Zach Charbonnet Week 14 domination pushes Seahawks into playoff territory

Kenneth Walker III is the best running back the Seattle Seahawks have. He wouldn't have been in Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals, though. For possibly the only time in his career so far, Zach Charbonnet was the back Seattle needed most during a game. The second-round pick in 2023 has been mostly inefficient in his short career. In Week 14, he was brilliant.

Charbonnet ran 22 times for 134 yards, and two touchdowns, but he also had seven catches for 59 yards. In other words, Seattle's backup running back had 193 total yards of offense and kept grinding out yards in a way that seemed almost impossible for the Seahawks before Week 14. Seattle defeated the Cardinals 30-18.

Walker missed the game with calf and ankle issues, and, to be fair, any hope for Seattle getting many rushing yards seemed foolish. The team has struggled to run the ball all season, and the Cardinals were not bad against the run heading into the game. Arizona was 13th in the NFL in yards allowed rushing per game at 117.3. On Sunday, Seattle had a season-high 176.

Zach Charbonnet stars in the Seattle Seahawks Week 14 victory

Charbonnet did get some help, though. Little-used Kenny McIntosh had 38 yards on just seven carries. That was part of the key to Seattle's victory. The team averaged 5.7 yards per carry. The yards per rush were no mistake, either. Seattle, at times, ran over and through the Cardinals.

Most of that was due to Charbonnet, who, after the game, simply gave credit to his offensive line. This was also that unit's best performance of the season. Right guard Sataoa Laumea appeared to play much cleaner in his second game in the league and might have proven he has shown enough to be the Seahawks' starter at the position for the rest of the season.

Head coach Mike Macdonald said in his post-game press conference that a game ball was given to both Charbonnet and the offensive line. The offense certainly had its best performance in half a season. Much of the credit for that should go to Charbonnet. Now, he just needs more reps moving forward.

Seattle is now 8-5 and in full control of first place in the NFC West. That would not have happened without Charbonnet's performance against Arizona.

More Seahawks news and analysis: