The Seattle Seahawks delivered a dominant second-half performance to defeat the Arizona Cardinals 31–7 in their Week 2 matchup at State Farm Stadium on September 20, 2026. Seattle entered the contest with Drew Lock starting at quarterback after Sam Darnold suffered a glute injury in the season opener. Lock responded with 235 passing yards and three touchdown passes. All three touchdowns went to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who finished with nine receptions for 155 yards. Seattle improved to 2–0, while Arizona dropped to 1–1.
The game was tied 7–7 at halftime, but Seattle controlled the second half. The Seahawks scored 24 unanswered points after the break and finished with 381 total yards. Arizona managed only 151 total yards and struggled to create consistent offensive drives. Seattle’s defense also produced a crucial interception from Julian Love early in the third quarter. That takeaway helped the Seahawks extend their lead after Smith-Njigba’s second touchdown. The combination of explosive passing, strong rushing production, and defensive pressure shaped the final result.
Final Score and Match Details
Seattle finished the game with a 31–7 victory. The Seahawks scored seven points in the first quarter, added 10 points in the third quarter, and finished with 14 points in the fourth. Arizona answered Seattle’s opening touchdown with a second-quarter score from Trey McBride, but the Cardinals could not score again. The 24-point second-half difference highlighted how dramatically the game changed after halftime. Seattle’s offensive execution improved while its defense restricted Arizona’s passing and rushing production.
The statistical difference between the teams was significant. Seattle produced 381 total yards on 67 plays, while Arizona managed 151 yards on only 47 plays. The Seahawks also held the ball for 36:33 compared with Arizona’s 23:27. Seattle generated 162 rushing yards and 219 passing yards, while the Cardinals recorded only 70 rushing yards and 81 passing yards. Those figures show how Seattle controlled both possession and overall offensive efficiency.
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Teams | Seattle Seahawks vs Arizona Cardinals |
| Date | September 20, 2026 |
| Week | NFL Week 2 |
| Venue | State Farm Stadium |
| Location | Glendale, Arizona |
| Final Score | Seahawks 31, Cardinals 7 |
| Seattle Record | 2–0 |
| Arizona Record | 1–1 |
| Seattle Total Yards | 381 |
| Arizona Total Yards | 151 |
Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s Three-Touchdown Performance
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the standout player of the matchup. The Seattle receiver caught nine passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns. His first score came on an explosive 82-yard reception from Drew Lock during Seattle’s second offensive play. It was the longest touchdown reception of his career. He later added a seven-yard touchdown in the third quarter and a 12-yard score in the fourth. The three-touchdown performance marked a career high for Smith-Njigba.
Smith-Njigba’s production also continued his strong start to the 2026 season. Through two games, the Seahawks receiver had 17 receptions for 277 yards and four touchdowns, according to the team’s official recap. His ability to create separation gave Lock a reliable target throughout the matchup. The 82-yard touchdown immediately changed the field position and scoreboard pressure. His two second-half touchdowns then helped Seattle turn a tied game into a comfortable victory.
Read Jacksonville Jaguars vs Denver Broncos Match Player Stats Complete Week 2 Analysis
Drew Lock’s Key Performance
Drew Lock produced an efficient performance in his first start since the final week of the 2024 season. He completed 19 of 26 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. All three touchdown passes went to Smith-Njigba. Lock’s ability to make accurate throws downfield allowed Seattle to create explosive plays despite Arizona entering the game after a strong Week 1 victory over the Chargers.
Lock’s performance became particularly important because Seattle had to adjust its quarterback plan after Darnold’s injury. Rather than relying heavily on short throws, Lock successfully connected with Smith-Njigba on several scoring plays. His first touchdown covered 82 yards, while his other two scoring passes covered seven and 12 yards. The Seahawks therefore received both explosive-play production and efficient red-zone execution from their temporary starting quarterback.
Emanuel Wilson Leads Seattle’s Rushing Attack
Emanuel Wilson provided Seattle with a strong rushing contribution. He carried the ball 21 times for 92 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per attempt. His longest run covered 18 yards. Jadarian Price added 52 yards on 13 carries, including a 25-yard run that helped Seattle during its third-quarter scoring drive. George Holani also contributed 13 rushing yards on four attempts. Together, Seattle’s running game helped maintain possession and control the pace.
Seattle finished with 162 rushing yards, compared with only 70 for Arizona. The Seahawks also ran the ball 40 times, which helped them control the clock for more than 36 minutes. Wilson’s workload was especially important because it prevented the offense from becoming completely dependent on Lock’s passing. The balanced approach allowed Seattle to sustain drives in the second half and eventually wear down the Cardinals defense.
Arizona Cardinals Offensive Performances
Jacoby Brissett completed 17 of 28 passes for only 95 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. His touchdown pass went to Trey McBride for two yards early in the second quarter. Brissett struggled to generate explosive passing plays against Seattle’s defense. Arizona finished with only 81 passing yards, and its offense produced 151 total yards. The Cardinals also averaged just 3.2 yards per play, compared with Seattle’s 5.7.
Trey McBride was Arizona’s leading receiver. He caught eight passes for 41 yards and scored the team’s only touchdown. Rookie Jeremiyah Love led Arizona in rushing with 29 yards on nine carries. Bam Knight added 24 yards on two attempts, while Tyler Allgeier finished with 10 yards on five carries. Arizona’s running game could not consistently extend drives, while Seattle’s defensive front repeatedly limited opportunities before the Cardinals could move into scoring range.
Team Statistics Comparison
The final statistics show why Seattle controlled the matchup. The Seahawks generated 381 total yards, including 219 passing yards and 162 rushing yards. Arizona finished with 151 total yards, 81 passing yards, and 70 rushing yards. Seattle also ran 67 offensive plays compared with 47 by Arizona. The Seahawks possessed the ball for 36:33, giving their offense more opportunities to maintain pressure and allowing their defense to spend less time on the field.
| Team Statistic | Seahawks | Cardinals |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 381 | 151 |
| Passing Yards | 219 | 81 |
| Rushing Yards | 162 | 70 |
| Offensive Plays | 67 | 47 |
| Yards Per Play | 5.7 | 3.2 |
| Time of Possession | 36:33 | 23:27 |
| Rush Attempts | 40 | 17 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Penalties | 3 | 6 |
| Penalty Yards | 26 | 48 |
The Seahawks also showed better efficiency across the game. Their 5.7 yards per play nearly doubled Arizona’s 3.2-yard average. Seattle committed three penalties for 26 yards, while Arizona committed six penalties for 48 yards. Both teams recorded one turnover, but Seattle’s turnover came from a lost fumble while Arizona’s came through Brissett’s interception. Overall, Seattle created significantly more offensive production while limiting Arizona’s opportunities.
The Third Quarter Turning Point
The opening sequence of the second half became one of the game’s biggest turning points. Rashid Shaheed fumbled on the kickoff return, but Chazz Surratt recovered the ball and returned it 35 yards to Arizona’s 37-yard line. Seattle then benefited from a penalty and a 25-yard run by Jadarian Price. The drive ended when Lock found Smith-Njigba for a seven-yard touchdown, giving Seattle a 14–7 lead.
Arizona then faced another setback when Julian Love intercepted Brissett. Love made a difficult sliding catch just before the ball reached the ground. Seattle converted the field position into a 33-yard Jason Myers field goal and extended its lead to 17–7. The Seahawks never surrendered that advantage. The sequence combined a special-teams mistake, a defensive turnover, and efficient offensive execution. It helped transform a tied halftime score into Seattle’s control of the game.
Seattle’s Defensive Impact
Seattle’s defense played a major role in limiting Arizona to seven points. The Cardinals managed only 151 total yards, and Brissett finished with 95 passing yards. Julian Love’s interception provided a critical takeaway early in the second half. Seattle’s defensive front also recorded pressure on Brissett, with Leonard Williams among the defenders credited with a sack. The overall defensive performance prevented Arizona from establishing the offensive rhythm it showed during its Week 1 victory.
The defensive effort became even more valuable because Seattle’s offense did not completely dominate the first half. Arizona tied the game at 7–7 and Seattle failed to score on a fourth-down opportunity near the goal line late in the second quarter. After halftime, however, the defense helped create better field position and the offense converted those opportunities. Seattle ultimately scored the final 24 points while Arizona failed to score during the second half.
What the Result Means for Both Teams
Seattle moved to 2–0 and continued its strong run under head coach Mike Macdonald. The victory extended the Seahawks’ winning streak to 12 games, including postseason games, according to the team’s official recap. Seattle also recorded its 10th consecutive victory over Arizona. The Seahawks now have an important road matchup against Washington in Week 3. The biggest positive from this game was the combination of Lock’s efficient quarterback play, Smith-Njigba’s production, and another strong defensive showing.
Arizona fell to 1–1 after opening the season with a road victory over the Chargers. The Cardinals were unable to reproduce that offensive production against Seattle’s defense. Brissett threw for only 95 yards, while McBride remained the team’s primary receiving option. Arizona’s next game is against San Francisco, creating another NFC West matchup. The Cardinals will need to improve their offensive efficiency after producing only 151 total yards against Seattle.
Conclusion
The Seattle Seahawks vs Arizona Cardinals matchup became a showcase for Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Drew Lock. Smith-Njigba finished with nine receptions, 155 yards, and three touchdowns, while Lock completed 19 of 26 passes for 235 yards and three scores. Emanuel Wilson added 92 rushing yards, and Seattle’s defense limited Arizona to only 151 total yards. After the game was tied at halftime, Seattle scored 24 unanswered points to secure a 31–7 victory.
The final statistics underline Seattle’s control. The Seahawks recorded 381 total yards, 162 rushing yards, and 219 passing yards while holding Arizona to 70 rushing yards and 81 passing yards. Smith-Njigba supplied the biggest individual performance, while Julian Love’s interception helped change the momentum in the third quarter. Seattle improved to 2–0, and Arizona moved to 1–1. The game also demonstrated how quickly a balanced offensive and defensive performance can turn a close halftime contest into a decisive final result.
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