The Seattle Seahawks seemingly put this one out of reach in the first half. Then, a string of penalties — some fair, some questionable — left the door wide open for the starved Los Angeles Chargers to make a comeback.
Somehow, Justin Herbert stayed on his feet after taking the beating of a lifetime, and the Chargers' offense kept being bailed out by late flags. Mike Macdonald's team ultimately won 30-23, but the final score doesn't tell half the story.
This was the ugliest game the Seahawks have played in a while. Hopefully, it'll also be the last. But even though this one wasn't the smoothest watch, these four players still deserve their flowers for their performance.
4 best players from the Seattle Seahawks' flag-riddled win over Chargers
Nick Emmanwori
Outside of two avoidable penalties, Nick Emmanwori played a perfect game. He even lined up at edge rusher to get a sack on Justin Herbert and get the Chargers out of field-goal range, showcasing the versatility that makes him the most unique defensive back in football.
Emmanwori finished the game with eight tackles, one assist, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit, one pass breakup, and one sack. He was all over the field, bringing some much-needed fire and intensity to the Dark Side defense. He's officially back.
Rashid Shaheed
It took much longer than ideal, but Rashid Shaheed finally had his first big game in a Seahawks uniform. Offensive coordinator Brian Fleury used him in the Deebo Samuel role, and he was explosive out of the backfield.
Shaheed broke loose for a 28-yard touchdown run and finished the game with two carries for 33 yards. He also hauled in one of three targets for 20 yards and had 95 return yards. It might not be that impressive, but it's a solid stepping stone to build some momentum.
Emanuel Wilson
Emanuel Wilson continues to look like the Seahawks' biggest offseason bargain. He made the most of the extended role with Jadarian Price out and George Holani not being that efficient, and he might be the team's lead back while the injured guys return.
The former Green Bay Packers backup averaged 3.9 yards per carry, rushing for 81 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. He also had three receptions on four targets for 39 yards and another score, and he's become much more reliable in the passing game.
Ernest Jones IV
Ernest Jones IV doesn't get enough credit, mostly because he plays in the most stacked defense in football. Make no mistake, he's a big reason why they're so dominant, and he had one of his best games of the season in this one, especially in the first half.
Jones finished the game with six tackles, six assists, one tackle for loss, one interception, one sack, one quarterback hit, and four run stops. Penalties kept the Chargers in this one, but the Seahawks' defense was pretty electric, with Jones setting the tone early.
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