AP

Walker, Goodwin lead Seahawks to 37-23 win over Chargers

Oct 23, 2022, 5:04 AM | Updated: 7:40 pm

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (70) greets Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert...

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (70) greets Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) after their NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The Seahawks won 37-23. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)


              Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (70) greets Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) after their NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The Seahawks won 37-23. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
            
              Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll celebrates at the end of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The Seahawks won 37-23. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
            
              Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs to the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
            
              Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
            
              Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson (27) pushes Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) out of bounds during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
            
              Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) warms up before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
            
              Seattle Seahawks safety Ryan Neal (26) runs the ball against Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver DeAndre Carter (1) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
            
              Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
            
              Seattle Seahawks safety Ryan Neal (26) breaks up a pass intended for Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver DeAndre Carter (1) in the end zone during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
            
              Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) reaches for an incomplete pass against Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson (27) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
            
              Seattle Seahawks running back DeeJay Dallas (31) is tackled by Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Ja'Sir Taylor (36) and long snapper Josh Harris (47) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
            
              Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (11) catches a pass for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson (27) falls with an injury. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
            
              Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Expected by many to end up in the NFC West basement, the Seattle Seahawks instead are leading the division after seven weeks.

Seattle vaulted into the division lead with its most impressive victory over the season. Rookie Kenneth Walker III rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns as the Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Chargers 37-23 on Sunday.

NFC West rival San Francisco lost 44-23 at home to Kansas City to fall to 3-4, and the Los Angeles Rams (3-3) had a bye, leaving the Seahawks with a half-game lead — which coach Pete Carroll didn’t even realize until he was informed by a reporter.

“Nobody told me that before we started the meetings in there (the locker room). I would have been going nuts about that. That’s fun, too. That’s good,” Carroll said. “Seven weeks in and look where we are. Who would have thunk it?”

Marquise Goodwin caught a pair of scores for the Seahawks (4-3), who have won three of four. Geno Smith completed 20 of 27 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns, his fifth multi-TD game of the season. Jason Myers added three field goals.

“I really liked us today, You could feel us in all three phases. We were humming,” Carroll said. “It was good to see the offense be able to go down the field and put points on the board and the defense slowing them down.”

Seattle led 17-0 late in the first quarter, its largest lead after 15 minutes since a win over New Orleans in Week 13 of 2013. It was the Seahawks’ largest road lead at the end of the first since 2000.

It was the third straight week the Chargers (4-3) fell behind by double digits in the first quarter. They rallied against Cleveland and Denver, but were unable to pull it off this time and had a three-game winning streak snapped. LA now trails the Chiefs by one game in the AFC West.

In three first-quarter drives, the Chargers were stopped on fourth down, Justin Herbert threw an interception to Ryan Neal, and Herbert was sacked and his fumble was recovered by Darrell Taylor. Seattle converted all three mistakes into points.

“We were able to fight our way back and get back into the game, but there’s a lot of energy that goes with that. Then, we just didn’t play a clean enough second half in any phase to create any momentum and to get the lead back,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said. “Just didn’t play well enough today in any phase.”

Herbert was 33 of 51 for 293 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, marking the second time in his career he has thrown at least 50 passes in consecutive games. Austin Ekeler had 127 scrimmage yards (96 receiving, 31 rushing) and a pair of touchdowns, giving him eight over the last three games.

Mike Williams added seven receptions for 86 yards and a TD.

Walker took over as Seattle’s starting running back after Rashaad Penny suffered a season-ending ankle injury two weeks ago. His 265 yards in wins over the Cardinals and Chargers are the most in franchise history in a player’s first two starts.

Walker’s 12-yard TD in the first quarter extended the lead to 14-0. He broke the game open with a 74-yard sprint down the right sideline in the fourth quarter to make it 37-16. According to Next Gen Stats, Walker reached a top speed of 22.09 mph, the fastest by a ball carrier this season.

“It’s a great feeling because this is rare. It doesn’t really happen much in football. So like when you get the opportunity, you got to make the best of it,” Walker said of his run, which was the seventh-longest in franchise history.

It was the first multi-TD game for Goodwin since 2018, when he was with the 49ers. Goodwin, in his first season with the Seahawks, had six catches for 79 yards coming into the game but saw increased time after DK Metcalf was carted off with a knee injury in the first quarter and Tyler Lockett was limited with a strained hamstring.

Goodwin gave Seattle a 7-0 lead on a 20-yard reception. The Seahawks went ahead 24-14 with 1:40 remaining in the first half when Goodwin outjumped JC Jackson for a 23-yard score.

“We have guys all around that given the opportunity, can step up and make plays. I myself received an opportunity and now I’m given a chance to go out there and thrive. We have guys all over the team who have not gotten an opportunity yet, but when they do get their opportunities, they step up and make plays,” Smith said. “Marquise is a great player and has been a great player in this league for a long time. He made two great catches. We just have to continue to build on that.”

Los Angeles got within 17-14 with touchdowns on consecutive drives. Ekeler had a 7-yard run and Williams caught a 13-yard pass from Herbert to pull the Chargers within a field goal with 9:43 remaining in the second quarter.

SAFETY DANCE

The Chargers got their first safety since the end of the 2020 season when Sebastian Joseph-Day and Troy Reeder brought Walker down in the end zone early in the fourth to bring them within 27-16.

INJURIES

Seahawks: LB Nick Bellore and OG Phil Haynes suffered concussions during the second half. … DT Poona Ford had a foot injury in the first quarter and did not return.

Chargers: Jackson suffered a knee injury on Goodwin’s second touchdown. He was fitted with an air cast and carted off. … LB Chris Rumpf II sustained a hip/knee injury during the fourth quarter. … Williams went off with an ankle injury in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

Seahawks: Host the New York Giants next Sunday.

Chargers: Have their bye next week, then travel to play Atlanta on Nov. 6.

___

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Walker, Goodwin lead Seahawks to 37-23 win over Chargers