Seahawks shut down Panthers, Bryce Young as sixth straight win keeps NFC's No. 1 seed in play

Carolina registered an ugly offensive performance in an important NFC showdown

The Seattle Seahawks have now won six straight games after defeating the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, 27-10. This was a sloppy contest that featured a 3-3 halftime score. However, a couple of Carolina turnovers in the third quarter opened the door for the Seahawks to run away with win No. 13, and that's exactly what they did.

While victorious, Sam Darnold didn't fare particularly well in his revenge game. He completed 18 of 27 passes for 147 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and also lost a fumble in the first half. Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught nine passes for 72 yards, but the Seahawks really relied on the ground game. Zach Charbonnet rushed 18 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

As for the Panthers, their offense recorded just 139 total yards. Bryce Young completed 14 of 24 passes for a mere 54 yards and one interception, but did add a touchdown on the ground. Rookie phenom Tetairoa McMillan caught just one pass for five yards.

Let's take a look at what went down in Charlotte on Sunday.

Carolina's offensive woes

It's true that Seattle entered this week ranked top seven in both total defense and scoring defense, but that doesn't excuse what this Panthers offense looked like on Sunday. Carolina didn't reach 100 yards of total offense until very late in the third quarter or convert a third down until the second half. In fact, Carolina converted just 1 of 11 third downs.

Young didn't find anything that resembled a rhythm all day, and Rico Dowdle was held to under 60 yards rushing for the seventh straight game. This kind of failure doesn't fall on the shoulders of one player or coach. It's Dave Canales' job to put his playmakers in position to succeed, and it's Young's job to run the offense and take care of the ball. Both failed on Sunday.

Zach Charbonnet's big day

DeMarcus Lawrence was impressive with six tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery. If he was not the game's MVP, that honor would go to Charbonnet. He rushed 18 times for a season-high 110 yards and two touchdowns and became the first Seahawks player to rush for 10 touchdowns in a season since Marshawn Lynch in 2014.

Turning point

It looked like momentum was swinging in Carolina's favor when Darnold threw an interception on Seattle's first possession of the second half. However, Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard fumbled the ball away on the very next play! 

This set up the first touchdown of the game -- a Charbonnet score. 

On Carolina's next possession, Young underthrew a pass to McMillan, and it was picked off by Julian Love.

That led to an A.J. Barner touchdown to extend Seattle's lead to 14 points. 

What's next and playoff implications

Who will represent the NFC South in the playoffs is not as simple as you think. The winner of Panthers at Buccaneers next week will make the playoffs -- unless the Falcons beat the Rams on Monday night and the Saints next week. If the Falcons win out and the Bucs beat the Panthers, the three-way 8-9 tie would give the division to the Panthers.

The Seahawks can clinch the NFC West and the No. 1 seed in the conference if the Rams and 49ers lose this week, or Seattle can just beat the 49ers in Week 18.

[Dec 28, 2025 at 3:49 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Have a day, Zach Charbonnet. He has now rushed 18 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns, and likely put this game away. 

[Dec 28, 2025 at 3:43 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

This one may be over. Bryce Young was sacked on a second-and-3, and then again taken down on a third-and-6. Carolina couldn't covert on a fourth-and-17, so Seattle gets the ball back up 10 points with 3:40 remaining in the fourth quarter. 

[Dec 28, 2025 at 3:38 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

The Seahawks just put together an eight-minute drive that went for 55 yards on 14 plays, and Jason Myers is good from 30 yards out. Seattle leads 20-10 with 5:33 remaining in the fourth quarter. Let's see what Bryce Young has for us. 

[Dec 28, 2025 at 3:32 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Seattle was facing a third-and-21, but Jaycee Horn grabbed Jaxon Smith-Njigba's face mask, which moved the chains for the Seahawks! Pretty deflating if you're a Panthers fan. 

[Dec 28, 2025 at 3:24 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

The Panthers aren't done yet. Following Seattle's two TDs, Bryce Young engineered his best drive of the game -- a 69-yard, 13-play possession which was capped by a 10-yard scramble.

The Seahawks now lead, 17-10, with 13:41 remaining in the fourth quarter. While Carolina has looked helpless for the majority of the afternoon, keep in mind Young has six game-winning drives this season (T-most in NFL w/Bo Nix & Caleb Williams) 

[Dec 28, 2025 at 3:04 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

It's deja vu. Didn't this just happen? A Panthers turnover gives Seattle a short field, and the Seahawks cash in with another TD. This one is getting out of hand. 

[Dec 28, 2025 at 2:59 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

There's no getting around it, the Panthers offense has been abysmal today. 73 total yards of offense, and now back-to-back turnovers. 

This could be the turning point of this matchup. 

[Dec 28, 2025 at 2:56 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

We finally have a touchdown! Following the Hubbard fumble, Seattle marched 21 yards down the field on six plays, and Zach Charbonnet punched in the TD.

SEA 10
CAR 3
8:45 remaining in the third quarter

[Dec 28, 2025 at 2:54 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

On the first play following the interception, Chuba Hubbard fumbled away possession!

Seahawks get the ball back at the Panthers' 21-yard line. Massive play from DeMarcus Lawrence.  

[Dec 28, 2025 at 2:49 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Sam Darnold has committed his second turnover of the game, as his one-on-one ball to JSN down the left sideline was a bit too long. Intercepted by Mike Jackson. 

[Dec 28, 2025 at 2:33 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

First downs: SEA 7 CAR 5
Third downs: SEA 3-8 CAR 0-6
Total yards: SEA 122 CAR 65
Penalties: SEA 2-30 CAR 1-5
Turnovers: SEA 1 CAR 0
TOP: SEA 16:08 CAR 13:52

Sam Darnold 8/14 56 yards
Bryce Young 7/14 16 yards

Kenneth Walker 9 carries 44 yards
Zach Charbonnet 5 carries 37 yards 
Rico Dowdle 7 carries 33 yards

Jaxon Smith-Njigba 5 receptions 32 yards
Jalen Coker 1 catch 8 yards

[Dec 28, 2025 at 2:28 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

It appeared the Seahawks were about to break the tie, but Sam Darnold was ruled short on a fourth-and-1 sneak at the Panthers' 39-yard-line. It initially appeared he got it, but the officials ruled him short. We didn't get a long look at it. 

[Dec 28, 2025 at 2:12 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Carolina picked up just nine yards on four plays, but Fitzgerald is good from 35 yards out. Tie game with just under four minutes remaining in the first half.

[Dec 28, 2025 at 2:09 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

The Panthers needed this one. Nic Scourton got to Sam Darnold and knocked the ball loose before he started his throwing motion. That's a fumble, and Carolina takes over with favorable field position. 

[Dec 28, 2025 at 2:03 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Carolina just put together its best drive of the day, picking up 36 yards on 11 plays. However, the Panthers turned the ball over on downs on fourth-and-4 from the Seahawks' 41-yards line. 

SEA 3
CAR 0
6:16 remaining in the second quarter

[Dec 28, 2025 at 1:46 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

The Seahawks' prized trade-deadline addition went down on the Carolina sideline, but was eventually able to walk off on his own. 

[Dec 28, 2025 at 1:36 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Carolina has had three possessions, and have punted on all three. Bryce Young is 3 of 5 for 2 yards, and has yet to complete a pass to one of his wide receivers or tight ends. 

[Dec 28, 2025 at 1:31 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Seattle scored first, as Sam Darnold led a nine-play, 40-yard drive that was capped by a Jason Myers 48-yard field goal. The possession was kept alive with an impressive 25-yard run by Zach Charbonnet on a third-and-15! 

SEA 3
CAR 0
3:23 remaining in the first quarter

[Dec 28, 2025 at 1:18 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Both Carolina and Seattle could not get the offenses going to begin the game. The Panthers punted after just four plays, while the Seahawks picked up nine yards on six plays before booting it away. An intentional grounding penalty set up a third-and-30 for Seattle! 

[Dec 28, 2025 at 1:08 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Panthers TE Ja'Tavion Sanders was rolled up on from behind on Rico Dowdle's 11-yard carry. He needed assistance getting off the field, and was not putting much weight on that ankle. Sanders was eventually carted to the locker room. 

[Dec 28, 2025 at 12:56 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Bryce Young's WR1 is going to play despite his illness. ESPN reports that McMillan arrived to the stadium not feeling great, but he's officially active. 

[Dec 28, 2025 at 12:52 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

QB Jalen Milroe
S Coby Bryant
LB Jared Ivey
T Charles Cross
G Bryce Cabeldue
T/G Mason Richman
NT Brandon Pili

[Dec 28, 2025 at 12:52 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

WR Hunter Renfrow
S Demani Richardson
DT Jared Harrison-Hunte
TE James Mitchell
DT Tershawn Wharton