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The expectation was that Geno Smith would be a massive drop-off from Russell Wilson. However, Smith has been one of the biggest surprises of the season -- and far better than his predecessor has been during his rough start in Denver. Even with a quiet performance in Week 6, Smith ranks fourth in Total QBR (68.5%), first in completion percentage (73.4%) and third in touchdown-to-interception ratio (9-2). And it's not as though he's merely been a game manager. Smith has attempted the 14th-most passes and had to carry the Seahawks to their first two victories while their defense faltered.

Geno Smith's surprisingly explosive offense has been the dominant storyline around the Seahawks this season, but one can imagine Pete Carroll loved the script being flipped by his defense on Sunday. Seattle's D limited the Cardinals to only a game-opening field goal drive in the Seahawks' 19-9 win. (Arizona's other six points came on a special teams bust by the Seattle punt unit.) Meanwhile, cornerback Tariq Woolen is making himself a player in the Defensive Rookie of the Year competition: The fifth-round pick iced Sunday's win with his fourth interception in as many games.

They are 3-3, which is a tribute to coach Pete Carroll. Who saw that coming? The defense played well against the Cardinals, which was a nice change.

What a start for rookie CB Tariq Woolen, who's picked off four passes and recovered two fumbles over the past four games.

After the offense carried the Seahawks defense through the first five games of the season, Seattle shut down Kyler Murray to the tune of nine points thanks to a surprise performance from a run defense that had been exposed through the first five weeks. Cardinals other than Murray carried the ball 18 times for 44 yards. "It was about time that we took over," said defensive tackle and Russell Wilson trade bait Shelby Harris. Meanwhile, the offense remains, somehow, one of the league's best. It ranks fourth in offensive DVOA — third in passing and 12th in rushing — while rookie Kenneth Walker has added explosiveness.

Geno Smith is no longer the most efficient quarterback in football after a lackluster Week 6 performance, but he and the offense still rank fourth in EPA per drive (0.46) and third in success rate (50.5). Betting markets, however, are still casting significant doubt over the Seahawks in the futures market despite the fact that they're in a three-way tie at 3-3 with the Rams and 49ers in the NFC West. FanDuel currently prices Seattle at +1000 to win the division and +500 to make the playoffs at all. Getting the Seahawks at 10-to-1 to come away with the NFC West crown as the 49ers wade through countless injuries and the Rams dig out of a hellish hole on offense screams value.

Kenneth Walker II is going to be fun to watch the rest of the way. The rookie running back had 110 total yards and a touchdown on Sunday. He looked great. It's not too late for him to jump in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year race.

Wouldn't it be something if Seattle makes the playoffs and Denver doesn't?