In Glendale, the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks will line up on Thursday night with identical 2-1 records, though how they got here couldn’t feel more different.

Seattle looks like a team starting to build momentum. After a narrow Week 1 loss, the Seahawks handled the Steelers and Saints with relative ease, leaning on a steadying offense and a special teams unit that’s been among the best in the league. Arizona’s path has been shakier. The Cardinals escaped their first two games more than they won them, and last week in San Francisco, they let a fourth-quarter lead unravel.

The standings say these teams are even. The performances suggest otherwise.

Let’s break down the five biggest storylines you’ll want to keep an eye on before the kickoff.

The story behind Sam Darnold’s offense’s success

The Seahawks’ offense has surged since that sluggish Week 1 loss to the Niners (17-13). Right at the center of it is Sam Darnold. Through three games, he’s been sharp: Completing over 70% of his passes (sixth-best in the league), pushing the ball downfield at a career-high 9 yards per attempt, and barely getting touched with only three sacks. His receivers have been right there with him, too.

Seattle has piled up 278 passing yards against the Steelers and 233 against the Saints, thanks to Jaxon Smith-Njigba stepping up in a big way. The third-year wideout went for 103 yards on 8 catches in Week 2, then followed it up with 96 yards on 5 grabs in Week 3. And of course, having Cooper Kupp running alongside him just makes this offense that much harder to stop. The run game, meanwhile, hasn’t quite clicked yet, but Thursday night might be the perfect chance for it to get rolling.

The Cardinals’ offense is stuck amid injury crises

One big problem for the Cardinals heading into Week 4 is their run game, even though they’ve enjoyed success on the ground. James Conner is out for the year with a foot injury, and Trey Benson steps in. Benson flashed with a 5.0 yards per rush in his career, but he’s never handled more than 13 touches in a game. Bottom line: He’ll need help, and the run blocking has to improve. The issue?

Left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and backup Kelvin Beachum are both banged up and questionable. And it’s not just the run game holding them back. Kyler Murray’s been fine, but the passing attack is still shaky. Arizona managed only 154 yards through the air last week, with three brutal drops in the second half.

Arizona’s offense meets Seattle’s top-tier defense

No doubt, the Seahawks’ secondary has been banged up: CB Devon Witherspoon (knee), rookie Nick Emmanwori (ankle), and Julian Love (hamstring) all were down in Week 3. Even so, this defense is shaping up into a top-tier unit. Through three games, Seattle has allowed the second-fewest points per game (15-7). The team’s yet to allow over 18 points per game this season. On top of that, the run defense ranks third at 3.2 yards per attempt, and the team is also generating the fourth-best QB pressure rate at 44.3%.

The Seahawks’ special teams units have something special

Seattle dominated the Saints in all phases, but a big reason for the blowout and those franchise-tying 21 first-quarter points was special teams. Rookie Tory Horton took a punt 95 yards to the house, setting a new team record. D’Anthony Bell added a blocked punt that set up another score, and Dareke Young’s 60-yard kick return sparked yet another touchdown. It’s too early to say if the unit can deliver like that again, but you can bet the Seahawks are counting on it.

Will the Seahawks remain persistent on the road?

The Seahawks finally secured a much-needed home win last week. On the road, though, they’ve been doing really well under head coach Mike Macdonald for a time now. The team has won 8 of their 9 away games, including a win in Pittsburgh in week 2. And when it comes to playing in Arizona? That’s something worth talking about. In Arizona, Seattle has been dominant.

They’ve defeated the Cardinals seven times in a row overall. And if you look at their games in Arizona since 2013 (the year they won the Super Bowl), the Seahawks have an incredible record there as well: 10 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie. That said, it’d be intriguing to see whether Seattle would remain persistent or the Cardinals manage to break the streak.

Players to watch out for heading into Week 4

Heading into Week 4, both teams have key players listed as questionable for Thursday Night Football. Even so, there are still a few names worth keeping an eye on. Leading the chorus is:

• Trey Benson (RB, Arizona Cardinals)

With Conner out for the season due to a foot injury, second-year running back Trey Benson steps into a prominent role. Last week, Benson complemented Murray in the rushing attack as he rushed for 42 yards on 10 carries. He lacks experience, no doubt. But as things stand, the Seahawks are surely counting on the 23-year-old back.

• Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR, Seattle Seahawks)

There’s a reason behind the Seahawks’ top-tier passing game: Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The third-year wideout has been efficient through three games of the season. In the team’s season opener loss, the wideout caught 9 receptions for 124 yards, which he followed with eight receptions for 103 yards in Week 2 and 96 yards on 5 grabs in Week 3. As the Seahawks now head to the desert, Smith-Njigba has been named a team captain for the Week 4 game.

• Tory Horton (WR, Seattle Seahawks)

Tory Horton had a day against the Saints last week. The rookie wideout caught three passes for 32 yards and a touchdown on offense (his second straight game where he produced a receiving touchdown), while also recording a 95-yard punt return touchdown in the first quarter.

Seattle rolls into this one with a stranglehold over the rivalry. Seven straight wins against Arizona, four of them in Glendale. The Cardinals haven’t taken down the Seahawks at home since 2020. And that streak looms large again now.

Want to make last minute fantasy lineup changes? Here’s the help you need from our expert’s desk!

Tim’s Fantasy Start and Sits

Sit QB Kyler Murray: We’re waiting for this explosion. But Murray has yet to score 19 fantasy points in a game and has been held under 15 the last two weeks. He topped 300 yards just twice in 2024 and had only four multi-TD games. It’s not what we get him for. He creates points off script. However, this Seahawks defense has demonstrated its ability to stop shifty quarterbacks, and they have more interceptions than passing touchdowns allowed after three games.

Start Marvin Harrison Jr.: How does that make sense? The law of averages, my friends. Harrison has got to see more targets, period. And this is the week for it, as the Seahawks secondary hasn’t faced this level of wideout to date (so their stats are a bit inflated). This is put-up-or-shut-up time for Harrison. Is he a WR2 in your fantasy lineup, or is he barely a flex appeal WR4? I’m glass-half-full that the national spotlight is where he chooses Door No. 1.

Start Kenneth Walker: It hasn’t been the start to the year fantasy owners were hoping for. But the Cardinals are 21st against the run to start the season per Pro Football Focus. This is the week that Walker can show us he’s a surefire weekly start.

No-Brainer Starts: You shouldn’t need me to tell you to start Jaxon Smith-Njigba. But I’m here for last-second reassurance. You start him every week.

Flex Appeal: This is the moment I drafted Trey Benson for in so many leagues. James Conner is known for missing a few games; it’s very sad this time, it’s a full season. But if anyone is set up for success stepping in, it’s Benson. They have been grooming him for a bigger spotlight. He’s worth taking a flyer on, as the upside here is HUGE. – Tim Wood

Where: State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Ariz.)

When: 8:15 p.m. ET

Watch: Prime Video, NFL+