At a Glance
- Seahawks win 27-10 over Panthers, moving closer to NFC West title.
- 13-3 record still requires a Week 18 win over the 49ers for the No. 1 seed.
- Key plays: Zach Charbonnet 110 yards, 2 TDs; turnovers turned into scores.
- Why it matters: The outcome could lock Seattle into the top seed and home-field advantage for the playoffs.
The Seahawks finished a 27-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in a cold, wintry Sunday, with Zach Charbonnet rushing for 110 yards and two touchdowns. The team capitalized on two third-quarter turnovers, turning them into points.
Game Highlights
The win was driven by the defense’s opportunistic play, with DeMarcus Lawrence recovering a fumble and turning it into a touchdown. The Panthers’ quarterback Bryce Young was limited to 54 yards and one interception.
DeMarcus Lawrence stated:
> “We’re going to make sure we take care of business,”
> “It’s in our hands. The only thing we have to do is grasp it.”
Dave Canales said:
> “We definitely feel the missed opportunity, but at the same time we know what is in front of us,”
> “It is clearly defined. … We have to get over the fact that we missed an opportunity with the Bucs losing that game. But our focus has to go to the next one pretty quickly.”
Mike Macdonald added:
> “Same story every week: We didn’t flinch,”
> “A big emphasis this week was, ‘Can we stack plays in all three phases?’ It took us a half to do it but I felt like in the second half, we did a great job.”
Implications & Next Steps
Seattle sits at 13-3 and will need a win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18 to clinch the No. 1 NFC seed. The 49ers and Los Angeles Rams must both lose or tie for the Seahawks to secure the top spot.
- 49ers host Chicago on Sunday night.
- Rams visit Atlanta on Monday night.
| Team | Opponent | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Seahawks | San Francisco 49ers | Week 18 |
| Panthers | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Week 18 |
Injuries
- Seahawks: Rashid Shaheed (concussion) and Cody White (groin) left in the first half.
- Panthers: Ja’Tavion Sanders (ankle) carted out after first play; CB Robert Rochell (concussion); LB Claudin Cherelus (calf injury).
Key Takeaways
- Seahawks edge Panthers 27-10 but still need a Week 18 win over the 49ers for the top NFC seed.
- Key plays included Charbonnet’s 110-yard rushing and two TDs, and turnovers turned into points.
- The Panthers face a tough week-18 matchup at Tampa Bay to win their first division title since 2015.
The outcome of Week 18 will decide the playoff landscape for the NFC, with Seattle’s performance setting the stage for a high-stakes finish.
