Muffed punt helps Seahawks take control early in win vs Chargers

SEATTLE – Special teams were a hallmark of the Seattle Seahawks a season ago, and a special-teams play served as the early turning point in their 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

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Seattle, which improved to 3-1 on the season with the victory, was down 3-0 early in the first quarter when an offensive holding call on the first play of their drive set them back and eventually led to a three-and-out. But Chargers return man Derius Davis couldn’t corral Michael Dickson’s punt, and Connor O’Toole recovered the muffed kick at the Chargers’ 23-yard to set up a short field.

O'TOOLE WITH THE RECOVERY 🔥 Our ball.

📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/j1o94PvNPf

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 4, 2026

On the next play, Seattle dialed up a screen pass to running back Emanuel Wilson for a 23-yard TD and 7-3 lead at the 10:03 mark of the first quarter – the first TD by a Seahawks running back this season.

It was all Seahawks for the rest of the first half as they built a 20-6 lead by the break with a 28-yard rushing TD from Rashid Shaheed and 8-yard rushing score from Wilson.

Emanuel Wilson's first TD as a Seahawk! 🔥@LACvsSEA on CBS/Paramount+
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/RVKrkhoLku

— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2026

The defense limited Los Angeles to just 92 yards in the first half, with 26 of those coming a scramble late in the half from Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, and 1 of 7 on third downs. Herbert’s scramble was the lone third-down conversion.

The Seahawks also forced three turnovers in the first half. In addition to the muffed punt, Herbert was intercepted by Drake Thomas on the game’s first play from scrimmage, and Herbert threw another pick to Ernest Jones IV in the final minutes to set up Wilson’s rushing TD.

Tory Horton caught a 6-yard TD pass from Sam Darnold to go up 27-6 early in the third quarter and Jason Myers tacked up on a 35-yard field goal late in the third for a 30-13 lead.

The Chargers made it interesting late, pulling within 30-20 on a 2-yard TD run by Omarion Hampton with 7:48 left in the fourth quarter and 30-23 on a field goal with 2:14 left. They got the ball back with 1:49 to go, but Uchenna Nwosu forced a fumble with a sack and Derick Hall recovered with less than 1 minute left to seal the win for the Seahawks.

Seattle overcame a franchise-record 150 penalty yards on 14 penalties while securing the victory.

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