The Seattle Seahawks took a significant step towards securing the NFC's top playoff seed with a commanding 27-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The win, Seattle's sixth consecutive triumph, was fuelled by a standout performance from running back Zach Charbonnet and a defence that capitalised on critical turnovers.
Charbonnet Leads the Charge for Seattle
Zach Charbonnet was the offensive powerhouse for the Seahawks, rushing for an impressive 110 yards and crossing the goal line for two touchdowns. His efforts on the ground provided a consistent offensive threat that the Panthers struggled to contain throughout the contest.
Quarterback Sam Darnold contributed efficiently, completing 18 of 27 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown, though he did throw one interception in the end zone. Receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba was a reliable target, hauling in nine catches for 72 yards as Seattle improved their record to an imposing 13-3.
Turnovers Prove Costly for Inconsistent Panthers
The game's momentum swung decisively in the third quarter when the Seahawks converted two Carolina turnovers into touchdowns. This effectively ended any hope of a Panthers comeback.
Carolina's offence, led by quarterback Bryce Young, was largely stifled. Young was limited to just 54 passing yards on 14-of-24 attempts, threw an interception, and was the team's leading rusher with 30 yards, which included a 10-yard scramble for their sole touchdown. The Panthers were held to a meagre 139 total yards of offence, highlighting their struggles.
The loss was a major setback for Carolina's playoff ambitions. Entering the day at 8-8, they had a chance to win the NFC South after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost. Now, they must defeat Tampa Bay in their final regular-season game to claim the division title and end a seven-year postseason drought.
Playoff Picture Comes Into Focus
With this victory, the Seattle Seahawks can now clinch the NFC West title and the conference's number one seed if both the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams lose or tie in their upcoming fixtures. The team's dominant form positions them as a serious contender as the NFL playoffs approach.
Elsewhere in the NFL, the Miami Dolphins edged the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-17, thanks in part to a 63-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers. The loss extended Tampa Bay's losing streak to four games, leaving their playoff fate hinging on a final-week showdown with Carolina.
In other results, the Cincinnati Bengals overpowered the Arizona Cardinals 37-14 behind Joe Burrow's 305 passing yards and two touchdown throws to Ja'Marr Chase. The New England Patriots routed the New York Jets 42-10 as quarterback Drake Maye threw a career-high five touchdown passes, and the Cleveland Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 13-6, preventing their rivals from clinching the AFC North division.
