The Seattle Seahawks were struggling just a week ago, coming off a bye and having lost five of their last six games.
This included a tough overtime loss at home to the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 3. It seemed like things were looking bad for the Seahawks (5-5), who were in last place in the division.
But after a big win against the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle now has new hope. The victory ended a six-game losing streak to their rivals that dated back to 2021. Now, the Seahawks will play the first-place Arizona Cardinals (6-4) on Sunday for a chance to share the NFC West lead.
Things can change quickly in the NFL.
“We’ve earned the opportunity to be fighting for the lead in the division going into the home stretch,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “So that’s the way we’re treating it. It’s very much like a playoff mindset for us at this point.”
The win over the 49ers, which was sealed by a 13-yard touchdown run from quarterback Geno Smith with just 18 seconds left, has lifted the Seahawks’ spirits, putting them in a better mental state than they’ve been in over the last six weeks. They’re hoping this win will lead to something bigger.
“It can just spark something that you’ve been looking for this whole year,” wide receiver DK Metcalf said. “I know we started off very hot with the first three games, but, you know, when adversity hit, it’s all about how you respond.
I think we responded the right way, and it’s going to carry us throughout the rest of the season.”
While the Seahawks are feeling good, the Arizona Cardinals have plenty of reasons to be optimistic too. After a 2-4 start, Arizona has won four straight games and is now in first place in the NFC West.
The Cardinals’ defense has improved under veteran safety Budda Baker, and their running game is in the top five, led by running back James Conner, who has rushed for 697 yards, and quarterback Kyler Murray, who is finding his rhythm in his sixth NFL season.
Murray has passed for 2,058 yards and 12 touchdowns and has rushed for 371 yards and four touchdowns. Second-year head coach Jonathan Gannon has praised Murray’s improved decision-making, as Murray has thrown only three interceptions in 10 games.
“There’s times that he probably wants to try to thread it a little bit, but understands when to pick and choose his spots,” Gannon said. “I think he’s done a phenomenal job with that and there are a lot of times throughout the game where you could say we like to put it in the quarterback’s hands, and you trust him to make the right decision for that point in the game.”
