RENTON, Wash. -- As Drew Lock steps into a starting role for the Seattle Seahawks, the veteran quarterback knows he doesn't have to force the issue while he fills in for the injured Sam Darnold.
Not with last season's top-ranked scoring defense backing him and a strong collection of offensive weapons at his disposal.
"I think the biggest thing for us ... is taking care of the football," Lock said Thursday as the Seahawks prepare to face the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at State Farm Stadium. "I think that's the one thing that's at a premium in this position, no matter what team you're on, but especially this one. Getting the ball in our playmakers' hands, letting our defense go be our defense, take care of the football, win the turnover differential and ... see where the scoreboard is at the end of it, and hopefully we come out with a win.
"I would say if there's one thing I'm saying to myself, it's take care of the football and get it into these guys' hands."
Lock did that when he stepped in after Darnold suffered a glute injury on the fifth play of Week 1, helping rally the Seahawks to a 13-10 win over the New England Patriots. Save for a near interception, Lock kept the ball out of harm's way while completing 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown with zero turnovers.
Lock's throws traveled an average of only 6.0 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. That was 25th among 32 quarterbacks in Week 1, and 2.0 yards shorter than Darnold's average attempt last season (he ranked 13th at 8.0). Lock's touchdown pass came on a short fourth-down throw to star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who outraced New England's defense to the end zone for a 45-yard score.
Seattle's defense, which allowed a league-low 16.4 points per game during the 2025 regular season, intercepted Drake Maye three times. That brought the Seahawks' regular-season record to 11-0 when winning the turnover battle since Mike Macdonald became their coach in 2024. The reigning Super Bowl champions also won the turnover battle in all three of their playoff victories last season.
"We talk about turnover differential," Lock said. "I feel like every team I've been on has. It's just a huge part of football, it really is. So it doesn't go overlooked in this room, in the last locker room I was in, in the previous locker room I was in. It's always talked about."
Lock, 29, has a 10-18 career record as a starter. He went 1-1 for the Seahawks in 2023, then 1-4 for the New York Giants in 2024 before returning to Seattle last season to back up Darnold.
Macdonald said Wednesday that the Seahawks do not anticipate putting Darnold on injured reserve, indicating a belief he has a chance to return over the next three weeks.
Darnold has not practiced this week but has been in every meeting, according to Lock.
"He still shows up at the same time," Lock said. "I still can't beat him to the building somehow. He's been fantastic. I appreciate him. I've been leaning on him pretty heavy with some of the minor things that he would take care of during the week that, after a little bit, I need a little reminder of. Just certain things. He's been fantastic. He's been around and he has not stopped working."
Lock could have a full complement of receivers to throw to Sunday, as Tory Horton was listed as a full participant for the second straight day Thursday. Seattle's No. 4 receiver behind Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and Rashid Shaheed missed the opener with a hamstring injury. Kupp, meanwhile, went from limited Wednesday with a back issue to a full participant Thursday.
The Seahawks have won nine straight games against the Cardinals and are 11-1-1 at State Farm Stadium since 2013.