RENTON, Wash. — Now the Seattle Seahawks find out just how real their professed return to 2013 form really is.

While the Arizona Cardinals came to CenturyLink Field last Sunday with the NFL’s best record at 9-1, they also came with a backup quarterback, without leading receiver Larry Fitzgerald and as seven-point underdogs.

So, impressive as Seattle’s 19-3 win was over the Cardinals — a game in which Seahawks players and coaches felt the most like the 2013 Super Bowl season of any played this year — duplicating that feat this Thursday at San Francisco would mean even more.

Seattle held the Cardinals to 204 yards — a season low for a Seahawks opponent — and a lone field goal in getting right back in the race in the NFC West.

But now comes what in many ways might be a tougher challenge as the Seahawks head to San Francisco for a Thanksgiving night game against the 49ers.

Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said after Tuesday’s practice that he thought the Seahawks had returned to their old selves against the Cardinals, a game that came after a week of a few team meetings. But he also said the obvious — there’s little time for reflection.

“I would say for our whole unit (it was the best game of the season),” he said. “I think there have been good games by individual guys and outings by the team but I think that felt maybe the most connected we’ve had been defensively this year, yes.

“That was just one game for us. So we’re looking forward to the next challenge and the next thing ahead for us.”

While the team meetings and statements by players afterward got a lot of attention, players and coaches also cited some of the practical differences in the game against Arizona and others. Notably, the return to health of middle linebacker Bobby Wagner and the return to form of strong safety Kam Chancellor.

Wagner had missed five games with a toe injury while Chancellor has battled a slew of injuries all season, missing two games with a groin issue.

Chancellor downplayed the injuries at the time but admitted this week that he had been slowed during the first few months of the season and that he had a hard time looking at himself on film.

Quinn said the difference in Chancellor last week was noticeable throughout.

“He’s such an explosive guy,” Quinn said. “So for him some of the movements that he didn’t like I think that’s probably what he saw because he’s such an explosive hitter so for him not to uncoil on the hits or have the change of direction but you certainly feel that on the tape now.”

The rounding into form of the defense — which now features 10 starters at their regular roles — comes at a good time as the Seahawks are in the midst of a key part of the schedule.

The Arizona game was the first of five of six against teams from the NFC West.

The San Francisco game, meanwhile, is the first of three of four on the road, all against teams in the playoff hunt, and the first of two games against the 49ers in 18 days.

Seattle has won four of five after a 3-3 start to get back into the thick of things, but knows that a loss to the 49ers could derail playoff hopes pretty quickly.

The game is the first between the two teams since the NFC Championship Game last January, memorably won by the Seahawks 23-17. It will also continue what is one of the NFL’s hottest rivalries, keyed by coaches who had heated battles during their college days — Jim Harbaugh at Stanford and Pete Carroll at USC.

But a short week dampened much of the hype, and Seattle players insisted the emphasis was simply on what the game means for this season.

“It’s a whole different season, different team,” said Seattle defensive end Cliff Avril. “For me personally, that was last year and this is this year and we’ve got to go make it happen this year.”

NOTES: RB Marshawn Lynch (sore back)was limited in practice Tuesday but is expected to play Thursday. … TE Cooper Helfet (ankle) did not practice Tuesday. … C Max Unger (ankle, knee) remains out another few weeks. … WR Jermaine Kearse (ankle) struggled against Arizona but looked fine in practice Tuesday. … Backup nickelback Marcus Burley (hamstring) should play and No. 1 nickelback Jeremy Lane was limited Tuesday with groin soreness but should be able to play.