The Seattle Seahawks are quietly - or maybe not so quietly anymore - building something special in 2025. Sitting near the top of the NFC, they’ve become one of the most complete teams in the league, with a defense that flies around the field and an offense that can punch you in the mouth or beat you with finesse.
And if you're a playoff hopeful in the NFC, one thing is clear: you do not want to head into Lumen Field in January. That place gets loud, cold, and downright hostile for visiting teams.
One of the more intriguing storylines surrounding this team isn’t about the quarterback or even the defense - it’s about the backfield. The running back situation in Seattle has become a bit of a chess match, both for the coaching staff and for opposing defenses.
Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet are both legitimate RB1 talents, but only one guy can get the ball on any given snap. So how do the Seahawks manage it?
With a healthy dose of unpredictability and a commitment to keeping defenses guessing.
What makes this tandem so effective is that it’s not just a matter of talent - it’s chemistry. Former Seahawks great Shaun Alexander, who knows a thing or two about what it takes to thrive in Seattle’s backfield, recently weighed in on the dynamic duo during an appearance on Up & Adams.
“You know, just because I know those two guys, they actually work well together,” Alexander said. “There are some guys that are like, ‘Hey, I just need to beat the guy.
I need all the carries.’ But both Kenneth and Charb, they like the one-two punch.
It works well together. They are both selfless when it comes to this.”
That selflessness is showing up on Sundays.
Walker has racked up 160 carries for 733 yards and four touchdowns this season. He’s been the go-to guy on early downs, providing that explosive cut-and-go style that keeps defenses honest.
Charbonnet, meanwhile, has carved out a niche of his own - 125 carries, 437 yards, and eight touchdowns. He’s become a battering ram in the red zone, using his size and physicality to punch it in when the field gets tight.
Alexander sees a bit of himself in both backs. “When I watch Kenneth I see a lot of stuff that I used to do in him, but Charbonnet has got my size,” he said. “And so they handle it well.”
That kind of balance is rare. Usually, a team has a feature back and a change-of-pace guy.
But in Seattle, it’s more like a 1A and 1B situation - and that’s a nightmare for defensive coordinators. You can’t key in on one style, because the Seahawks can shift gears from Walker’s slashing runs to Charbonnet’s downhill power without missing a beat.
This two-headed monster is a big reason why Seattle’s offense has been so effective this year. They control the clock, wear defenses down, and keep the pressure off the quarterback. And with the playoffs looming, this backfield duo could be the X-factor that pushes the Seahawks from contenders to serious title threats.
Next up, they face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 14 - another test, and another chance for Walker and Charbonnet to show why they might just be the most underrated tandem in football right now.