Rookie Kenneth Walker III rushed for a career-high 168 yards and two touchdowns, including a 74-yarder with 6:56 remaining, as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 37-23 Sunday in Inglewood, Calif.
Geno Smith completed 20 of 27 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns — both to Marquise Goodwin — as the Seahawks (4-3) moved into sole possession of first place in the NFC West.
The Chargers (4-3) had a three-game winning streak snapped. Justin Herbert was 33-of-51 passing for 293 yards and two touchdowns. Austin Ekeler was limited to 31 yards on nine carries, but added 12 catches for 96 yards and scored rushing and receiving TDs.
The Seahawks turned two first-quarter turnovers by Herbert — an interception and a fumble — into a 17-0 lead.
Smith threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Goodwin in the back right corner of the end zone to open the scoring midway through the first.
An interception by Seahawks safety Ryan Neal led to a 12-yard touchdown run by Walker to make it 14-0. And a strip sack by Darrell Taylor turned into a 46-yard field goal by Jason Myers with 1:08 left in the quarter.
The Chargers pulled within 17-14 as Ekeler scored on a 7-yard run and Herbert threw a 13-yard scoring strike to Mike Williams.
Smith led a seven-play, 73-yard drive late in the half, capped by a 23-yard touchdown pass to Goodwin, to give Seattle a 24-14 lead at the intermission.
After the Chargers punted on their first possession of the second half, the Seahawks put together a 17-play drive that took 10:20 off the clock. But they stalled in the red zone and had to settle for Myers’ 34-yard field goal to extend the lead to 13 points.
The Chargers tackled Walker in the end zone for a safety early in the fourth before Myers kicked a 50-yard field goal to make it 30-16.
After Walker’s long scoring run, Ekeler caught a 1-yard screen pass to complete the scoring.
Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf suffered a knee injury late in the first quarter and didn’t return. Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson was carted off the field in the second quarter with a knee injury.
–Field Level Media
