The Seattle Seahawks cannot count on what has occurred so far in the NFC West to be the way things end in the division. Maybe with the Arizona Cardinals, because they are terrible, but Seattle's Week 3 loss to the Washington Commanders might be telling by Week 18.
The Los Angeles Rams might have lost some already, as some thought they could go undefeated, and the San Francisco 49ers are in good shape too. Seattle couldn't afford to lose in back-to-back games, and especially not against the previously winless Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4.
The NFL doesn't truly offer many easy games, though, and the Chargers were fighting for their survival. So when Seattle defeated LA 30-23, it wasn't a surprise but a relief, especially after the Chargers came back to make it a one-point game late, after trailing 30-13 in the third quarter. It was ugly, though; the game had a combined 30 penalties.
The Seattle Seahawks winners from Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers
Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed
At least the Seahawks tried to get the player who re-signed this past offseason the ball more. He might get stuffed more often than not if he lines up at running back, but he is also capable of explosiveness. That happened in the first half when he ran the ball in from 28 yards. The team used him the same way in the second half.
The team needs to use the unique talent in unique ways, and they did. That shouldn't stop once Seattle gets other running backs returning from injury.
Running back Emanuel Wilson
Wilson's use might change, of course, in the future, but it was clear that when Seattle needed to use a back often that they could trust, he was the guy. No one else even entered the equation in Week 4. George Holani was healthy but obviously an RB2. Once Zach Charbonnet and/or Jadarian Price come back, they will get most of the reps, but for now the running back group belongs to Wilson.
Linebacker Ernest Jones IV
One of the top three moves that general manager John Schneider has made since Mike Macdonald came ot Seattle at the beginning of the 2024 season was trading for Jones. He is the perfect linebacker in Macdonald's scheme and excels at all phases. His interception was an easy win in Week 4, but he also had a sack and led the team in tackles.
Cornerback Josh Jobe
The worst thing Jobe could have done is have another bad game. Instead, he rarely had his name called. That meant he didn't do anything maddeningly wrong. The Seahawks elevated Trevon Diggs for the game but didn't need him. That is a good thing for Jobe, who had three tackles.
The unfortunate Seattle Seahawks losers
Safety Nick Emmanwori
The end of the first half was a mess. The Chargers seemingly didn't understand how many timeouts they had left (the answer was zero), but ran the ball on a play that might have run out the clock. Instead, Emmanwori was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty when he head-butted a Chargers offensive lineman. The call was the right one, but why Emmanwori did what he did was unknown.
As the team went into the tunnel for halftime, Mike Macdonald ran up behind Emmanwori but ran right past him. The silence was deafening. That was probably more so after Emmanwori had another 15-yard penalty for a facemask on the Chargers' first drive of the second half, one that led to a touchdown.
Seahawks discipline
Seattle had seven 15-yard penalties in the game, which head coach Mike Macdonald will almost certainly have an issue with. Some kept the Chargers in the game when they shouldn't have. Because of numerous injuries and inefficiency, Los Angeles should have been nowhere close, but giving LA more than 50 yards in needless penalties is unacceptable.
Kicker Jason Myers
Myers was, at best, iffy in the preseason. He was very good through three games, though, and for most of the past many seasons. He missed an extra point early in Week 4, however, and then missed a 53-yard kick in the second half.
The Chargers were called for a penalty on the play that gave Seattle a first down, and Myers made his next kick, but 53-yarders are commonplace in the league now. Myers shouldn't have missed the chance he had, and kicker problems can occur quickly.
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