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# Halftime Observations: Ken Walker III, Seahawks Knotted Up With Panthers 3-3 in Defensive Slog
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/halftime-observations-seattle-seahawks-knotted-up-carolina-panthers-defensive-slog/
- Published: 2025-12-28T19:36:31.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T05:54:11.000Z
- Author: Corbin Smith
- Tags: Analysis, Seahawks, Sam Darnold, Ken Walker III, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Josh Jones, Uchenna Nwosu, Ty Okada, Zach Charbonnet

\[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="7873"\]

![  Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the ball against Carolina Panthers linebacker Christian Rozeboom (56) during the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images  ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/usatsi_27893757-format-original.jpg)

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the ball against Carolina Panthers linebacker Christian Rozeboom (56) during the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images \[/caption\]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Deadlocked in an offensive struggle, the Seattle Seahawks mustered only a field goal in a sluggish first half as they went into the break knotted up a 3-3 against the Carolina Panthers in a battle of first place teams.

Here are three quick takeaways from the opening 30 minutes at Bank of America Stadium:

**1\. Creating one turnover and missing out on two others, Carolina has a beat or two on Seattle’s passing game.**

Clearly prioritizing moving the pocket as a big part of the Seahawks game plan, Klint Kubiak dialed up waggle action on the first play from scrimmage, only for the Panthers to have the play read like a book. Defensive end D.J. Wonnum got a paw on Sam Darnold’s pass off the edge, deflecting it right into the chest of cornerback Jaycee Horn, who fortunately wasn’t able to secure the interception on what could have been a pick six opportunity. After a 13-yard completion to Jaxon Smith-Njigba extended the drive, the Panthers again snuffed out a bootleg concept with safety Tre’von Moehrig coming on a blitz, leading to an intentional grounding call when the quarterback tried to throw the ball away before getting out of the pocket that destroyed the drive and led to a punt two snaps later.

Later in the half, Darnold had another pass swatted at the line of scrimmage by defensive tackle Bobby Brown III that helped stall Seattle’s lone scoring drive, resulting in a field goal by Jason Myers. Gifting Carolina outstanding field position, the quarterback bobbled a shotgun snap from Jalen Sundell at the 5:33 mark and then had his hand hit by defensive end Nic Scourton, resulting in a fumble that the Panthers recovered at the Seattle 31-yard line. That turnover on the strip sack led to a field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald to tie the game, putting the defense in a near-impossible position backed deep into their own territory trying to limit the damage. Another near-interception happened inside two minutes to play when Cooper Kupp was rocked by Claudin Cherelus in the middle and Derrick Brown nearly corralled the deflection.

**2\. Grounding and pounding with Ken Walker III, Zach Charbonnet has been the recipe for moving the football.**

The Seahawks haven’t been able to get much going at all through the air with Darnold struggling and the Panthers seemingly a step ahead against everything they have tried to do. But on the flip side, the run game has been as impressive as it has looked all season with Walker and Charbonnet both shining in the first two quarters. Walker toted the rock nine times for 44 yards, ripping off 16 and 11-yard runs along the way while averaging nearly five yards per carry. Charbonnet may have had the play of the half for either team late in the first quarter, taking a pitch out of shotgun on 3rd and 15 and rumbling behind a great lead block from tackle Josh Jones while breaking two tackles for a 25-yard gain that set up Myers’ lone field goal.

Between the two backs, the Seahawks rushed for 81 yards on 15 carries, averaging a healthy 5.4 yards per carry in the first half while having three explosive runs. Given the struggles Darnold has had finding receivers and staying clean in or out of the pocket, leaning heavily on the backfield tandem will need to be an emphasis in the second half to pull out a tighter-than-expected defensive slugfest.

**3\. Suffocating the pass and the run, Seahawks return to lockdown mode shutting down Panthers’ offense.**

Carolina opened Sunday’s contest with an 11-yard run from Rico Dowdle, briefly igniting the hometown crowd. But that euphoria proved to be short lived, as Seattle held the home squad to just seven total yards on the next nine plays, forcing three punts and holding Bryce Young to under 10 passing yards. On the fourth possession, the defense held serve again after the Panthers had ran 10 plays, forcing a 4th and 4 incompletion for a turnover on downs.

Even after Darnold’s lost fumble late in the first half, the defense didn’t give up a first down before Fitzgerald came on for the game tying field goal. Pressuring Young often and bottling up both Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard with outstanding tackling, including tackles for loss from Ty Okada and Uchenna Nwosu, they limited the Panthers to 65 total yards and stopped all six of their third down conversion opportunities in an utterly dominant performance that deserved a lot better than three points from the offense.