Crucial NFC West Showdown Kicks Off Week 4
Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season begins with a pivotal NFC West divisional battle as the Seattle Seahawks travel to face the Arizona Cardinals on “Thursday Night Football.” Both teams enter the September 25 contest at State Farm Stadium with identical 2-1 records, trailing the undefeated San Francisco 49ers in what is shaping up to be one of the league’s most competitive divisions. With both squads having suffered their only loss of the season to the 49ers, this primetime matchup carries significant weight for the early-season standings.
Seahawks Riding High on Offensive Efficiency and Defensive Dominance
The Seahawks enter Glendale with considerable momentum, having won their last two games by a combined score of 75-30. The offense, under the command of quarterback Sam Darnold, has been remarkably efficient. Darnold has completed 70.3% of his passes and boasts a 104.7 passer rating, which ranks eighth in the league. His primary target has been second-year receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is off to a torrid start with 22 receptions for 323 yards, second-most in the NFL through three weeks.
Seattle’s success has been a complete team effort, with their defense proving to be one of the league’s most formidable units. The Seahawks have allowed just 15.7 points per game, the second-fewest in the NFL, and have not permitted an opponent to score more than 17 points this season. The defense, which generates pressure at the fourth-highest rate in the league (44.3%), is also getting healthier. Key defensive backs Devon Witherspoon and Julian Love are set to return to the lineup for Thursday’s game, further bolstering a secondary that has already collected five interceptions.
Cardinals Face Adversity Amid Key Injuries
While the Seahawks are getting healthier, the Cardinals are dealing with a wave of significant injuries. The most devastating blow came in Week 3 when star running back James Conner suffered a season-ending ankle injury. His absence leaves a major void in the offense, with second-year back Trey Benson now tasked with shouldering the load. Benson has shown promise, averaging 6.0 yards per carry in limited action, but will now face a stout Seattle run defense that has allowed just 3.2 yards per carry and no rushing touchdowns this season.
Arizona’s offense has struggled to find consistency, failing to surpass 300 total yards in its loss to the 49ers. The connection between quarterback Kyler Murray and rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. remains a work in progress. The team’s challenges are compounded by injuries on both sides of the ball, particularly in a secondary that will be tested by Seattle’s potent passing attack.
Injury Report and Game Outlook
The injury report tells a tale of two different teams heading into this divisional clash. Seattle will be without offensive lineman Josh Jones and safety Nick Emmanwori, but they get a boost with the expected return of running back Zach Charbonnet, who missed last week’s game.
The Cardinals’ inactive list is more concerning and includes key contributors like wide receiver Zay Jones and offensive lineman Will Hernandez. Their defense is also significantly short-handed, which could be a deciding factor. The betting line reflects this reality, with the Seahawks flipping from a slight underdog to a 1.5-point favorite.
Seattle has historically dominated this rivalry, winning the last seven consecutive meetings. As noted by digitaltrendstoday.com, these primetime games offer a major platform for teams to make an early statement, and the Seahawks appear poised to do just that against a resilient but battered Cardinals squad.
