The Seattle Seahawks played their second preseason game on Friday, taking on the Kansas City Chiefs. The Seahawks as a whole dominated the AFC champion Chiefs in a 33-16 win, but for the first time, everyone got to see the 2025 Seahawks offensive starters in real game action.
Seahawks starters played one drive, but it was a productive one. The team went on a 10-play, 81-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown. While it is only the preseason, the efficiency and smoothness of the drive were a good sign for the team moving forward. One player who was a particular standout was running back Zach Charbonnet.
Zach Charbonnet Shines
Zack Charbonnet has been getting a larger-than-usual amount of reps at running back in training camp due to Kenneth Walker III’s injuries. Charbonnet, like he has done in previous years, has taken full advantage of those extra reps. On the first play of the drive, Charbonnet had a 13-yard run, and on the final play, he capped the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run.
Overall, on the drive, Charbonnet had five carries for 45 yards and a touchdown as head coach Mike Macdonald was impressed with the Seahawks’ run game as a whole, which he discussed in his post-game press conference (transcript via Seahawks.com).
“I think just right now our offensive operation, I’m very pleased with,” Macdonald said. “How we take the ball, the decisiveness in how we move and shift. Felt like we called our targets right. Just felt like we were going to the right guys for the most part, really, until about the fourth quarter. Backs ran really hard. Every back today I thought ran the ball hard and going forward how we finish plays, can’t wait to watch it.”
Charbonnet might have been the spark plug on the opening drive, but Sam Darnold was the steady hand that kept the drive moving.
Sam Darnold Was Efficient
Sam Darnold suited up for his first game as a Seahawk after signing a $100 million contract in free agency. Efficiency is the word to use for Darnold’s performance. He completed all four of his passes on the drive for 34 yards, with his two biggest plays of the night coming back-to-back play-action bootlegs, showcasing some of his mobility. On those plays, Darnold hit fullback Robbie Ouzts for 13 yards and rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo for 9 yards.
Darnold spoke after the game about how, despite only throwing four passes, he was able to hit four different Seahawks receivers, and the importance of spreading the ball around (transcript via Seahawks.com).
“Yeah, it’s great. Great to get the guys, different guys touches,” Darnold said. “That’s what we’re going to be as an offense. We’re going to be very multiple. We’re going to use different guys in the pass game and the run game so that defenses aren’t going to know what to expect.”
Darnold and the Seahawks‘ offensive starters kicked off their 2025 season with a bang. On one drive, they executed all the elements they hope to see in their offense in the regular season, with a dynamic rushing attack and effective, decisive play from Darnold.
Seahawks Offensive Starters Shine in Their 2025 Debut