Seahawks Defense Takes Control After Cardinals' Early Scoring Drive

AJ Barner scored twice as the Seattle Seahawks secured a 17-3 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

The Seahawks’ defense dominated the game after allowing a single long scoring drive to open the contest, according to a report from Seahawks.com.

Arizona’s opening possession began at their own 1-yard line following a 57-yard punt by Michael Dickson that stopped just short of the goal line. Despite the poor field position, Gardner Minshew led the Cardinals’ offense out of the hole to take an early lead.

That drive included a controversial third-down catch on the sideline that extended the possession. Mike Macdonald challenged the ruling, but the officials’ original decision stood.

Seattle’s defense eventually forced a stop, holding Arizona to a field goal. Following that sequence, the “Dark Side” defense took control of the game’s tempo.

The Cardinals’ offensive production plummeted after their initial success. While Arizona gained 74 yards on their first drive, they managed only 124 yards for the remainder of the game.

Seahawks Defense Takes Control After Cardinals' Early Scoring Drive

A breakdown of the Cardinals’ offensive output illustrates the defensive pressure applied by Seattle:

Metric	Value
Total offensive yards	198
Total yards after opening drive	124
Total yards in last two matchups vs. SEA	349

The Seahawks’ defensive front was particularly effective, recording three sacks. Byron Murphy II, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Dante Fowler Jr. all contributed to the sack tally.

Fowler also recorded his first sack as a Seahawk during a one-play drive at the end of the half. The defense tallied eight tackles for loss, led by three from Derick Hall.

DeMarcus Lawrence and Byron Murphy II each recorded two tackles for loss. Devon Witherspoon also contributed one tackle for loss, a stat credited to Murphy.

Wyman's Reaction: #Seahawks 17-3 over Arizona Cardinals in Week 9️⃣ | #SeattleSports

The game featured several moments where officiating decisions impacted the momentum. In the second quarter, Ernest Jones IV hit Trey McBride, appearing to force a fumble that Seattle recovered.

After an official review, the ruling was changed because McBride’s forward progress was deemed stopped. This specific type of ruling is not subject to review under current officiating protocols.

In the fourth quarter, a Josh Jobe interception was nullified by a pass interference penalty against the cornerback. Replay footage suggested that McBride may have simply lost his footing rather than being fouled.

Seattle seahawks defensive end demarcus lawrence scores a touchdown during an nfl football game against the arizona cardinals

Despite these officiating hurdles, the Seahawks’ defense executed a critical goal-line stand in the fourth quarter. On a fourth-and-goal attempt, Nick Emmanwori broke up a pass intended for McBride to end the drive.

Seattle's defense has established a new pattern in this divisional matchup. The Cardinals’ 10 total points scored across their two 2026 meetings with the Seahawks represents a historic low.

NFL Research noted that this scoring total is tied for the fewest points any team has scored in a season series against a division opponent in the last five seasons.

The Seahawks’ ability to limit Arizona to just two scores—a touchdown in their previous meeting and a field goal on Sunday—highlights a shift in the division’s defensive landscape.