Observations from Seahawks’ emphatic rout of Cardinals
Here's what stood out as the Seattle Seahawks unleashed another first-half onslaught and cruised to a 44-22 blowout win over the Arizona Cardinals.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 09: Jacoby Brissett #7 of the Arizona Cardinals is sacked by Nick Emmanwori #3 of the Seattle Seahawks and DeMarcus Lawrence #0 of the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at Lumen Field on November 09, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE – How’s that for an encore?
The Seattle Seahawks followed up last week’s primetime rout of the Washington Commanders with another first-half onslaught, as they steamrolled to a 44-22 shellacking of the NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon at Lumen Field.
Seattle Seahawks win: Instant Reaction | Stacy Rost | Recap | Box Score
The Seahawks raced to a 35-0 lead by the midway point of the second quarter and matched a franchise record with 38 first-half points en route to another massive statement that’s sure to place the rest of the NFL on notice.
With the victory, Seattle improved to 7-2 and remained tied atop the NFC West with the Los Angeles Rams. The Seahawks and Rams meet for the first of their two divisional showdowns next week in Los Angeles.
Here’s what stood out from Seattle’s dismantling of the Cardinals.
Another fast start
The Seahawks are turning these first-half beatdowns into a common occurrence.
In Week 3, the Seahawks raced to a 38-6 halftime lead in a rout of the New Orleans Saints. Last week, they built a 31-7 halftime lead in a primetime blowout of the Commanders. And on Sunday, they stormed to a 38-7 halftime lead over the Cardinals.
DEMARCUS LAWRENCE WITH HIS 2ND SCOOP-N-SCORE!
AZvsSEA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/rdrh4DKds9
— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025
With those three performances, Seattle is now responsible for three of the four highest-scoring first halves in the NFL this season, according to Pro Football Focus. The only other team to score at least 31 points in the first half of a game this year is the Minnesota Vikings, who scored 34 first-half points against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Pass rush wreaks havoc again
Seattle’s stellar pass rush had yet another dominant performance.
It was highlighted by two nearly identical first-half defensive touchdowns. In both cases, second-year linebacker Tyrice Knight burst through Arizona’s offensive line on a blitz and knocked the ball free from backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett. And in both cases, veteran defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence scooped up the loose ball and ran it back for a score.
DEMARCUS LAWRENCE SCOOP-N-SCORE!
AZvsSEA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/u8zHFcadls
— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025
Knight’s two strip-sack fumbles led a five-sack first half for Seattle. Defensive lineman Leonard Williams and edge rusher Boye Mafe each added one sack apiece, while Lawrence and rookie safety Nick Emmanwori each chipped in a half-sack. Seattle recorded a 42.3% pressure rate in the first half, according to PFF, and limited Brissett to just 11-of-22 passing over the first 30 minutes.
JSN maintains historic pace
NFL receiving leader Jaxon Smith-Njigba continued his torrid season with another big game. The 2023 first-round pick hauled in five receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown, including four catches for 82 yards and a TD in the first quarter.
Smith-Njigba increased his season total to 1,041 receiving yards, which is the fifth-most through the first nine games of a season by any player since the 1970 NFL merger, according to Stathead. He also became just the third player in the Super Bowl era with at least 75 receiving yards in each of his first nine games of a season.
JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA 43-YARD TD!
AZvsSEA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/VVdagHvINa
— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025
Smith-Njigba’s biggest play on Sunday was a 43-yard touchdown reception on Seattle’s opening drive, which came on a high-arcing, play-action rollout pass from Sam Darnold. It was the sixth time this season that Darnold and Smith-Njigba have connected for a completion of at least 40 yards.
Smith-Njigba also had back-to-back receptions of 17 yards and 14 yards on Seattle’s ensuing touchdown drive later in the first quarter.
Less-heralded defenders lay the boom
The Seahawks dealt a slew of punishing hits on Sunday. And the biggest ones came from some of their less-heralded players.
One week after his first career interception, safety Ty Okada delivered a bone-rattling hit over the middle on tight end Elijah Higgins that resulted in a third-down pass breakup. Okada, who has been filling in for the injured Julian Love, also brought down running back Zonovan Knight for a fourth-and-goal stop at the 1-yard line.
The @Seahawks defense say NO on 4th down
AZvsSEA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/0hZnYlzSKn
— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025
Linebacker Drake Thomas added two tackles for loss, including a third-and-1 run stop where he shot through and thumped Knight to the ground for a 2-yard loss. And Knight, filling in for the injured Ernest Jones IV, made the game’s two defining plays with his pair of strip-sack fumbles that Lawrence ran back for scores.
Drake Thomas layin’ the BOOM
AZvsSEA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/Q8h2zOpGPx
— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025
Extra points
• Talented rookie safety Nick Emmanwori continued to showcase his unique skill set, recording four pass breakups and a half-sack in another impressive performance. The ultra-athletic 6-foot-3 defensive back now has six pass breakups, four tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks in six games this season.
• Seattle’s sputtering rushing attack had its best game of the year, churning out a season-high 198 yards and 4.3 yards per carry. Zach Charbonnet led the way with 83 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Kenneth Walker III added 67 yards on 14 carries. George Holani chipped in 31 yards and a TD on seven carries. And speedy wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, who was acquired at the trade deadline this past week, had 20 yards on two carries in his Seahawks debut.
More on the Seattle Seahawks
• Deja vu: Seattle Seahawks score 2 nearly identical defensive TDs
• Watch: Seattle Seahawks put Cardinals in early hole with 2 quick TDs
• Brock: An underrated Seattle Seahawks pivot ‘paying big dividends’
Related
Okada out, 2 questionable for Seahawks vs Cardinals
NFL defenses are lagging behind offenses early
A look at the past 5 backup QBs to start for the Seahawks
Stacy Rost: 3 numbers that matter for Seahawks vs Cardinals
Seahawks-Cardinals Info: TV, radio, uniforms and more
What Big Ray liked about Seahawks’ O-line in debut
Comments
1 Comments
No observation on what happened to the OL when the center was injured in the 3rd quarter? This was key for the Hawks - especially when they face a stout front 7 for the Rams next week.