Seattle Seahawks grades vs. Panthers in Week 3 are two-halves of the same game

Seahawks offensive grades

Seahawks rushing offense

You wanted a two-headed monster at running back for the Seattle Seahawks and you got a two-headed monster! After a slow start to the game when Kenneth Walker seemed to hesitate just a bit too much before approaching the line of scrimmage, but maybe that was because Seattle was starting three backup offensive linemen. As the game wore on, however, the line began to impose its will.

Walker finished with 97 yards rushing on 18 carries and also caught 3 passes for 59 yards. Zach Charbonnet got the most carries of his rookie season with 9 and turned them into 46 yards. He runs straight and hard and can pick up the dirty yards while Walker can break off the long runs. Combined, Walker and Charbonnet totaled 201 yards rushing and receiving.

Grade: A

Seahawks passing offense

There is no doubt that Geno Smith does one thing (at least) better than Russell Wilson ever could and that is getting the tight ends involved in the passing game. After combining for 9 catches and 133 yards in Week 2, the tight ends combined for 7 catches for 79 important yards, and that was without the injured Will Dissly playing.

Geno Smith got off to a very slow start and at one point was hitting fewer than 50 percent of his passes. He just seemed off. But that changed in the second half when Seattle put up 25 points and 17 first downs. DK Metcalf went over 100 yards for the first time this year and Jake Bobo caught the first touchdown pass of his career. I still wish the team would find a way to get Jaxon Smith-Njigba more involved.

Grade: B

Seahawks red-zone offense

Whew. That first half was rough. Every time Seattle got down to the Panthers 25-yard line, the drive seemed to die for the Seahawks. Thankfully, they got bailed out by kicker Jason Myers. The second half was much better, however, with two touchdowns. Overall, the team has scored on 76 percent of its red-zone opportunities in 2023.

Grade: B-