Seattle, WA
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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SEATTLE — Seattle activists are rallying to demand justice on Wednesday following the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis.
The Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR) and Seattle Against War (SAW) have organized an emergency press conference to protest the incident.
The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building in Seattle.
Woman killed by ICE officers in Minneapolis; Mayor tells ICE to ‘get the f***’ out
The shooting occurred on Wednesday morning at the corner of 34th and Portland Avenue in Minneapolis. According to preliminary information, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said, the woman was sitting in her vehicle blocking the roadway when a federal law enforcement officer approached on foot. When the vehicle began to drive away, at least two shots were fired, and the vehicle crashed on the side of the road.
In response, emergency protests have erupted in Minneapolis and are expected to continue through Jan. 11.
The Seattle groups are joining the Legalization 4 All Network in calling for an immediate end to ICE raids and mass deportations.
They are also demanding justice and accountability for the woman who was killed, including the release of the name of the ICE agent involved and the names of all agents participating in such operations.
This is a developing story; check back for updates.
This month’s West Seattle Art Walk on Thursday will feature a type of art that’s not often seen during the monthly event – quilt art! We received the photos and announcement this afternoon from Jill Boone:
The Contemporary QuiltArt Association is featured at Windermere in the Junction this Thursday for the Art Walk. We are doing a big inventory reduction sale and handmade, creative fiber art pieces will be available in a huge price range. We will have handmade cards for $5/ each and matted art that are 5×7 and 12 x 12 pieces from $10 to $200. In addition, four of our member artists will have their art quilts for sale and they are stunning! We hope people will come shop and also stop in to talk with some of our members about CQA, as we are a vibrant and welcoming group of artists – beginners to world renowned!
Windermere is at 4526 California SW; this show is set for 5-8 pm Thursday (January 8). See the full list/map of this month’s Art Walk venues by going here!
District 3 Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth will lead the Seattle City Council as its President for the next two years, following a unanimous vote at the first council meeting of 2026. Taking over the gavel from Sara Nelson, who left office at the end of last year after losing to progressive challenger Dionne Foster, Hollingsworth will inherit the power to assign legislation to committees, set full council agendas, and oversee the council’s independent central staff.
The role of Council President is usually an administrative one, without much fanfare involved. But Nelson wielded the role in a more heavy-handed way: making major staff changes that were seen as ideologically motivated, assigning legislation that she sponsored to the committee she chaired, and drawing a hard line against disruptions in council chambers that often ground council meetings to a halt.
With the Nelson era officially over, Hollingsworth starts her term as President on a council that is much more ideologically fractured than the one she was elected to serve on just over two years ago. The addition of Foster, and new District 2 Councilmember Eddie Lin, has significantly bolstered the council’s progressive wing, and the election of Katie Wilson as the city’s first progressive major in 16 years will also likely change council dynamics as well.
“This is my promise to you all and the residents of the city of Seattle: everyone who walks through these doors will be treated with respect and kindness, no matter how they show up, in their spirit, their attitude or their words,” Hollingsworth said following Tuesday’s vote. “We will always run a transparent and open process as a body. Our shared responsibility is simple: both basics, the fundamentals, measurable outcomes, accessibility to government and a hyper focus on local issues and transparency.”
Seattle politicos are predicting a closely split city council, arguably with a 3-3-3 composition, with two distinct factions of progressives and centrists, and three members — Dan Strauss, Debora Juarez, and Hollingsworth herself — who tend to swing between the two. Managing those coalitions will be a big part of Hollingsworth’s job, with a special election in District 5 this fall likely to further change the dynamic.
Though it took Tuesday’s vote to make the leadership switch official, Hollingsworth spent much of December acting as leader already, coordinating the complicated game of musical chairs that is the council’s committee assignments. In a move that prioritized comity among the councilmembers ahead of policy agendas, Hollingsworth kept many key committee assignments the same as they had been under Nelson.
Rob Saka will remain in place as chair of the powerful transportation committee, Bob Kettle will keep controlling the public safety committee, and Maritza Rivera will continue heading the education committee, which will be tasked with implementing the 2024 Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy.
There are plenty of places for progressives to find a silver lining in the new assignment roster, however. Foster will chair the housing committee, overseeing issues like renter protections and appointments to the Seattle Social Housing PDA’s governing council. Alexis Mercedes Rinck, who secured a full four-year term in November, will helm the human services committee, a post she’d been eyeing for much of her tenure and which matches her background working at the King County Regional Homelessness Authority. Labor issues have been added to her committee as well, and she will vice-chair the transportation committee.
Lin, a former attorney in the City Attorney’s office who focused on housing issues, will stay on as chair of the wonky land use committee, after inheriting the post from interim D2 appointee Mark Solomon last month. Thaddaeus Gregory, who served as Solomon’s policy director and has extensive experience in land use issues, has been retained in Lin’s office.
The land use committee overall will likely be a major bright spot of urbanist policymaking this year, with positions for all three progressives along with Strauss and Hollingsworth. The housing committee will feature exactly the same members, but with Juarez swapped out for Strauss.
In contrast, Kettle’s public safety committee will feature Eddie Lin as the sole progressive voice, and Dan Strauss’s finance committee, which oversees supplemental budget updates that occur mid-year, won’t have any of the council’s three progressives on it at all. Strauss will also retain his influential role as budget chair.
But the biggest issues facing the council in 2026 will be handled with all nine councilmembers in standalone committees: the continued implementation of the Comprehensive Plan, the renewal of the 2019 Library Levy and the 2020 Seattle Transit Measure, and the city’s budget, which faces significant pressures after outgoing Mayor Bruce Harrell added significant spending that wasn’t supported by future year revenues.
Hollingsworth will likely represent a big change in leadership compared to Sara Nelson, but with such a fractured council, smooth sailing is far from assured.
Ryan Packer has been writing for The Urbanist since 2015, and currently reports full-time as Contributing Editor. Their beats are transportation, land use, public space, traffic safety, and obscure community meetings. Packer has also reported for other regional outlets including BikePortland, Seattle Met, and PubliCola. They live in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle.
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