Week 2
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
September 20, 2026
State Farm Stadium
NFC West Rivalry
Cardinals–Seahawks
Red Sea meets the desert
An NFC West rivalry between the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks that took full shape after the 2002 realignment grouped them together. The matchups have ranged from a rare tie to one of the most lopsided shutouts in modern NFL history.
The Rivalry
The franchises first met in 1976, Seattle's debut season, when the Seahawks were an interconference opponent. The rivalry only became a true divisional clash with the 2002 NFL realignment, which placed both teams in the NFC West. From there it grew genuinely competitive, with both teams using a season sweep of the other as a springboard to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2000s. The mid-2010s brought some of the fiercest meetings, as the two fought for division supremacy while Seattle was among the NFL's strongest teams. The games have produced extremes — a 58-0 Seattle blowout and a 6-6 overtime tie among them.
What's at Stake
Division position is the constant prize: these games regularly shape who wins the NFC West and who reaches the playoffs. The geographic angle pairs the Pacific Northwest with the desert Southwest — Seattle's famously loud "12s" against a growing Arizona fan base.
Famous Moments
- 2008 — Arizona swept the season series with Seattle on its way to a Super Bowl XLIII appearance.
- 2012 — Seattle posted its largest win in the rivalry, a 58-0 home shutout of the Cardinals.
- 2013 — The Cardinals stunned Seattle 17-10, ending the Seahawks' long home winning streak.
- 2016 — The teams played to a 6-6 overtime tie on Sunday Night Football after both kickers missed potential game-winners.
- 2020 — Arizona won 37-34 in overtime, snapping a long drought of road wins in Seattle.
The Cardinals–Seahawks Games in 2026
The Two Teams
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
State Farm Stadium · Glendale
Founded in 1898, the Cardinals are the oldest continuously operating professional football franchise in the United States.
NFC West
Seattle Seahawks
Lumen Field · Seattle
Founded in 1976, the Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII and are famed for their "12th Man" crowd-noise tradition.
Plan the Trip
This trip spans two strikingly different football climates. The Cardinals host at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, a retractable-roof stadium with a field that rolls outside for sunlight. The Seahawks play at Lumen Field in Seattle, an open-air venue famous for being among the loudest in the NFL.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cardinals–Seahawks
The two teams first met in 1976. An NFC West rivalry between the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks that took full shape after the 2002 realignment grouped them together. The matchups have ranged from a rare tie to one of the most lopsided shutouts in modern NFL history.
Division position is the constant prize: these games regularly shape who wins the NFC West and who reaches the playoffs. The geographic angle pairs the Pacific Northwest with the desert Southwest — Seattle's famously loud "12s" against a growing Arizona fan base.
Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.
Arizona Cardinals host at State Farm Stadium in Glendale; Seattle Seahawks play at Lumen Field in Seattle.
