The Seattle Seahawks rolled to a 31-7 victory over the Arizona Cardinals this past Sunday, a huge win for the Emerald City! While our Hawks were doing their thing, lighting up the scoreboard, the rest of the NFL saw some seriously impressive performances from players stepping up big time. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes, you just gotta wait for talent to explode.
These Defensive Monsters Are Setting New Standards
Seriously, folks, get ready to hear these names everywhere, because Dallas Turner and Lukas Van Ness are not messing around. These two former first-round picks are flat out wreaking havoc on opposing offenses, and it’s been a sight to behold.
Dallas Turner, rocking the Vikings’ uniform, has been an absolute terror. The dude has **20 pressures already**, which isn’t just the most in the NFL this season, it’s the most through two games in the entire Pro Football Focus database since 2006! He’s also racked up 11 quarterback hits and three sacks, including the game-sealing takedown against the Bears on Sunday. Remember his Week 1 tape? Speed, size, power, all on display. Coach Brian Flores is obviously scheming him into advantageous situations, but Turner is the one making the plays. After a quiet rookie year and a slow start to his second, he ended last season with 6.5 sacks and a 16.2% pressure rate from Week 10 onward. He’s only 23, and the signs were definitely there. What a player!
Then you got Lukas Van Ness from the Packers. He flashed before, sure, even with a foot injury for most of 2025 where he still pulled a 16.3% pressure rate overall. But 2026? He’s taken a clear step. We’re talking 2.5 sacks and a 19.6% pressure rate. Last Sunday was his best outing yet: 1.5 sacks, nine tackles, four quarterback hits, three tackles for loss. These guys are the real deal, and they’re showing everyone what they’re made of.
Sometimes, You Just Gotta Trust the Process
It’s easy to get caught up in the hype or the doom-and-gloom when players don’t explode onto the scene immediately, right? But the NFL is a marathon, not a sprint. We often overlook what’s already there, and forget that things can change. Just look at the examples out there. Remember Sam Darnold? Dude played for five different teams in his first eight seasons, then went out and won a Super Bowl. Or how about Bill Belichick? The coaching legend went 36-44 in five years with the Browns before climbing back up the ladder to become one of the greatest ever. The league can be harsh, but there are almost always chances for growth. These breakout stars, Turner and Van Ness, are living proof of that patience paying off. They’re stepping up when their teams need it most, reminding us all that sometimes, you gotta let the talent marinate. This ain’t Madden, folks, it’s real life football.
What a start to the season for these young studs! As for our Seahawks, coming off that 31-7 win against Arizona, the energy in the Emerald City is electric. We’ll be watching closely to see how our boys keep building momentum. And across the league, keep your eyes peeled on Turner and Van Ness; they’re not just playing well, they’re setting new standards. This NFL season is already wild, and it’s just getting started. Go Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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