The Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks are set to face one another in their first NFC West game of the season. Seattle is 2-1 with two very close wins and a disappointing home loss last week to the New Orleans Saints without Drew Brees.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, are 0-2-1 and coming off a big loss to the Carolina Panthers.
To get some insight about the Cardinals’ next opponent, Liz Mathews — the managing editor of sister site Seahawks Wire — participated in a Q&A with me. My answers to her questions are here.
Read on to get my questions and her answers:
How good has Russell Wilson been through the first three games of the season? Has he ever played better than he is now?
Wilson is doing more than just earning the big bucks of his contract extension; he is carrying the Seahawks’ offense for the most part. With RBs Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny struggling to put up huge numbers in the running game, Wilson has found success with No. 1 receiver Tyler Lockett, who is finally starting to see double-digit targets. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has himself the real deal in Wilson.
Defensively, Seattle hasn’t gotten anything from Jadeveon Clowney and Ziggy Ansah. They don’t have Jarran Reed. There have been injuries in the secondary. How will Arizona’s passing offense fare against a defense that statistically is still good but is not without some issues?
Don’t forget defensive end L.J. Collier, Seattle’s first-round draft pick [in 2019], who will be lucky to find himself active on Sunday. Ansah sat out Thursday’s practice with a back injury, so he’ll likely be a game-day decision in the desert. The Seahawks need Clowney to step up in Arizona and provide the veteran presence the line is looking for.
Arizona is down its top corners. How will Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and others match up?
Look for Lockett and Metcalf — as well as tight end Will Dissly — to get most of Wilson’s looks Week 4. With Doug Baldwin no longer on the roster, these two have stepped up big time in Seattle’s passing game. Exploiting any missing Arizona starters might just be the key to the Seahawks finding themselves in the end zone.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
