Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-17 · by David Brandt The Associated Press
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Trey McBride is in his fifth season with the Arizona Cardinals and has never been part of a win over the Seattle Seahawks, an NFC West rival and the defending Super Bowl champions.
Eight games.
asserted
McBride → defend → Seahawks
But the All-Pro tight end is feeling pretty good these days, particularly after the Cardinals looked much better than expected in a 26-14 road win over the Los Angeles Chargers that was one of the NFL’s biggest Week 1 surprises.
asserted
that → feel → surprises
“You want to play against the best, you want to go against the best,” McBride said.
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McBride → want → best
Let’s see what we’ve got.”
asserted
we → let → what
The Cardinals (1-0) host the Seahawks (1-0) on Sunday in a litmus test for the new-look franchise.
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Cardinals → host → franchise
First-year coach Mike LaFleur became the first non-interim coach to win his first game as coach of the Cardinals since Don Coryell did it in 1973.
asserted
Coryell → become → 1973
LaFleur was the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams — who are also in the NFC West — the past three seasons and is well aware of what he’s going to encounter this weekend, particularly when it comes to the Seahawks’ defense.
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it → go → defense
“There’s no weakness, whatsoever,” LaFleur said.
asserted
LaFleur → ’ → ?
“It’s a player-driven league, but you’d be messed up not to say how well they are coached, too.
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they → ’ → ?
It’s 11 guys working in unison that just understand what’s going on.
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what → ’ → unison
They have great players (and) they’ve got great coaches.
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they → have → coaches
They’re fundamentally sound.
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They → ’re → ?
They’re violent.
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They → ’re → ?
The tape speaks for itself.”
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tape → speak → itself
The Seahawks will start backup quarterback Drew Lock on Sunday after starter Sam Darnold was ruled out because of an injury he suffered against the Patriots.
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he → start → Patriots
Lock played most of the game against the Patriots after Darnold was injured on the opening series, completing 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown.
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Darnold → play → yards
The 29-year-old Lock has a 10-18 record as a starter.
asserted
Lock → have → starter
“He’s a great guy, he’s got his own personality, which we love,” Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said.
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Macdonald → ’ → which
“He’s got his style of playing quarterback, which is what we want here.
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we → get → what
We want to be within the scheme and how we’re training our guys, but you have to be yourself, too.
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you → want → guys
“Drew is that and we’re looking forward to it.”
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we → look → it
Need to know
Seattle (1-0) at Arizona (1-0).
When/where to watch: Sunday, 4:25 EDT, Fox
Latest odds: Seahawks by 4.
Against the spread: Seahawks 0-0-1; Cardinals 1-0.
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Seahawks → need → spread
Last week: Seahawks beat Patriots 13-10; Cardinals beat the Chargers 26-14.
asserted
Cardinals → beat → Chargers
Last meeting: Seahawks beat Cardinals 44-22 on Nov. 9, 2025, in Seattle.
asserted
Seahawks → beat → Seattle
Series record: Seahawks lead 31-22-1.
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Seahawks → lead → ?
Smith-Njigba was a force in the Seahawks’ season-opening win, with 122 yards receiving and a touchdown on eight catches.
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Njigba → open → catches
The reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year picked up right where he left off after having an NFL-high 1,793 yards receiving last season.
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he → reign → receiving
Now he’ll go against a Cardinals secondary that was stingy in Week 1 against Chargers QB Justin Herbert, holding him to 209 yards passing.
asserted
that → go → yards
Veteran safety Budda Baker leads a young group.
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Baker → lead → group
Stats and stuff
— Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett has thrown for at least 200 yards and a touchdown in 13 straight games, which is the longest current streak in the NFL.
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which → throw → NFL
No other QB has a current streak longer than five games.
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QB → have → games
— Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love has scored a rushing TD in 12 straight games, including his first with the Cardinals last week and the last 11 games during his college career at Notre Dame.
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Love → score → Dame
— WR Kendrick Bourne had eight catches for 85 yards in his Cardinals debut last week.
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Bourne → have → debut
Only DeAndre Hopkins (14 catches in 2020) and Anquan Boldin (10 in 2003) had more receptions in their franchise debut.
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Hopkins → have → debut
— The Seahawks have won 11 straight games, including the playoffs, dating to last season.
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Seahawks → win → season
That’s tied for the longest streak in franchise history, which was set in 2005.
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which → tie → 2005
— Seattle has won 13 of 16 in the series against the Cardinals dating to 2018.
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Seattle → win → 2018
— Seattle’s defense has held its opponent to less than 20 points in eight of its last 11 games, including the playoffs.
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defense → hold → playoffs
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AP Sports Writer Anne Peterson contributed to this story.
asserted
Peterson → contribute → story
The Aporia
