportedly expected to play. Guard Anthony Bradford (back) and linebacker Boye Mafe (toe) are questionable.
Cornerback Devon Witherspoon (knee) and safety Julian Love (hamstring), who missed the game against New Orleans, don’t have game status designations so the former Pro Bowl players are good to play.
For the Cardinals, wide receiver Zay Jones (concussion) has been ruled out and cornerback Will Johnson (groin) is doubtful. Starting left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) is questionable but is reportedly expected to play. Left guard Evan Brown (ankle), tackle Kelvin Beachum (knee/rest), linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither (elbow), cornerback Darren Hall (ankle) and guard Will Hernandez (knee) are questionable.
THEY SAID IT
–“I know that he’s continuing to get better. And I think that’s the biggest key as a young player is having that want to get better and understand the offense even that much more.” –Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold on rookie wide receiver Tory Horton, who has three touchdowns through his first three games.
–“I told the coaches, the sky’s not falling, there’s no panic in my game,” Gannon said. “I told the team that and I haven’t lost confidence. We lost a game. The things over the first three weeks that we haven’t done a good enough job — we’ve got time to correct it. But we’ve got to correct it.” –Gannon on the Cardinals suffering their first loss in Week 3.
PREDICTION
We’re not as concerned about the Conner injury as we are about the Seahawks’ ability to keep Murray hemmed in the pocket. One of the league’s emerging elite defenses will generate a few turnovers against Murray, who struggles with accuracy when forced to throw from the pocket. –Seahawks 26, Cardinals 20
