Seahawks Favored Against Cardinals Despite Key Injury

The Seattle Seahawks are set to face the Arizona Cardinals, entering the game on a franchise-record 11-game winning streak that dates back to their Super Bowl championship run last season. Despite the absence of quarterback Sam Darnold, the Seahawks are favored by 3.5 points. Oddsmakers initially set the spread at 10 points in favor of Seattle in July, but increased respect for Arizona followed their Week 1 upset victory over the Chargers.

Arizona began its post-Kyler Murray era with a significant upset, defeating the Chargers as 9.5-point underdogs. The Cardinals’ defense held Justin Herbert and the Chargers to just 14 points in a wire-to-wire win. This performance positions them as a notable underdog once again, but Seattle remains a formidable opponent.

For the Seahawks, Drew Lock will start at quarterback. The early exit of Darnold in Week 1 allowed Lock to gain live in-game repetitions. He will be targeting receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, whose big-play ability has previously troubled the Cardinals.

Seattle's defense also showed strength in Week 1, forcing three turnovers and controlling field position. The unit, under head coach Mike Macdonald, ranks fifth overall in DVOA according to FTN. Macdonald has a perfect 4-0 record as head coach against the Cardinals, and Seattle has won nine consecutive matchups against Arizona.

Despite the shift in the betting line towards the home underdog due to Darnold's injury, the prediction favors Seattle to continue its winning streak. An additional pick is for the total score to remain under 41 points. The recommended betting play is a Same Game Parlay including the Seahawks moneyline (-205) and the under 41 points (-110).