The Seahawks still enter Week 4 as clear favorites, even after a stunning 33-31 loss to the short-handed Washington Commanders on Sunday. Seattle’s offense did its part in that defeat, piling up 437 total yards, and the early takeaway is that the production around Sam Darnold remains very much intact.
At FanDuel Sportsbook, Seattle opened as a 6.5-point favorite (-118), with the money line sitting at -335. The Chargers are listed at +270. The total is 44.5, which points toward a game with plenty of offense without quite reaching full shootout territory.
Los Angeles arrives at 0-3, with losses to the Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders and Buffalo Bills, but the record alone doesn’t tell the whole story. The offense has had trouble moving the ball under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, yet Justin Herbert still gives the Chargers a reliable veteran at quarterback, and he has help in Omarion Hampton, Ladd McConkey and Oronde Gadsden II.
There were also signs of life on defense in Week 3, when the Chargers intercepted Josh Allen twice in a loss to Buffalo. They also held Allen to 22 rushing yards, though he still managed to reach the end zone twice. Even with that showing, the market does not seem to be giving Los Angeles much credit.
Seattle, meanwhile, has its own big-play machine in Jaxon Smith-Nijgba, who has already posted 405 receiving yards and six touchdowns through three games. The bigger worry for the Seahawks is on the other side of the ball after they gave up 33 points to a Commanders team led by Marcus Mariota.
That concern is made sharper by injuries in the secondary. Safeties Julian Love (calf) and Ty Okada (hamstring) are both sidelined, and their status will be worth tracking as the week goes on. Okada has not played at all this season, and with head coach Mike Macdonald offering no update, it looks like Seattle could be without at least one of those starters.
Even with those issues, the 44.5 total fits the idea of a game that could feature points while still stopping short of a full-blown track meet. Seattle also has some recent precedent for a quick bounce-back after a defensive setback.
The Seahawks’ loss to Washington drew a comparison to Week 5 last season, when they fell 38-35 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while missing several key defensive pieces, then turned around and beat the Jacksonville Jaguars. The expectation is that they’ll be looking to respond the same way this time.
In Other News...
Ernest Jones Sent A Clear Message After Seattles First Loss
The Seahawks first loss of the season did more than end a 12-game winning streak, it also sharpened the focus on how this team handles the next turn. Ernest Jones pointed to execution as the issue after the setback, a familiar refrain for a defense that has spent most of the season carrying the expectation that Seattle can answer anything with steadiness and composure.
For a team still very much in the mix, Jones comments served as a reminder that the response matters as much as the result. Seattle has built its run on resilience, and after a game that snapped the streak, the real test is whether that confidence shows up quickly or gives way to a longer slide. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Rookie Picture Just Got More Concerning After Week 3
The Seahawks rookie class got a harsher spotlight in the wake of the Week 3 loss to Washington, and not every first-year player came away looking the same. Guard Beau Stephens continued to show promise while splitting snaps at right guard, a small but meaningful sign that Seattle may have found a young lineman it can keep developing as the season moves along.
Elsewhere, the picture was less encouraging. Running back Jadarian Price had a rough outing, highlighted by a fumble that cut into his playing time, and the teams roster shuffling only adds to the uncertainty around the group. Seattle brought back defensive tackle Uso Seumalo and moved guard Anthony Bradford to injured reserve, while injuries at safety have further thinned the available options, leaving the rookie pipeline under a little more pressure than the Seahawks likely wanted this early. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Loss Reopened A Roster Debate Fans Wont Ignore
The Seahawks loss to Washington did more than add another mark in the standings. It pushed a few familiar roster questions back into the spotlight, especially the ones that have been hanging around the edges of the season for weeks. Special teams has been one area of concern, and the decision to move on from Cody White keeps looking more consequential when that unit struggles to find steady footing.
Up front, the right guard spot is still in flux, with Christian Haynes and Beau Stephens continuing to share the conversation rather than settle it. And while Rashid Shaheed brings a different kind of speed to the offense, the fit still invites debate when the line is not holding up and injuries keep shaping the weekly picture. The Seahawks can point to the moving parts as context, but the larger issue is whether the roster as built is giving them enough stability where they need it most. [Read more 🡒]