Mike Macdonald’s Seattle Seahawks had their 12-game overall winning streak snapped last Sunday in a 33-31 road loss to the Washington Commanders. Now they head into Week 4 trying to avoid something they haven’t done under Macdonald: lose back-to-back games. That hasn’t happened since Weeks 15 and 16 of 2024.
The opponent is a Los Angeles Chargers team still searching for its first win of 2026. Jim Harbaugh’s group dropped a 24-16 decision at Buffalo after failing to cash in on five Bills turnovers. That leaves the Chargers at their worst start since they opened 0-4 in 2017.
This matchup also comes with a little history attached. From 1977 through 2001, the Seahawks and Chargers were both in the AFC West.
After realignment in 2002, Seattle went back to the NFC West, where it had played in its 1976 debut season. Since then, these clubs have met only seven times.
Seattle won the most recent meeting, a 37-23 result at SoFi Stadium four years ago. The Chargers’ last trip to the Pacific Northwest ended in a 25-17 win in 2018.
The Chargers’ offense has been sluggish early. Under coordinator Mike McDaniel, it entered Week 4 ranked 20th in the NFL in both total yards per game and passing yards per game.
Harbaugh’s team has scored five offensive touchdowns, but it has also turned the ball over six times. That total is one fewer touchdown than Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba has scored on his own, with six.
Seattle’s defense has been the more imposing unit so far. A year ago, Macdonald’s team allowed an NFL-low 292 points and gave up the sixth-fewest total yards in the league.
Through three weeks of 2026, the Seahawks lead the NFL in total defense and rank first against the pass. The odd wrinkle: all five offensive touchdowns allowed by Seattle have come through the air.
The Chargers can still point to some ground production, averaging 113.0 rushing yards per game, which ranks 12th in the league. But the explosive runs haven’t been there.
Their longest carry from scrimmage is just 17 yards, set by both Omarion Hampton and 2026 free-agent pickup Keaton Mitchell. Even so, they did post a season-high 131 rushing yards in last week’s loss in Buffalo.
On the other side, Leonard Williams has been a steady force for Seattle up front. The 12-year veteran is helping hold opponents to 87.0 rushing yards per game, and Pro Football Focus has him ranked 17th among interior defenders. He has 13 tackles, five quarterback hits, and nearly half of Seattle’s seven sacks this season with 3.0.
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 🡒]