The 3-Win Cardinals Think They'll "Surprise" Us, But The Emerald City Is Ready For War

Hold up, did you just hear that? Cardinals cornerback Will Johnson went on SiriusXM NFL Radio and dropped a quote that frankly, has the 12s in an uproar. He thinks Arizona, the team that went a paltry 3-14 last season, has a "good opportunity in front of us to surprise a lot of people this year." Surprise? Buddy, the only surprise we're looking for is if you manage to avoid the bottom of the NFC West again. Especially when our Seahawks are fresh off beating the Rams in the NFC title game and hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, that kind of talk just hits different.

Talk Is Cheap When You're In Our Division, Will

Let's get real for a second. The NFC West wasn't just good last season, it was *the best* division in the entire NFL, racking up more wins than anyone else. While the Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers were all winning at least 12 games and making deep playoff runs, where were the Cardinals? Right there at 3-14, watching us. Our Hawks didn't just have regular season success, we went all the way, taking down the Rams in the NFC Championship and then sealing the Super Bowl. So when Johnson says they're "continuing to try to stack the teams against us," it sounds less like a

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battle cry and more like someone who hasn't checked the standings lately. We're the champions, not the underdogs, and we earned that right.

The Hawks Are Reloaded, While Others Are Still Catching Up

The truth is, while Johnson might love the chance "to go against the best every week," he's going against a division that's only getting tougher. Our Seahawks are coming back with most of our core players intact, ready to defend our title. The 49ers are hoping to get healthier and the Rams? They're clearly trying to keep up, loading up for another run by trading for serious talent in Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie this offseason. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have a new head coach in Mike LaFleur, a big question mark at quarterback, and the league has low expectations for them to climb the standings in 2026. Johnson's confidence is one thing, but the facts on the ground tell a very different story for the NFC West. So, as we gear up for the upcoming season, the real question isn't about surprises from a 3-win team. It's about who can truly challenge the Seahawks for NFC West supremacy. The 12s know our Hawks are ready for anything the division throws at them. Bring on the regular season, because the Emerald City is expecting nothing less than another championship run.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.