Seattle Seahawks opponent preview Arizona (2022 – part 1)
This week the Seattle Seahawks host Arizona for Game 6 of the 2022 season. Both teams are in a three-way tie for second place in the NFC West.
Before the season started, few people thought these two teams would have the same record and tied for second place in the division. However, this is the exact situation the Seattle Seahawks find themselves in for Game 6. This week’s opponent is not as dangerous as many might have thought coming into the season.
The Seattle Seahawks have a good opportunity to win this game and get back to .500. Hopefully, this week, Seattle can score more points and not rely on its defense as much to make stops.
This game features the best opposing quarterback the Seahawks have faced all season, Kyler Murray. Additionally, these are the two worst defenses in the NFC West. So get the popcorn ready for some offensive fireworks.
So what else can 12s expect from this game?
The Seahawks’ defense might look good
Arizona’s offense ranks 17th in rushing yards and 16th in passing yards. They rank 18th in the NFL, averaging 21 points per game. And the Cards rank 25th, converting 36.1% on third down conversions.
All this is to say that if the Seattle Seahawks defense looks improved this week, it might have a little more to do with the opponent not being that good.
Two areas that the Seattle Seahawks’ defense can show improvement are on fourth down and in the red zone. Over the past few seasons, they’ve operated more as a bend, don’t break type. Arizona ranks eighth in fourth down conversions at 64.7% and 19th in red zone trips that end in a touchdown at 56.3%.
So, if the Seattle Seahawks can get off the field on third down and not allow Arizona even to consider going for it on fourth, they’ll have a better chance of winning. The same holds true for forcing Arizona into field goal attempts instead of scoring touchdowns.
Losing Al Woods in the second half of Sunday's game was a huge blow for #Seahawks defense.
Watch him swim over two blockers, then make Taysom Hill into a crash test dummy crashing into the Great Wall of #99. pic.twitter.com/ifOOlwQsGe
— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) October 11, 2022
A new test this week
This Seattle Seahawks offense ranks in the Top 10 of the NFL. Who would have thought that when RW3 went to Denver? This week the offensive line will have their communication tested.
Arizona blitzes on 41.7% of their plays, which ranks second in the NFL. Expect to see Arizona utilize some exotic-looking blitzes to confuse the rookie tackles. Along with featuring some twists and stunts.
Even though Arizona blitzes at such a high rate, they aren’t very successful.
- 9th in hurries at 10.2%
- 13th in QB knockdowns at 10.3%
- 16th in pressures at 23%
- 32nd in sacks with 6
Let Geno cook
Geno Smith should be able to carve up the Cardinals’ secondary. Despite having Budda Baker and Byron Murphy in the defensive backfield, Arizona allows a 69.1% completion rate while giving up an average of 248.2 passing yards. The Seattle Seahawks quarterback should have no problem continuing with his career season.
And he will have to, as Kenneth Walker III and DeeJay Dallas might be in store for a rough day. Arizona has the league’s fifth toughest run defense, allowing 487 rushing yards to date, with an average of 4.3 yards per carry and 97.4 yards per game.
Despite all the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive success, there are still disbelievers. They are 2.5-point underdogs, and the over/under is 50.5 points.
This is another coin-flip game, and I’m flying with Smith and the Seattle Seahawks. This unexpected season rolls along with another win, and Seattle stays near the top of the NFC West.