SMITH-NJIGBA STARS AS SEAHAWKS ROUT CARDINALS 31-7

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Arizona Cardinals 31-7, with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba catching nine passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns. Seattle started backup quarterback Drew Lock in place of Sam Darnold, who did not play in the game. One of Smith-Njigba's touchdowns came on an 82-yard pass from Lock, according to reports of the game. The Cardinals remained competitive through the first half before Seattle pulled clear in the second. The win moves the Seahawks to 2-0 for the season, while Arizona falls to 1-1.

Figures from the game showed Smith-Njigba's importance to Seattle's passing attack: when Lock targeted him, he completed nine of 11 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns, but when throwing to any other receiver he managed just 10 of 15 for 80 yards and no touchdowns. Running back Emanuel Wilson led Seattle's rushing with 20 carries for 92 yards, while Jadarian Price added 13 carries for 52 yards. The contest stayed close in the first half before turning into a rout by the fourth quarter. No explanation was given in the reports for Darnold's absence from the line-up.

Seattle enter the season as the defending champions. The result was described as giving them reason to feel confident about competing for the title again this year. Arizona's defeat follows a start to the season that was described as promising the previous week. The Cardinals were also said not to look capable of competing in the NFC West division at this stage. No further fixtures or squad announcements were confirmed in the coverage.