Kenneth Walker III Carries the Seahawks to Gritty, Season-Defining Win Over Rams
For the better part of three quarters on Thursday night in Los Angeles, it looked like the Seahawks were outmatched, outgunned, and on their way to another frustrating loss. But one player refused to let the game slip away.
One player kept punching, kept running, and kept Seattle in it when everything else was falling apart. That player was Kenneth Walker III.
The fourth-year back out of Michigan State didn’t just have a good night-he put the team on his back and dragged them into a fight they had no business winning early on. Before the rest of the Seahawks found their rhythm, Walker was the heartbeat of the offense, the spark that refused to go out.
Yes, others stepped up later. Rashid Shaheed flipped the script with a clutch play.
Zach Charbonnet came through with a heads-up two-point conversion that tied the game. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Griffin Barner all made big-time grabs.
And Sam Darnold, in what might’ve been his most composed stretch as a Seahawk, delivered down the stretch with precision.
But make no mistake-this game turned because of Kenneth Walker.
Let’s walk through the four plays that defined his night-and maybe Seattle’s season.
Early Spark: 46 Yards of Statement-Making
On just the third play from scrimmage, Seattle dialed up a screen to Walker in the left flat. It looked routine at first-until Walker turned it into something far more.
Behind solid blocks from center Jalen Sundell and left tackle Josh Jones, he found daylight. But it was Walker’s vision that took it to another level.
He read the field like a GPS, using left guard Grey Zabel’s downfield block to nearly break it all the way. He was brought down at the Rams’ five-yard line after a 46-yard gain-his longest of the night.
Two plays later, Charbonnet punched it in for the game’s first touchdown. But the tone had already been set: Walker had shown up to play.
Third-and-16? Not a Problem
Fast forward to late in the second quarter. Seattle had just endured two straight three-and-outs and watched the Rams rattle off three consecutive scores. They were staring down a third-and-16 from their own 29-yard line, and the play call-a draw to Walker-looked like a white flag.
But Walker had other plans.
He cut hard into the hole, accelerated past the first wave, and then powered through contact for a 17-yard gain and a crucial first down. It was the kind of run that doesn’t just move the chains-it changes the energy. It told the Rams, and his own sideline, that this game wasn’t over.
Seattle didn’t score on that drive-Kupp fumbled in the red zone-but it stopped the bleeding. More importantly, it kept the ball out of Matthew Stafford’s hands with two minutes left in the half. That run might not show up as a highlight, but it was a momentum shifter.
Second Half, First Punch: A 55-Yard Bolt
Two minutes into the third quarter, Walker struck again. This time, it was a run off right tackle Abraham Lucas.
He bounced it outside, turned on the jets, and left defenders grasping at air. Fifty-five yards later, the Seahawks were back in front.
It was a statement run-equal parts speed, vision, and determination. And it reminded everyone watching that Kenneth Walker isn’t just a complementary piece in this offense. He’s the engine.
The Chase-Down That Meant Everything
Later in the third quarter, with Seattle clinging to life, Darnold tried to hit Shaheed on a quick slant. Instead, slot corner Josh Wallace jumped the route and took off the other way. It looked like a pick-six all the way.
Then, out of nowhere, Walker tracked him down.
It won’t show up in the box score as a turnover or a touchdown, but it was one of the most telling plays of the night. Wallace was stopped at the one-yard line after a 56-yard return. The Rams scored a play later, but that hustle-pure effort, pure heart-spoke volumes.
Walker didn’t need to make that play. But he did. And that kind of effort has a way of galvanizing a team.
The Final Tally
Walker finished the night with 14 touches for 164 yards. That’s 11.7 yards per touch-an absurd number at any level, let alone in a must-win NFL game. He accounted for nearly 40% of the Seahawks’ total offense.
He didn’t touch the ball much in the fourth quarter or overtime, but by then, his work was done. He had already kept Seattle in the game long enough for the rest of the team to catch up. Shaheed lit the fuse, the defense brought the pressure, and Darnold found his groove late.
But none of that happens without Kenneth Walker setting the tone.
Looking Ahead
Smith-Njigba has been Seattle’s breakout offensive weapon this season. Others have had their moments. But Thursday night was a reminder that if the Seahawks want to hang with the heavyweights in the NFC, Walker needs to be the focal point.
He’s not just a back who can break a big run-he’s a tone-setter, a playmaker, and a leader by example. And as Seattle eyes a potential playoff push, Walker just might be the key to unlocking their best football.
If Thursday night was any indication, the Seahawks have their identity. And it starts with No. 9.