SEATTLE — With two straight wins over a division rival, the Seattle Seahawks have climbed back into the playoff race.
The Seahawks controlled the game to beat the Arizona Cardinals 16-6 on Sunday afternoon, improving to 6-5 this season.
Here are three takeaways from the Seahawks' victory.
Defense powers victory
The Seahawks' losing streak coincided with the team's worst stretch of defensive play. Seattle had allowed 29 points or more in four of five games before coach Mike Macdonald's team steadied the ship.
Sunday's win may have been the Seahawks' most impressive defensive effort of the season.
Seattle stifled Kyler Murray and the Cardinals running game, which trudged to 49 yards, and didn't allow Arizona to score a touchdown in a convincing showing that allowed the offense to comfortably play with a lead.
JSN's ascension
DK Metcalf missed two games with an MCL injury, opening the door for second-year wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba to wrestle control of the Seahawks' passing offense.
And that he did.
Without Metcalf in the lineup, Smith-Njigba totaled 249 yards and two touchdowns as the Seahawks' defacto No. 1 WR. When Metcalf returned to the lineup against the 49ers, Smith-Njigba shrugged and led the team with 10 receptions and 100 yards anyway.
Smith-Njigba's ascension means Geno Smith has not one, but two, strong options in the passing game for the stretch run.
NFC West division update
With less than two months left in the season, here is what the NFC West playoff picture looks like.
- Seattle Seahawks: 6-5
- Arizona Cardinals: 6-5
- Los Angeles Rams: 5-5
- San Fransico 49ers: 5-6
