Charbonnet Shines with 134 Yards and 2 TDs as Seahawks Dominate Cardinals 30-18 in NFC West Showdown

The Arizona Cardinals’ playoff hopes took a significant hit following their 30-18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. With this defeat, Arizona’s chances of making the postseason have plummeted to just 18% as their record now stands at 6-7.

In a commanding performance, Zach Charbonnet rushed for a career-high 134 yards and crossed the end zone twice. Geno Smith also played a pivotal role, throwing for 233 yards and a touchdown, contributing to the Seahawks’ continued dominance in the NFC West with their fourth consecutive win.

The Seahawks (8-5) not only extended their winning streak against Arizona to seven games but also completed a season sweep of their division rivals. After falling behind early, Seattle seized control of the game, leading 24-10 at halftime. Charbonnet’s impressive 51-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter encapsulated their momentum shift.

Taking over duties for the injured Kenneth Walker III, Charbonnet made the most of his expanded role, also catching seven passes for 59 yards. Smith’s efficiency was notable as he completed 24 of his 30 attempts.

From the Cardinals’ perspective, the loss is particularly disappointing. A victory could have moved them into a tie for first place in the division. Instead, the defeat marks their third straight loss, further alienating them from the playoff picture. Although Kyler Murray passed for 259 yards and two touchdowns, he also experienced crucial mistakes, throwing interceptions on consecutive possessions in the first quarter.

This game marked the first instance in Murray’s six-year career of consecutive games with at least two interceptions. He managed to reduce the deficit to 27-18 with a short touchdown pass to James Conner but missed another opportunity when Chad Ryland’s field goal attempt hit the upright.

Seattle capitalized on turnovers, as the first interception set them up for a quick scoring play, culminating in a touchdown pass from Smith to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Cardinals’ early control slipped away, leaving them with questions to answer moving forward.

The Seahawks are set to host the Green Bay Packers next week, while the Cardinals will face the New England Patriots at home.