The Seahawks just needed Drew Lock to be efficient, but he was sensational

Drew Lock knew what his job would be Sunday.

“The biggest thing for us going into that game is taking care of the football,” the Seattle Seahawks quarterback told reporters Thursday.

Seahawks win | Instant Reaction | Stats

Despite the use of plural, the messaging from critics in the week leading up to Seattle’s game against Arizona was centered around Lock himself as he took over the offense with starter Sam Darnold nursing a glute injury.

The veteran QB had a stellar outing in place of Geno Smith in 2024, but throughout his career had also been a gunslinger with a knack for big-time throws and interceptions that were just as costly (he tied for the lead league in interception with 15 in 2020). It’s not a knock on Lock — protecting the football would be, and is, the biggest directive for any backup quarterback filling in for an injured starter.

So, to get so much more than that from Lock was a thrilling cherry on top of the Seahawks’ 31-7 Week 2 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Reigning Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba had three touchdowns — for the first time in his career, having caught two touchdowns three times previously — but credit Lock for making more than a few killer shots. His best plays weren’t even the touchdowns themselves. There was a 15-yard dart to Smith-Njigba on second-and-7, and a 7-yard pass earlier on third down to keep the chains moving, and a 23-yard beauty to Rashid Shaheed that ended up going nowhere after Arizona recovered a fumble from rookie running back Jadarian Price.

The Seahawks’ defense is good enough for Lock to have just been cautious and efficient; instead, he was sensational.

“He’s a special talent and sees the field really well and can make any throw,” Smith-Njigba said of Lock after the game. “I’m super happy the way he just came in and carried himself and this team. It shows time and time again how good he is.”

Brock: The Seahawks snatched the Cardinals’ souls

Speaking of the defense, credit coach Mike Macdonald and Seattle for carrying over the 2025 production on that side of the ball. The Seahawks, Patriots, Texans and Broncos were the four best defenses in limiting opponent scoring last season. Of those four teams, Seattle’s defense has had the most convincing start to 2026.

The Broncos missed tackles in a sluggish Monday night loss to the Chiefs. The Texans have allowed 20 or more points in back-to-back weeks. The Patriots limited Seattle to 17 points but didn’t force a turnover while allowing a 100-yard game from Smith-Njigba. And the Chiefs are still waiting for their own Week 2 showdown Sunday night.

Meanwhile, Julian Love recorded Seattle’s fourth interception of the season on Sunday, a total that leads the NFL.

In fact, another defense that’s been perhaps just as stout as Seattle’s… has been the division rival San Francisco 49ers. After struggling last year short several starters, the 49ers bounced back by limiting the Rams to a single touchdown in Week 1 and the Dolphins to a pair of field goals in Week 2. The two best defenses (so far) may be in the NFC West after all, though one half of that equation wasn’t a popular pick.

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