The Seattle Seahawks continued their mastery of the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2, though the game didn't start off easily. At halftime, the score was 7-7. The second half was quite different, though, as Seattle reeled off 24 unanswered points to win 31-7.
Along the way, 12s learned some things about their favorite team and were reminded of others. Not included in what follows is that the new offensive coordinator, Brian Fleury, is a quick study. He might not be perfect with game planning yet, but his in-game adjustments are excellent.
Oh, also, the defense is really good, but fans already knew that. In the second half, Arizona had just two first downs and 44 yards. Most of that came at the end of the game when the clock was running out.
Seattle Seahawks winners and losers from Week 2's destruction of the Arizona Cardinals
Winner: Running back Emanuel Wilson
Wilson was signed in free agency to help offset the loss of Zach Charbonnet. He didn't get much of a chance to play in Week 1, but once he entered the game against the Cardinals, he showed why he was worth whatever Seattle paid him.
Once Price was forced out of the game with a chest injury (initial testing was negative), Wilson got the majority of the carries and looked fast and strong. He finished with 21 rushes for 92 yards rushing. He should be Price's backup moving forward until Charbonnet returns. If Price's injury limits him, Wilson should be his replacement.
Loser: Running back George Holani
Holani was checked out for a concussion late in the game, but was fine, according to Mike Macdonald. He obviously isn't a "loser" because of missing a few plays. The truth is, he likely lost ground as RB2 to Wilson.
Jadarian Price is the obvious RB1, though even he didn't look as good as Wilson in Week 2. Holani, though, looked slower and less powerful than Wilson, and moving forward, Holani should be the running back getting the fewest reps.
Winner: Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba
So 2025 was no joke, as it turns out. JSN has begun this season with back-to-back 100-yard games and was especially lethal against the Cardinals, including an 82-yard touchdown catch-and-run in the first quarter. He finished with 155 receiving yards.
He doesn't have elite speed, and he isn't big, but he might be one of the ten best route-runners in the history of the NFL. That isn't going to change anytime soon.
Loser: Safety Rodney Thomas II
The fill-in starter had a pass interference call to keep a Cardinals drive alive near the end of the long first quarter. It was a routine play that Thomas made anything but, hitting the receiver in the back before the pass arrived that would have forced Arizona into a fourth down.
Thomas isn't a high-end starter, but he should be applauded for how well he has done overall with Ty Okada out. Thomas could have easily been floating in free agency after Seattle made final cuts and signed players to the practice squad. Keeping him around was a good idea even if he isn't always perfect.
Winner: Quarterback Drew Lock
Maybe surprising most of the rest of the NFL, Lock hasn't just been a placeholder for Sam Darnold while Darnold has been out with a glute injury. Instead, Lock has played like a starter, one he might very well be in 2027. Unfortunately, that won't happen in Seattle, as Darnold is still there, but possibly somewhere else, as Lock is a free agent next year.
Against Arizona, Lock was 19 of 26 passing for 235 yards and three touchdowns. He seemingly didn't throw a pass that could have been intercepted, but that was the case even when Lock tested the defense on deep intermediate routes.
Winner: Defensive lineman Leonard Williams
Here is a little-known fact: Leonard Williams is pretty good. OK, that's not really "little-known," but he still doesn't get the respect around the NFL that he should. Not that it matters, because the Seattle Seahawks obviously know what he is capable of.
Against the Cardinals, Williams had a sack and two tackles for loss, and was involved in six tackles. He was nearly unblockable for most of the game. The best part is he isn't going anywhere, as he signed an extension before the season started that will keep him playing home games in the Pacific Northwest through 2029.
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