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Rapid Reactions: Defense Dominates Again In Seahawks' Week 17 Win At Carolina

The Seahawks Started Slow On Offense, But Rolled To A 27-10 Win To Improve To 13-3

Dec 28, 2025 at 01:08 PM

John Boyle

Seahawks.com Senior Reporter

CHARLOTTE—What started as a low-scoring slugfest quickly turned into another decisive victory for the Seahawks thanks to two third-quarter takeaways that led to two quick Seattle touchdowns.

And with Sunday's 27-10 win over the Panthers, the Seahawks improved to 13-3 this season, marking just the third time in franchise history they have won 13 games in a season, with the other two teams to accomplish that, the 2005 and 2013 squads, both reaching the Super Bowl.

1. The Seahawks remain in control of the NFC with one game left.

The Seahawks came into the weekend as the NFC's top seed, and they'll remain in that spot heading into their regular season finale against the 49ers. At 13-3, the Seahawks will win the NFC West and secure homefield advantage throughout the playoffs if they can beat the 49ers next weekend. The 49ers will also be playing for both of those rewards if they can beat the Bears on Sunday night. If they lose (or tie) against Chicago, they would be eliminated from NFC West contention, though they have already clinched a playoff berth.

2. Seattle's defense had yet another great game.

With both teams struggling to get going on offense in the first half of Sunday's game, the Seahawks defense came up with a spark, then another one, to help blow the game open.

First, it was DeMarcus Lawrence forcing a fumble and recovering it to set up the Seahawks' first touchdown of the game to make it 10-3. Moments after that Zach Carbonnet run put the Seahawks ahead, the defense got its second turnover on as many Panthers possessions, with Julian Love intercepting Bryce Young to give the offense a short field it would turn into another touchdown, this time a Sam Darnold touchdown pass to AJ Barner.

While the Panthers did manage to find the end zone once, something Seattle's defensive players won't like, it was overall a dominant performance for the Seahawks, who held Carolina to just 139 yards 10 first downs and a 1 for 11 third-down conversion rate.

3. DeMarcus Lawrence has been such a great addition to the Seahawks defense.

Earlier in the week, Lawrence was selected to the Pro Bowl for the fifth time in his 12-year career. On Sunday, he reminded everyone why.

Lawrence, who all season long has been an outstanding addition to Seattle's defense, came up with arguably the biggest play of the game to spark a third-quarter surge that helped the Seahawks take control of the game. With the score tied 3-3 early in the third quarter, a promising Seahawks drive ended with a turnover when Sam Darnold was intercepted in the end zone.

That could have been a critical play in a close game, but instead the Seahawks got the ball right back when Lawrence forced and recovered a fumble. He initially was credited with a touchdown after getting up and running to the end zone, but upon review was ruled down by contact. The Seahawks would get that touchdown a few plays later when Zach Charbonnet punched it in from 2 yards out.

Lawrence, who now has three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries this season, also added his sixth sack of the year late in the game to all but kill any comeback hopes Carolina might have had. Lawrence also finished with six tackles to tie for the team lead.

4. It was Zach Charbonnet's turn to shine in the running game.

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald has said all year that the Seahawks feel like they have two starting running backs in Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, and the past two games were a great illustration of that.

In their Week 16 win over the Rams, Walker rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown while adding 64 receiving yards. On Sunday, it was Charbonnet's turn to shine, with the third-year back rushing for 118 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, giving him his first 100-yard game of the year. Charbonnet, who now has 11 touchdowns this season, is the first Seahawks with double digit rushing touchdowns in a season since Marshawn Lynch did it in 2014.

5. Ty Okada stepped up yet again.

After playing well while filling in for an injured Julian Love, Ty Okada was out of the starting lineup in recent weeks with Love back from his hamstring injury. A knee injury to Coby Bryant put Okada back in the lineup, however, and in what has been a theme for the defense all year, a player filling in for an injured teammate came through in a big way.

Okada finished the game tied for the team lead with six tackles, and had several impressive open-field tackles, including one for a loss.