The 5-3 Seattle Seahawks sit atop the NFC West currently, heading to Phoenix for a Week 9 divisional rematch. Here are five things to know about the Seahawks' Week 9 opponent, the Arizona Cardinals.
DeAndre Hopkins: Back In Action
The Cardinals were missing wideout DeAndre Hopkins for Week 6's matchup due to suspension, but the Clemson alum is making up for time. Over the last two weeks, Hopkins has reeled in 22 catches for 262 yards and a touchdown. In Week 8, Hopkins became the second-youngest receiver ever (30 years, 146 days old) to eclipse 800 receptions - second to Cardinals Legend Larry Fitzgerald.
Seattle will look to prevent Hopkins from getting the ball, as he's been targeted 27 times over the last two games.
Kyler Murray: Elite Company
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray didn't get the win in Week 8's matchup against the Minnesota Vikings - but he did make some history. While completing 31-44 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns, Murray threw his career touchdown No. 100. Only 11 players have reached the century mark in fewer games than Murray.
Zach Ertz: Up The Seam
Adjustments are part of the game of football, and one such adjustment for the Seahawks will be to neutralize Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz. Despite failing to reach the endzone in Week 6's 19-9 win, Ertz caught 7 passes for 70 yards on 10 targets.
In Week 8 against the Vikings, Ertz caught his third touchdown of the season, catching 4 targets for 34 yards. Ertz is currently Arizona's second-most targeted option (60), tying for second-most amongst all tight ends league-wide.
Robbie Anderson: New Face in Phoenix
The Cardinals added wideout Robbie Anderson via trade with the Carolina Panthers last week. After four targets without a catch over the last two weeks, Anderson continues to get acclimated to his new team, completing his first full week of practice.
The speedy seventh-year wideout out of Temple is on team No. 3, catching 368 passes for 4,880 yards and 29 touchdowns for his career.
Isaiah Simmons: Secret Weapon
The Cardinals continue to unleash 2020 first round pick and linebacker Isaiah Simmons. While playing just 68 percent of snaps this season, Simmons has recorded 26 tackles, a sack and an interception, which he returned for a touchdown. Simmons has shown a knack for being around the ball, and his two forced fumbles are tied for fifth league wide.
From rushing the passer, to dropping back in coverage, the athletic Clemson alum is a player to keep an eye out for when Arizona's defense hits the field.
O-Line Adjustments
The Cardinals' hobbled offensive line continues to adjust, after placing guard Justin Pugh on the IR two weeks ago. Guard Cody Ford was activated to replace Pugh, after healing from an ankle injury that sidelined him for the first six games.
Starting center Rodney Hudson will miss his fifth-consecutive game due to a knee injury. Arizona has fallen to 1-3 on the season without Hudson, and may be without tackle D.J. Humphries per Coach Kliff Kingsbury.
"Hopefully he feels better," said Kingsbury. "But I'm not sure he'll make it by Sunday."
The Seahawks face the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium for Week 9 of the 2022 season. Take a look back at photos from previous games between the two teams.
Phoenix Cardinals quarterback Gary Hogeboom can't find a receiver due to heavy defensive pressure from Seattle Seahawks (92) David Wyman and (72) Joe Nash during action in their pre-season game, Aug. 12, 1989 in Tempe, Arizona. The Seahawks proved too much for the Cardinals after the game went into overtime and lost 16-10. (AP Photo/Chad Surmick)
Running back Ron Moore (30) of the Phoenix Cardinals is held to a one yard gain as he is tackled by Cortez Kennedy (96) of the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter of their NFL game in Seattle, Washington, Dec. 19, 1993. Watching the play is Joe Wolf (68) of the Cardinals. Phoenix beat Seattle in overtime, 30-27. (AP Photo/Bill Chan)
Arizona Cardinals' Chris Gedney (84) takes in a pass while in the grasp of Seattle Seahawks' Fred Thomas (22), Sept. 13, 1998 in Seattle. The play went 23 yards but wasn't enough as Seattle won the game 33-14. (AP Photo/Jay Drowns)
Seattle Seahawks' Shawn Springs (24) intercepts a pass from Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer in the second quarter Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Seahawks' Reggie Williams, lower left, and Jeff George, far right, watch as Cardinals' Frank Sanders (81), Jason McAddley, top left, and Steve Bush, right rear, defend. It was the second interception of the half for Plummer. (AP Photo/Rob Schumacher)
Seattle Seahawks' Bobby Engram returns a punt for 48 yards with Arizona Cardinals' Quentin Harris chasing during the second quarter in Seattle Sunday Dec. 26, 2004. The return set up the first Seattle touchdown as it went on to win, 24-21. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander dives into the end zone from the one-yard line for a touchdown with Arizona Cardinals' Adrian Wilson defending during the third quarter, in Seattle, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2005. Alexander scored four touchdowns in the 37-12 win over the Cardinals. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner loses control of the ball but regains control as he is sacked by Seattle Seahawks' Darryl Tapp during the fourth quarter of a football game in Seattle, in this Sept. 17, 2006 file photo. One week after Warner was named NFC offensive player of the week in Arizona's season-opening victory over San Francisco, he was blamed, in part, by his coach for the offense's struggles in Sunday's 21-10 loss at Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Arizona Cardinals' Matt Leinart, center, gets a pass off as he is hit by Seattle Seahawks' Patrick Kerney, left, and Darryl Tapp in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 23-20. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals' Ralph Brown (20) knocks the ball away from intended receiver Seattle Seahawks' Koren Robinson in the end zone in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Arizona Cardinals in action against the Seattle Seahawks, November 15, 2009.
Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch (24) leaves Arizona Cardinals' Greg Toler in the dust on a first-half run in an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 22-10. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Sidney Rice, left, runs on a 23-yard pass reception as Arizona Cardinals' Kerry Rhodes (25) is kept back by Seahawks' Anthony McCoy, right, and Zach Miller in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 13-10. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Arizona Cardinals' Kevin Kolb (4) gets off a pass as Seattle Seahawks' Jason Jones (90) closes in after getting past Cardinals' Adam Snyder (68) during an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Seahawks 20-16. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Seattle Seahawks' Zach Miller, right, makes a catch for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals' Curtis Taylor (37) is near in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas (29) intercepts a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals' wide receiver Michael Floyd, right, as Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker K.J. Wright (50) looks on in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Brittan Golden (10) is hit by Seattle Seahawks cornerback DeAndre Elliott (21) and defensive back Neiko Thorpe (27) during the second half of a football game, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Referee Walt Coleman tosses the coin before an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Mike Davis (27) dives in for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals defensive back Budda Baker (36) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) catches the football in the end zone during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Seattle. The touchdown was later ruled incomplete. The Cardinals defeated the Seahawks, 27-13. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Seattle Seahawks running back Carlos Hyde (30) rushes against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny heads for the end zone with a 62-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
