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Game Recap: Takeaways, Improved Run Game Power Seahawks to Win Over Cardinals

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Game Recap: Takeaways, Improved Run Game Power Seahawks to Win Over Cardinals


Two defensive interceptions and the first 100-plus-yard rushing performance of running back Zach Charbonnet’s career fueled the Seattle Seahawks to a decisive 30-18 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at State Farm Stadium.

The defense failed to make it three straight games with a pick-six, but it made up for the lack of points by nabbing two interceptions of Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray — both of which led to touchdowns for the Seahawks offense in the first half.

Charbonnet, stepping into a starting role amid Kenneth Walker III’s absence, posted the best ground effort of the season by a Seattle running back, finishing with 22 carries for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the top performance by the Seahawks offensive line.

Finally taking some pressure off Geno Smith (24-30, 233 yards, TD), Seattle totaled 176 rushing yards. The team’s previous high this season was 158, back in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos. Since then, Seattle averaged just 83.5 rush yards per game before Sunday’s performance.

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The Seahawks (8-5, 2-2 NFC West) now possess a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Rams (7-6, 2-1) in the division. Arizona (6-7, 2-2) fell into a tie for third place with the San Francisco 49ers.

Of course, had the Rams not upset the now two-loss Buffalo Bills, Seattle would have had a three-game lead in the NFC West. Instead, the margin remains narrow despite the Seahawks winning four straight following their 1-5 stretch from Weeks 4–9.

Still, Seattle remains in control of their own destiny entering Week 15.

The Cardinals put up more points on their first possession of the game than they did in 60 minutes in Week 12. Quarterback Kyler Murray (25-38, 259 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) found wide receiver Michael Wilson for a 41-yard touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead.

But Murray’s successes were short-lived. Trailing 7-3, Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV intercepted a pass intended for rookie wideout Marvin Harrison Jr.

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On the first play of Seattle’s next possession, Smith found wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 19-yard touchdown. The Seahawks took their first lead of the game, 10-7.

The Seahawks struck on consecutive passes from Murray, as Coby Bryant undercut a deep target that Murray tried to squeeze into Zay Jones. It was Bryant’s second interception of Murray this season after having a 69-yard pick-six in the first matchup.

Arizona got three more points to bring it back to a one-score game. However, two Seattle drives later, Charbonnet ripped off by far the Seahawks’ longest run of the season on a 51-yard touchdown.

Running through a huge crease created by right tackle Abraham Lucas and right guard Sataoa Laumea in space, Charbonnet cut upfield and extended the Seahawks’ lead to 24-10. Previously, Seattle’s longest rush by a running back was a 28-yard scamper by Kenneth Walker III against the Detroit Lions in Week 4.

Charbonnet had 87 yards on the ground on just 10 carries in the first half. Walker’s season-high is 103 rushing yards (20 carries) versus the Denver Broncos in Week 1. With the addition of Kenny McIntosh’s production, the Seahawks totaled 121 first-half rush yards.

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Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) runs the ball against the Arizona Cardinals.

Dec 8, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) runs the ball against Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) and Jalen Thompson (34) in the first half at State Farm Stadium. / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The offensive production slowed for Seattle in the second half. Though the Seahawks got a late third-quarter field goal, the Cardinals hung around via a 12-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that was capped off by a 2-yard score by Conner.

Following a successful, designed scamper by Murray on a two-point conversion, Arizona pulled within nine points at 27-18.

Seattle punted on consecutive drives, giving the Cardinals a chance to pull closer while the Seahawks’ offense struggled. Arizona kicker Chad Ryland set up for a 40-yard field goal with 7:19 to play — a kick that would cut the Cardinals’ deficit to six — but it rebounded off the left upright and out.

With a long, methodical drive that followed, the Seahawks pushed their lead back to a two-touchdown advantage. Jason Myers drilled a 35-yarder to make it 30-18 with 1:56 left in the game.

Arizona churned some garbage time yardage, reaching Seattle’s 7-yard line, but Murray was sacked by Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins on the game’s final play for a 16-yard loss to punctuate the win.

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This game wasn’t just about Charbonnet. While the second-year pro continues to make his case for an expanded role in the offense, Seattle’s offensive line was the catalyst behind the Seahawks’ success on Sunday.

Take the 51-yard touchdown run, for example. It was a simple counter play, with the left side of the line and center Olu Oluwatimi blocking down to the right while Lucas and Laumea pulled. That was enough to spring Charbonnet free, and his speed did the rest.

There was little more to ask of the Seahawks’ run game against the Cardinals. If this is a performance that can be replicated, it completely changes the complexion of Seattle’s offense.

The defensive turnovers have shifted games over the last four contests. Seattle has six takeaways during their four-game win streak since the bye, and two of those interceptions have resulted directly in points.

In this game against the Cardinals, both interceptions led to a total of 14 points for the Seahawks’ offense. That jumpstarted the stretch of 17 points in the first half that fueled Seattle’s lead.

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The Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers (9-4) for a primetime game at 5:20 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15 at Lumen Field.

Seattle remains at risk of sacrificing its NFC West lead with the Rams remaining firmly in the hunt following two straight wins. Every victory is critical for the Seahawks, especially against the top teams in the NFC.

Rapid Reaction: Seahawks Land Early Punches, Secure 30-18 Win Over Cardinals

Halftime Observations: Interceptions Guide Seahawks to 24-10 Lead vs. Cardinals

Seahawks Rule Out RB Kenneth Walker III vs. Cardinals

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Ken Walker III, Michael Dickson Questionable For Seahawks, Cardinals Rematch

Seahawks Add P Ty Zentner to Practice Squad



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Seattle weather: Dry day Tuesday, showers return tonight

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Seattle weather: Dry day Tuesday, showers return tonight


We start off dry on Tuesday, then the chance of showers returns this evening. We have been dry for 14 days now with zero measurable rainfall at SEA Airport. Late Tuesday into Wednesday we could see potential freezing rain at the passes. Winds will be gusty at times Tuesday from the east, then switch to more westerly winds by Wednesday.

Today's Headlines

We start off dry on Tuesday, then the chance of showers returns this evening. 

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What’s next:

We will see mostly cloudy skies Tuesday with highs in the upper 40s to low 50s, with showers returning by the late evening hours. 

Tuesday's Highs

We will see mostly cloudy skies Tuesday with highs in the upper 40s to low 50s.

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A few showers will start to move in later Tuesday, with snowflakes or freezing rain into early Wednesday. 

Rain Tuesday

A few showers will start to move in later Tuesday, with snowflakes or freezing rain into early Wednesday. 

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Winds are forecasted to pick up Wednesday as our next system starts to roll through. Strongest winds will be along the coast and north interior. 

Winds Wednesday

Winds are forecasted to pick up Wednesday as our next system starts to roll through.  (FOX 13 Seattle)

Shower chances continue through the rest of the week with milder afternoon temperatures. Snow levels will also be high through Friday, reaching 6000 to 7000ft. Forecast is looking a little drier for the weekend, with a few sprinkles still in the forecast for now.

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Seattle Extended

Shower chances continue through the rest of the week with milder afternoon temperatures. 

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The Source: Information in this story came from the FOX 13 Seattle Weather Team and the National Weather Service.

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Walker ‘set a tone’ for Seattle Seahawks’ NFC title win

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Walker ‘set a tone’ for Seattle Seahawks’ NFC title win


Over the past month, Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III has seemingly struck the right balance between attacking downhill and taking the yardage in front of him, while still mixing in the tantalizing elusiveness and explosion that makes him such a dangerous home-run threat.

It’s resulted in the best stretch of his career.

Report details Seahawks WR Kupp’s turmoil with Rams

And it was on display again in Sunday night’s NFC Championship, as Walker totaled 111 yards from scrimmage to help Seattle advance to the Super Bowl with a 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

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Walker rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, while adding four catches for 49 yards. And he did so while taking on the bulk of the workload in the Seahawks’ first game since second-leading rusher Zach Charbonnet went down with a season-ending torn ACL.

“I thought Ken Walker was outstanding last night, considering he was being hit in the backfield (on some plays) almost as soon as he was handed the ball,” Bob Stelton said Monday on Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob. “He was driving the pile. The legs were churning.

“It just really felt like he set a tone,” Stelton added. “He ran with an attitude. And it was really cool to see that, because they needed it.”

Walker set that tone on the Seahawks’ opening drive, turning a potential loss of yardage into a hard-fought 4-yard gain while bulldozing his way to the Rams’ 2-yard line. Then, on the ensuing third-and-goal play, Walker showcased his spectacular explosion by bouncing outside and racing around the edge for a 2-yard TD to put Seattle on the board.

Walker really dazzled on the next possession, when he led the Seahawks on a field-goal drive with an impressive three-play sequence. It began with Walker bursting through a hole for an 8-yard gain. On the next play, he unleashed a jaw-dropping juke on linebacker Omar Speights for another 8-yard gain. And he followed that by taking a screen pass for 14 more yards.

“That juke he put on Omar Speights, that was amazing,” Stelton said. “… He had the defender grabbing at air.”

During a third-quarter touchdown drive, Walker had another tough, physical run where he pushed the pile an extra 5 yards for an 11-yard gain.

And in the game’s closing minutes, Walker kickstarted a pivotal clock-chewing drive by catching a short pass in the flat and eluding three defenders on his way to a 15-yard gain.

“He had a lot of great runs,” Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said during his Monday afternoon press conference. “He really did. And talk about hidden yardage within that game, he’s responsible for a lot of those hidden yards.

“I mean, we’d like to block him a little bit better at points. But when you have a guy like K9, he can make it right for you, so that was awesome.”

More on the Seattle Seahawks

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• Brock and Salk: Seattle Seahawks have embraced Macdonald’s message
• Facing former team, Kupp helps propel Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl

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Riq Woolen’s taunting foul highlights inconsistency

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Riq Woolen’s taunting foul highlights inconsistency


Every few years, the NFL makes taunting a “point of emphasis” for the coming season. That’s a kind way of saying to the officials, “You haven’t been doing your jobs properly. Please start doing so.”

And even with taunting and sportsmanship a point of emphasis again in 2025, the game officials still call taunting far too inconsistently. That fact is proven almost every week, when the league imposes fines for taunting fouls that weren’t flagged in real time.

On Sunday, in a key moment of the NFC Championship, the officials flagged Seattle cornerback Riq Woolen for taunting. His conduct was aimed not at any one opponent, but at the Rams’ sideline. Which conjured a memory of the ridiculous taunting call on former Bears defensive end Cassius Marsh for mean-mugging the Steelers’ sideline during a 2021 Monday night game, the last time taunting was a “point of emphasis.”

The 15-yard foul and automatic first down saved the Rams from having to punt while down 11 points with 17:20 to play.

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While Woolen crossed the line, the problem is no one truly knows where the line is — and when or if the officials will be policing it in real time. Taunting doesn’t get called on a regular basis. Which sends mixed signals to players and teams about what is and isn’t acceptable. Which sets the stage for a player to surrender to a human moment without realizing that they’re setting themselves up for a foul.

Complicating matters for Woolen was the fact that (if you watch the broadcast closely) his generalized taunt eventually put him in the vicinity of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. And Stafford was not pleased. Which worked against Woolen on the very next play, when he was covering Rams receiver Puka Nacua. Stafford targeted Woolen and the eleven-point lead shrunk to four in a flash.

It’s impressive that the Seahawks were able to keep things from snowballing, especially after Woolen and defensive back Nick Emmanwori were jawing on the sideline in the aftermath of the drive. The point for now is that inconsistency in officiating creates plenty of issues, including confusing players, coaches, viewers who don’t know what will, and won’t, spark a flag.

The situation justifies a conversation on whether the whole get-off-my-lawn approach to taunting should be revisited. The league’s thinking is that taunting creates hard feelings that will prompt the tauntee to look for a way to get back at the taunter later in the game, possibly by inflicting a big hit (legal or otherwise).

They say it’s rooted in sportsmanship. The truth is that it comes from the broader concern about player safety. And if one player isn’t looking for a way to take a free shot at another player, the chances of an extra concussion or two landing on the total annual number of head injuries are minimized — which contributes to a valuable P.R. mechanism for arguing that the game is “safer than ever.”

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And which in turn justifies the ongoing obsession for an 18th regular-season game.

At some point, however, the league may need to admit that the officials simply can’t (or won’t) pull the trigger on every taunt that happens. And if the league isn’t willing to abandon the no-taunting position, maybe the better approach is to treat taunting like the hip-drop tackle, which is rarely if ever flagged and which is addressed after the fact with fines.





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