NFL Panic Meter: Seahawks already showing more cracks than they did last season

October 13, 2026

The Seattle Seahawks are already facing more challenges this season than they did in the entirety of their Super Bowl-winning campaign last year. After a 17-2 finish following a Week 1 loss, the team has matched its offseason struggles by mid-October, sitting at 3-2 with critical issues emerging.

The absence of star running back Kenneth Walker III has exposed a ground game ranked 30th in expected points added per rush, a stark contrast to Seattle’s run-heavy, defensive-driven success in 2023. With Walker thriving early in Kansas City and backup Zach Charbonnet recovering from an ACL tear, the Seahawks lack a viable solution to sustain their offensive balance.

Meanwhile, the passing attack is over-reliant on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who leads the team in targets (50), receptions (37), and receiving yards (583)—more than the next three receivers combined. Quarterback Sam Darnold, despite progress since his early struggles, has already thrown five interceptions, compounding the strain on a defense still carrying elite expectations but now forced into unfavorable situations by an inconsistent offense.