The Seattle Seahawks beat the Arizona Cardinals 17-3 on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at Lumen Field in Seattle, holding Arizona scoreless for nearly 55 minutes after an early field goal. The Seahawks Cardinals 17-3 result moved Seattle to 5-4 in NFL Week 9, while the Cardinals fell to 3-6.

Arizona struck first and then never scored again. Chad Ryland kicked a 28-yard field goal just over five minutes in to put the Cardinals ahead 3-0, but Seattle answered with 17 unanswered points, including 14 in the second quarter. It kept the champions above .500 at the season's midpoint.

Key Points

• Arizona led 3-0 on Chad Ryland's 28-yard field goal, then went scoreless for nearly 55 minutes.
• Tight end AJ Barner scored both Seattle touchdowns in the second quarter: a 1-yard direct-snap run and a 7-yard catch from Drew Lock.
• Lock, starting for the injured Sam Darnold, completed 19 of 28 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown, with no turnovers.
• Seattle outgained Arizona 295 yards to 198, held the Cardinals to 50 rushing yards and kept them out of the red zone.
• The Seahawks improved to 5-4, while the Cardinals fell to 3-6 and host the Los Angeles Rams on November 15.

What Happened

The Cardinals drove on their first possession and Ryland converted from 28 yards at the 9:23 mark of the first quarter for a 3-0 lead. It lasted about five minutes of game time, and then the afternoon belonged to Seattle's defence.

Seattle's answer came early in the second quarter. With 14:23 left in the half, Barner took a direct snap and scored from a yard out, and Jason Myers added the extra point to make it 7-3. The Seahawks drove again before half-time, and Lock found Barner over the middle for a 7-yard touchdown with just 15 seconds left. Myers' extra point sent Seattle into the break ahead 14-3.

Myers capped the scoring with a 45-yard field goal at the 3:50 mark of the third quarter, making it 17-3, and the fourth quarter passed without another point. Lock finished 19 of 28 for 175 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions. Zach Charbonnet ran for 77 yards on 16 carries. For Arizona, Minshew completed 21 of 30 passes for 166 yards, but the Cardinals could never finish a drive. Wilson had six catches for 60 yards and McBride seven for 54, yet Arizona managed only 13 first downs.

Background/Context

Seattle arrived short-handed at quarterback. Starter Sam Darnold was ruled out with a quad injury from the 34-17 Monday night loss to Chicago, and coach Mike Macdonald revealed Darnold played that game with a cracked rib from the second play. Lock stepped in again despite a right-elbow injury, with Jalen Milroe as backup. Arizona had its own upheaval: Jacoby Brissett, starter for the first eight games, was traded to the Baltimore Ravens, leaving Minshew to start, and rookies Jeremiyah Love and Kendrick Bourne went on injured reserve after the win in Dallas. Arizona had stunned the Cowboys 33-30 in overtime the previous Sunday, but arrived in Seattle at 3-5 needing a second straight road win.

Seahawks Cardinals 17-3: Seattle's Defence Takes Over

Arizona gained 198 total yards, held to 3.9 yards per play, with only 50 rushing yards all afternoon. Seattle's front controlled the line of scrimmage, sacking Minshew three times — Byron Murphy II, DeMarcus Lawrence and Dante Fowler Jr. one each.

Safety Julian Love led Seattle with eight tackles, Ernest Jones IV added seven and a pass defensed, and Devon Witherspoon seven. Wilson and McBride combined for 13 catches, but nothing went over the top. Seattle's offence was far from spectacular, but it did not need to be: the Seahawks converted half their third downs, won time of possession 31.6 to 28.4, and committed no turnovers. Seattle went 100 percent in the red zone; Arizona never got there.

Reactions/Quotes

No post-game quotes from either head coach or the starting quarterbacks had been published in the reports checked when this article was written, so the reaction has so far been written on the field and in the standings. What the game did say was that Seattle can win without its starting quarterback when its defence plays like this, and that Lock protected the ball and let the running game and defence do the work. Seattle closed as an 8.5-point favourite and covered; the combined 20 points fell well under the 39.5 total.

Why It Matters

For Seattle, the win stops the slide before it starts. The Seahawks had lost on Monday night in Chicago and were playing without their starting quarterback, and a home defeat to a 3-5 division rival would have dropped them to 4-5. Instead they are 5-4, above .500, with a defence that can carry a game on its own.

For Arizona, the defeat confirms how thin the margin has become. The Cardinals have changed quarterbacks, lost their top rookie running back and a starting receiver to injury, and now must beat the Rams at home just to stay within reach. An offence that gains 198 yards and scores three points will not win many games. The result also matters for the NFC West: every division game carries double weight past the midpoint, and Seattle's win keeps it in the hunt while pushing Arizona further down.

What Happens Next

Seattle now waits on Darnold, who is week to week with the quad injury and the cracked rib and has not been placed on injured reserve. The team has said he could return as soon as Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders, before Seattle's Week 11 bye, and the win over Arizona means there is no need to rush him back. Lock is a workable bridge, and the defence can hold the line.

Arizona turns to a home game against the Los Angeles Rams on November 15, a fixture that now carries real urgency at 3-6. Minshew will start again, and the Cardinals will need far more from their running game and red-zone offence than they showed in Seattle. The trade deadline falls on Tuesday, November 10. Around them, the Dallas Cowboys beat the Indianapolis Colts 27-23 in a wild late finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of Seahawks vs Cardinals?
Seattle won 17-3 at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 8, 2026, after Arizona led 3-0 early and then went scoreless for nearly 55 minutes.

Who scored the touchdowns for Seattle?
Tight end AJ Barner scored both: a 1-yard run on a direct snap, and a 7-yard catch from Drew Lock just before half-time.

Why did Sam Darnold not play for the Seahawks?
Darnold was ruled out with a quad injury from the Monday night loss to Chicago, and the team revealed he played that game with a cracked rib. He is week to week.

Who started at quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals?
Gardner Minshew started after Jacoby Brissett was traded to the Baltimore Ravens during the week. Minshew completed 21 of 30 passes for 166 yards.

What are the Seahawks' and Cardinals' records now?
Seattle is 5-4 and Arizona 3-6. The Cardinals next host the Los Angeles Rams on November 15.