Mike Macdonald gets his first regular-season shot at Jim Harbaugh on Sunday, and the Seahawks have a chance to make it a rough afternoon for the Chargers in Week 4.
Seattle comes in at 2-1 and is trying to shake off a Week 3 loss to the Washington Commanders. That defeat stung a little more because the Seahawks had looked so sharp the week before, when Drew Lock was starting at quarterback and Sam Darnold was back under center. Even so, Seattle has shown under Macdonald that it can respond quickly after a setback, and it enters this matchup as the favorite.
The Chargers, meanwhile, are coming off a 24-16 loss to the Bills. Oddly enough, that was their best offensive showing of the season.
In their first two games, they managed only 14 points against the Arizona Cardinals and the Las Vegas Raiders, and neither of those defenses is as strong as Seattle’s. That sets up the first bold call: the Seahawks defense holds Justin Herbert and the Chargers to 10 points or fewer.
Darnold should have plenty of room to work if Seattle’s passing game keeps humming the way it did in Week 3. In his return, he threw for 379 yards and four touchdowns, though he also had two interceptions.
Still, he helped the Seahawks pile up 31 points despite the loss. Against a Chargers defense that has allowed 699 passing yards, he looks poised for another productive day.
That kind of performance would likely mean more fireworks from Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who already has six touchdown catches in the first three games. It would also give Rasheed Shahid a chance to get rolling after a quiet start, with the bold prediction calling for him to haul in his first touchdown of the season.
The last prediction leans on Herbert’s recent turnover issues. After throwing just seven interceptions in 2023 and three in 2024, he was picked off 13 times in 2025 and already has four interceptions in three games this season. That opens the door for Seattle’s defense to jump routes and create chaos, which is why the final call has the Seahawks finishing with three interceptions.
In Other News...
Seahawks Backfield Concern Grows As Key Defender Trends Toward Return
The Seahawks Thursday injury report brought a little clarity on the back end and a few more questions in the backfield. Safety Ty Okada was limited, and Julian Love was also listed as limited, though Love is expected to play against the Chargers. Seattles running back room, meanwhile, kept drawing attention, with rookie Jadarian Price sidelined by a chest injury and George Holani limited in practice.
Zach Charbonnet was back on the field in a limited capacity after working his way back from an ACL tear, a sign the Seahawks are at least moving him closer to availability. He is not yet eligible to play in games, but his return to practice adds another layer to a backfield that already looks thin at the moment, especially with Seattle still sorting through who will be available when the Chargers come to town. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Rushing Struggles Point To A Bigger Offensive Concern
Seattles rushing problems have become one of the clearest signs that the offense is still trying to find its footing. The Seahawks are averaging 101 rushing yards per game, a drop from what they had hoped to establish, and the reasons are layered: the loss of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Kenneth Walker IIIs absence, injuries to other ball-carriers and the usual ripple effects that come with quarterback instability.
Even with that uneven ground game, the offense has still managed to put up 25 points per game on average, which is part of why the bigger concern feels less like a collapse than a work in progress. The expectation around the team is that the rushing attack should improve as the pieces settle, but for now it remains tied to a larger question about how quickly Seattle can regain consistency across the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Get Encouraging Injury News Before A Bigger Chargers Test
The Seahawks got a useful midweek lift as they worked through practice preparations for a bigger Chargers test. Zach Charbonnet opened his practice window, a meaningful step as Seattle continues to manage its backfield, while Ty Okada was back in limited work after missing time. The rest of the injury report brought a familiar mix of limited and full participation, giving the coaching staff a better sense of who might be available as the game plan comes into focus.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, had a more uneven day on the field. Some Chargers players were back to full participation, but Derwin James and Ladd McConkey did not practice after being limited the previous day, a sign that the situation still bears watching on both sides of the matchup. For Seattle, the encouraging developments are helpful, but the real test will be how much of that progress carries into a game against a Chargers team that is still sorting out its own health. [Read more 🡒]