Drew Lock connects for 3 TDs with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks roll past Cardinals 31-7

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Drew Lock threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in a stellar first start subbing for the injured Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks continued their dominance over the Arizona Cardinals with a 31-7 win on Sunday.

The defending Super Bowl champions have now won 10 straight over their NFC West rival dating to 2022 and closed this one by scoring the final 24 points. Smith-Njigba finished with nine catches for 155 yards and the career-high three TDs in one of the best performances of his four-year career.

Arizona has lost eight straight games at home in a streak that's lasted 360 days. The Cardinals finished with just 150 total yards.

Lock got off to a good start, taking advantage of a busted coverage by the Cardinals' secondary and hitting a wide open Smith-Njigba in stride for an 82-yard touchdown on the team's second offensive play of the game for a 7-0 lead. Early in the third quarter, he found the reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year on a crossing route for a 7-yard score and a 14-7 advantage.

That Seattle touchdown was set up by some good fortune on the opening kickoff of the second half. Rashid Shaheed fumbled on the return, but teammate Chazz Surratt picked up the ball and ran 35 yards all the way to the Arizona 37.

Seattle safety Julian Love intercepted Jacoby Brissett on the ensuing drive, making a spectacular sliding catch as he got his hand under the ball just before it hit the ground. It gave the Seahawks (2-0) great field position again at the Arizona 44, which they parlayed into Jason Myers' 33-yard field goal and a 17-7 lead.

Smith-Njigba's third touchdown came early in the fourth quarter when Lock threw a perfectly placed ball for a 12-yard strike and a 24-7 lead.

The Cardinals (1-1) opened the season with an impressive 26-14 road win over the Chargers in first-year coach Mike LaFleur's debut, but couldn't recreate that success against the talented Seahawks defense. Brissett threw a 2-yard touchdown to All-Pro tight end Trey McBride to tie the game at 7-all on the first play of the second quarter.

Seattle had a chance to retake the lead late in the second quarter but couldn't ram the ball into the end zone from the 1-yard line on fourth down. The game stayed tied going into halftime, but it was all Seahawks after the break.

Brissett threw for 95 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Rookie Jeremiyah Love led the team with 29 yards rushing and McBride caught eight passes for 41 yards.

Lock made his first start since the final week of the 2024 season, taking over for Darnold, who suffered a glute injury in the opener against New England. The 29-year-old played most of that game and performed well, completing 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown.

Seahawks: DL Brandon Pili was evaluated for a concussion. RB Jadarian Price left in the second half with a chest injury.

Cardinals: CB Max Melton left in the third quarter with a toe injury. CB Will Johnson left with a neck injury in the fourth quarter.

Seahawks: At Washington next Sunday.

Cardinals: At San Francisco next Sunday.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Arizona Cardinals tight end Elijah Higgins (84) causes Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) to fumble the ball on a kick return, which is recovered by the Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett looks to throw against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald looks on during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) prepares for a snap against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) makes a touchdown catch against Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton, left, during the second half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled pitcher Emmet Sheehan as part of a series of roster moves Sunday, with the right-hander handling the bulk of their 3-1 win in the series finale against the San Francisco Giants.

All four transactions involved Dodgers pitchers. They also recalled Kyle Hurt, placed Tarik Skubal on the bereavement list and optioned Seth Halvorsen to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Jack Dreyer started before giving way to Sheehan as the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of their rivals. Sheehan made a strong case to be on the postseason roster by throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out nine.

“When you're essentially fighting for your life to create an opportunity for yourself, that's what I see," manager Dave Roberts said. “There's urgency, and so I like the way that he's trusting his stuff.”

The Dodgers' strong collection of starters will leave Sheehan and Roki Sasaki having to find different ways to contribute in the playoffs.

Roberts said Sasaki will start working out of the bullpen during the upcoming three-game series against the San Diego Padres that starts Tuesday night to prep for his transition. Sasaki appeared in nine games as a reliever last fall, posting a 0.84 ERA in 10 2/3 innings to help the Dodgers win their second straight World Series.

Sheehan, who is 5-8 with a 4.57 ERA in 23 games this season, will be optioned back to Triple-A when Skubal returns.

Right fielder Kyle Tucker wasn't in the starting lineup after coming out of Saturday's 10-4 victory because of a fouled pitch that went off his right knee. The early exit was described as precautionary, and Roberts said before the game it was worth giving him a day off, particularly with Tucker finding his stride after an erratic first season in Los Angeles. Tucker ended up being used as a pinch hitter with two on in the ninth inning, with his fly ball being caught for the second out.

The Dodgers expect to see Shohei Ohtani back soon after his first stint on the injured list since joining the team in 2024. It could come against the Padres. “Still up in the air, but that’s our hope,” Roberts said.

Ohtani is on the 15-day IL with right biceps inflammation. He also has been dealing with left knee soreness for months.

Roberts believes Ohtani will be pain-free going into the last week of the regular season, with the Dodgers pushing to secure a bye to avoid the wild-card round.

“I think there’s a difference between discomfort and pain,” Roberts said. “Is it 100%? Probably not. Is it better than it was a week ago? Yes. Honestly, I think that’s just a better question for Shohei to give specifics. But I do think that when he’s activated, it’s going to be the best physical place he’s been in in quite some time.”

The Dodgers will also get All-Star center fielder Andy Pages back on Tuesday after he fractured his left hand when he was hit by a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 21.

Roberts is feeling good about where his club is at as they prepare to chase history. No National League club has ever won three consecutive World Series crowns.

“Things are starting to come together,” Roberts said.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, center, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, right, congratulate Mookie Betts after the Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants in a baseball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)