Panthers 10-27 Seahawks, summary: score, stats, highlights | NFL Week 17

Seahawks’ defense, ground game power Seattle past Panthers

What began as a tense, defensive chess match tilted decisively in the second half as the Seattle Seahawks leaned on their defense and rushing attack to pull away from the Carolina Panthers, securing a 27–10 win on Sunday. The victory kept Seattle firmly atop the NFC standings, while Carolina missed a chance to clinch the NFC South with help from elsewhere.

The first half was messy and physical, featuring turnovers, near-turnovers, and long stretches where neither offense could find rhythm. Seattle scored first on a 48-yard Jason Myers field goal late in the opening quarter, but Carolina answered after a bizarre Sam Darnold double-fumble sequence set them up in scoring range. Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald tied the game at 3–3 midway through the second quarter, and the teams went into halftime locked in a defensive stalemate.

Everything swung early in the third quarter. After Carolina cornerback Mike Jackson intercepted Darnold in the end zone, the Seahawks' defense immediately forced a fumble on the return, giving Seattle the ball right back. This time, the Seahawks cashed in, with Zach Charbonnet punching in a 1-yard touchdown to make it 10–3. Moments later, Julian Love intercepted Bryce Young, setting up another short field that Darnold capped with a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end AJ Barner. Suddenly, Seattle led 17–3 and had full control.

Carolina briefly showed life early in the fourth quarter when Bryce Young scrambled 10 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 17–10, but that would be the Panthers' final spark. Myers added a 30-yard field goal to restore a two-score cushion, and Charbonnet slammed the door with another bruising late rushing touchdown, a 1-yard plunge with just over two minutes remaining, to seal the 27–10 final.

Key Stats:

Zach Charbonnet (SEA): 18 carries, 110 yards, 2 TD

Kenneth Walker III (SEA): 15 carries, 51 yards

Sam Darnold (SEA): 18-of-27, 147 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA): 9 catches, 72 yards

Bryce Young (CAR): 14-of-24, 54 yards, 1 INT; 9 rushes, 27 yards, 1 TD

Julian Love (SEA): INT, 26-yard return

Seahawks Defense: 3 sacks, 2 takeaways

Playoff Implications:

The Seahawks, already playoff-bound entering the weekend, improved to 13–3 and strengthened their push for the NFC's top seed. Seattle remains firmly in control of the NFC West and will enter Week 18 with a chance to lock up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Because they won today, they can still lock up the No. 1 seed and the NFC West this week if the Rams and 49ers lose or tie.

For the Panthers, the loss drops them to 8–8 and delays their postseason celebration. Carolina needed a win combined with a Buccaneers loss or tie to clinch the NFC South on Sunday. While Tampa Bay ultimately lost to Miami 20–17, Carolina couldn’t capitalize, meaning the division race now extends into the final week of the regular season.

What’s Next:

Depending on what happens tonight and tomorrow, Seattle could head into Week 18 with everything still on the table, aiming to secure the NFC West title outright and potentially the No. 1 seed with one more strong performance. Carolina, meanwhile, turns its full attention to the season finale, where the Panthers can still win the NFC South outright, but now must finish the job themselves after letting this opportunity slip away in Seattle.

Seahawks win 27-10 over Panthers

Young takes the knee to run out the clock, but that didn't quite end the game. It gave the ball back to Seattle with 34 seconds left and THEY took the victory formation to officially run out the clock and end the game. 

Seahawks beat Panthers.

Charbonnet TD #2

TWO-MINUTE WARNING

With 2 minutes left in the game, Panthers fans are already filing out of the stands and heading home as the Seahawks lead 27-10.

Seahawks take second timeout

Myers kicks to the 0 and Etienne returns it 13 yards 

Charbonnet broke through for the 1-yard touchdown for his second of the game and Myers' PAT was good to put Seattle comfortably ahead with just 2 and a half minutes left in the game.

Charbonnet takes it again but he's stopped by Jackson for no gain - 3rd and goal at the 3

Panthers take final timeout

Charbonnet gains another 3 - 2nd and goal at the 3

Panthers take second timeout

Charbonnet bursts through for 15 yards - 1st down and goal at the Panthers 6

Panthers take first timeout

Charbonnet gains 4 - 2nd and 6

Young pass caught by McMillan but he can't get far as Love made the tackle, gains just 5 and the Seahawks will take over at the Panthers 25

Young SACKEDagain by Lawrence for a huge loss of 11 yards - 4th and 17

Young SACKED by Mafe for a loss of 3 yards - 3rd and 6 

Hubbard gains 7 - 2nd and 3

Myers kicked to the Panthers 2 and Etienne returned it to the 27

The Seahawks make it a 10-point game with Myers' 30-yard field goal with 5:33 left to play.

SEAHAWKS FIELD GOAL!

Delay of Game on Seahawks - 5 yards, 4th and 10

Darnold scrambles for 3 yards, out of bounds at the 7 - 4th and 5

Darnold pass to Kupp in the end zone is incomplete - 3rd and 8

Walker gains 2 - 2nd and 8

Darnold pass caught by JSN again for 17 yards and another 1st down at the Panthers 12

Darnold pass caught by Smith-Njigba for 11 yards and the 1st down at the Panthers 29

Charbonnet gains another 2 - 3rd and 4

Charbonnet gains 4 - 2nd and 6

Personal Foul on Panthers‘ Horn for a Face Mask, negates the Seahawks’ previous penalty and what would've been a punt turns into a 1st down for Seattle 

Delay of Game on Seahawks - 5 yards

Darnold SACKED by Wonnum for a loss of 7 yards - 3rd and 16

Walker swallowed up by Robinson and Martin-Scott for a gain of just a yard - 2nd and 9

Darnold pass caught by Kupp for 6 yards and the 1st down

Walker gains 6 - 3rd and 4

Darnold pass to Walker but he's stopped for no gain - 2nd and 10

Fitzgerald kicks to the Seahawks 8 and Akers returns it to the 33

Young runs it in for the TD

Panthers trying to make a comeback

After a few turnovers,QB Bryce Young took the ball in himself, running it 10 yards for the touchdown. Fitzgerald's PAT was good and the Panthers make it a one-score game with 13:41 to play in the game.

Young pass complete to Horn and he spins ahead for a gain of 7 - 2nd and 3

Young pass complete to Legette for 3 yards - 1st down

END THIRD QUARTER

The Seahawks are up 17-3 as their defense has been dominating, but the Panthers are trying to make a comeback. They've got the ball at the Seahawks 20 on 2nd and 2 and just need to keep from turning the ball over and get into the end zone to stay in the game to start the final quarter.

Young pass caught by Coker for 8 yards - 2nd and 2

Dowdle gains 4 and the 1st down

Dowdle bursts through for 8 yards - 2nd and 2

Hubbard makes the catch and takes off running for 8 yards - 1st down at the Seahawks 41

Young pass caught by Dowdle but he's taken down after just 2 yards by Okada - 3rd and 7

Young gets away from a sack but gains just a yard before he's tackled by Lawrence - 2nd and 9 

Panthers go for it on 4th and 1 and Young scrambles 8 yards for the 1st down!

Seahawks take first timeout

Ruling was REVERSED. 

Young's pass ruled incomplete - 4th and 1

Young pass was caught by Tremayne for 14 yards but he may not have had control. Seahawks are challenging the call.

Dowdle takes it up 4 - 3rd and 1

Young pass to Evans for 5 yards - 2nd and 5

Myers kicks to the Panthers 7 and Etienne returns it 24 yards to the 31

The Seahawks get another score set up by their defense, After Love intercepted Bryce Young's pass, Seattle was in Panthers‘ territory. Darnold made the pass to Barner for 17 yards and the touchdown. Myers’ PAT was good and the Seahawks now lead the Panthers by two scores with 5:32 to play in the 3rd quarter.

Charbonnet gains 5 - 3rd and 2

Walker gains 3 - 2nd and 7

Young pass INTERCEPTED by Love and he runs it 27 yards to the Panthers 28!

Young pass incomplete - 3rd and 3

Dowdle takes off for 7 yards - 2nd and 3

Myers kicked to the Panthers 8 and Hubbard returned it 26 yards to the 34

Seattle's defense dominating

The Panthers fumbled it and Seahawks recovered it. The TD didn't stand here, but they did eventually turn it into a score.

Jaskcon's interception

Jackson caught Darnold's pass in the end zone to give the Panthers the ball back but what happened after was even crazier...

A ridiculous sequence led the Seahawks to this score. Darnold's pass in the end zone initially was intercepted, but right away, the Seattle defense turned the ball right back over on a forced fumble. They maximized on the opportunity that time and it was Charbonnet who got in the end zone for the 1-yard touchdown. Myers' PAT was good and Seattle takes the lead with 8:45 to play in the 3rd quarter.

Charbonnet gains a yard - 3rd and goal at the 1

Charbonnet gains 2 - 2nd and goal at the Panthers 2

Darnold pass complete to Barner and he pushes through for 16yards - 1st and goal at the Panthers 4

Darnold pass caught by JSN for 7 - 3rd and 9

Walker taken down by Moehrig for a loss of 6 - 2nd and 16

The official review is that the turnover stands, but the runner (Lawrence) was down and Seattle will take back over again at the Panthers 21. WOW!

Insane sequence!

After review, it was upheld but RIGHT AFTER THAT, the Panthers FUMBLED and the SEAHAWKS RECOVERED IT and ran it back into the end zone for a TOUCHDOWN, if it stands!!!

The play is under review to make sure Jackson had full possession as well as had both feet fully in bounds on the catch. It looked like some toes may have been on the white, but we will see.

Touchback

Darnold pass INTERCEPTED in the end zone by Jackson!

Darnold pass incomplete - 2nd and 10

Charbonnet takes off and cuts through for a huge gain of 29 yards! 1st down at the Panthers 18

Darnold pass caught by Charbonnet for 2 yards - 2nd and 8

Darnold pass complete to Barner for 10 yards - 1st down

Walker gains a yard, stopped by Jackson - 2nd and 9

We're back!

And starting off with a flag.

Fitzgerald kicked to the Seahawks 22, short of the landing zone

Somehow not ruled a fumble...

OR an incomplete pass.

Update on Bucs-Dolphins

For the Panthers fans: 

Buccaneers are losing 17-7 to the Dolphins at halftime. 

To cinch the NFC South and playoff spot today, the Panthersneed:

- A win and a Buccaneers loss or tie (@ Dolphins)

OR

- A tie and a Buccaneers loss

HALFTIME

Young pass incomplete to Dowdle and that will take us to the end of the second quarter

Young pass incomplete - 2nd and 10

Seahawks take first timeout

Young scrambles for 10 yards - 1st down 

What is going on here...

The Seahawks were ruled short of the tush push anyway! The Panthers will take over at the 40...?

That definitely looked like a fumble, but the Seahawks moved fast, pulling off a tush push...

Darnold pass caught by Walker but he dropped it - 4th and 1

Walker gains 3 - 3rd and 7

Darnold's pass was tipped and NEARLY intercepted by Brown, but he didn't bring it in before hitting the turf - ruled incomplete, 2nd and 10

Walker gains 4, then Smith-Njigba gains 4 yards - 1st down 

TWO-MINUTE WARNING

With 2 minutes to go in the first half, the Seahawks and Panthers are tied 3-3. Seattle has the ball at their own 44 on 2nd and 6.

Walker picks up 4 yards - 2nd and 6

Charbonnet gains 10 - 1st down

Fitzgerald kicks to the 2 and Akers returns it to the 30

After the Seahawks turned the ball over, Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald evened the score with a 35-yard field goal with 3:46 to go in the first half. 

PANTHERS FIELD GOAL!

Hubbard takes the ball but he's stopped immediately by Mafe and Williams for NO GAIN - 4th and 2 at the Seahawks 17

Young under pressure, pass incomplete - 3rd and 2

Dowdle takes off or 8 yards - 2nd and 2

Official review is a FUMBLE, recovered by PANTHERS (Rozeboom)

They take over at the Seahawks 26

Fumble? Sure looks like it.

We'll find out what the officials have to say in just a moment...

Three stooges moment!

Darnold FUMBLED the ball on the snap, recovered it and FUMBLED again, and after two Seahawks players jumped and slipped on it, the PANTHERS looked to have recovered it but the play is now under review.

Charbonnet swallowed up for a gain of just 2 yards - 3rd and 5

Walker takes it 3 yards - 2nd and 7

Young pass to McMillan is incomplete, and Legette is called for Offside, declined

Seahawks will take over at their own 41

Young pass to Hubbard caught but Nwosu tackles him for a loss of 2 - 4th and 4 and Panthers will go for it agian

Young short pass to Horn and he gains just 2, stopped by Love - 3rd and 2

Young pass caught by Tremble for 6 yards - 2nd and 4

Panthers take first timeout

Panthers go for it with a direct snap to Evans and they make it on the tush push 1 yard - good for the 1st down

Dowdle tries to push through but he's stopped short - 4th and inches at the Seahawks 48

Dowdle picks up 3 - 3rd and 2

Dowdle runs it up for 5 yards - 2nd and 5

Young pass to Coker caught for 8 yards - 1st down

Dowdle gains 4 - 2nd and 6

Young pass incomplete to Coker, but Seahawks' Witherspoon is called for PassInterference - 9 yards, 1st down

Young pass batted down by Nwosu, incomplete - 2nd and 10

Dickson punts to the Panthers 20, out of bounds

Darnold pass incomplete - 4th and 7

Smith-Njigba is taken down immediately by Jackson, no gain - 3rd and 7

START SECOND QUARTER

Walker gains 3 yards - 2nd and 7 

Buccaneers-Dolphins

For the Panthers fans keeping score, the Buccaneers and Dolhpins are tied 7-7 in the second quarter.

Reminder:

Panthers clinch NFC South and playoff spot:

- A win and a Buccaneers loss or tie 

OR

- A tie and a Buccaneers loss

END FIRST QUARTER

That takes us to the end of the first quarter. It's been a defensive game so far as the Seahawks lead by just three points. They have the ball at their own 39 on 1st down to start the 2nd quarter.

Charbonnet picks up 5 and the 1st down

Seahawks' Shaheed was injured on the play

Darnold pass complete to Shaheed for 8 yards - 2nd and 2

Walker takes off for 11 yards - 1st down

Martin punts to the 16 and Shaheed makes the fair catch

Replay showed the pass to Evans was NOT a fumble but rather an incomplete pass - 4th and 9

Young pass complete to Evans but he gains just 4 before he FUMBLES it and RECOVERS at the same spot - 4th and 5

Hubbard gained 4 - 3rd and 9

Some confusion on that play as Young kept the ball but was tackled by Morris for a loss of 3 - 2nd and 13

Myers kicks to the Panthers 6 and Etienne takes it to the 35

It's been all defense so far, but the Seahawks finally got close enough to get some points on the board. Jason Myers made the 48-yard field goal to put Seattle on top with 3:23 remaining in the first quarter.

SEAHAWKS FIELD GOAL!

Darnold pass caught by Smith-Njigba for 8  yards - 4th and 4 at the 30

Walker gets taken down by Rozeboom for a loss of 2 yards - 3rd and 12

Darnold's pass knocked down by Brown - 2nd and 10

Encroachment on Panthers' Ray - 5 yards, automatic 1st down

Darnold pass caught by Smith-Njigba for 7 yards after moving backwards to miss the 1st - 3rd and 1

Charbonnet takes it again, gains 2 - 2nd and 8

Charbonnet takes off and bursts through for 25 yards! 1st down at the 50

Darnold SACKED by Moehrig for a loss of 10 yards - 3rd and 15

Walker picks up 5 yards - 2nd and 5

Panthers' Rochell was injured on the play

Martin punts to the 17 and Shaheed takes it to the 31 for 13 yards

Hubbard takes it but gets nowhere, taken down by Jones for no gain - 4th and 5

Dowdle gains a yard - 3rd and 5

Young pass short to Dowdle for 4 yards - 2nd and 6

Dickson kicks to the Panthers 20 and Horn makes the fair catch

Walker breaks a tackle for a gain of 16 yards - 4th and 14

Intentional Grounding on Darnold - 21 yards, 3rd and 30

Darnold under pressure throws the ball away and it's incomplete - 3rd and 9

Walker breaks one tackle but he's taken down by Jackson for a gain of just a yard - 2nd and 9

Darnold pass is CAUGHT by Smith-Njigba for 13 yards and the 1st down

Darnold pass incomplete to Smith-Njigba - 3rd and 10

Darnold's pass tipped by Wonnum, incomplete - 2nd and 10

Martin kicks to the Seahawks 18 and Shaheed makes the fair catch

Young scrambles and slides for 3 yards - 4th and 9

Young pass incomplete to McMillan, he slipped on the turf - 3rd and 12

Young pass short to Dowdle caught but he's tackled by Okada for a loss of 2 yards - 2nd and 12

Panthers' Ja'Tavion Sanders was injured on the previous plaa

Dowdle takes off for 11 yards - 1st down

Myers kicks to the end zone - touchback to the Panthers 35

Game time!

Seahawks won the toss and elected to defer. Panthers get us started on offense today. Here we go!!

Derrick Brown channels Pro Bowl snub into Panthers’ playoff push

As much as the Panthers celebrated Jaycee Horn's second straight Pro Bowl nod, there was real disbelief in the locker room that Derrick Brown was left out. Brown, who admitted he was “definitely shocked,” has put together one of the strongest seasons of any defensive tackle in the NFC, posting 54 tackles, 5.0 sacks, five tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits and seven passes defensed over 15 games.

His production stacks up favorably with the Pro Bowl selections, including Jalen Carter (32 tackles, 2.0 sacks in 10 games), making the omission sting even more for teammates and coaches alike. While disappointed, Brown insists his focus hasn’t wavered as the Panthers head into a critical matchup with Seattle: “They’ve still got to stop that on Sunday.”

JSN vs Panthers defense

Here's another key player to watch: Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

JSN has earned rave reviews inside the Panthers' locker room this week, and the numbers back it up. The third-year wideout leads the NFL with 1,637 receiving yards on 104 catches, ranking second in first downs (71) while hauling in 10 touchdowns.

Carolina plays zone coverage more than any team in the league (84.6%), leaning heavily on Cover 3, but JSN has thrived from the outside this season, lining up wide on a career-high 81.3% of his snaps and drawing targets on 34.2% of those routes, the second-highest rate in the NFL. That likely sets up a marquee matchup with Jaycee Horn or Donte Jackson, and Seattle won't be shy about feeding its top playmaker.

Bryce Young vs Seattle pass rush

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has flipped the script since Week 11, emerging as one of the NFL's most efficient deep passers. He owns an 85.3 PFF grade over that span and has completed 10-of-16 throws of 20+ yards for 313 yards and six touchdowns.

That efficiency will be tested today against a Seahawks defense with a top-five pressure rate and the NFL’s fourth-most sacks. Seattle will bring heat, but Young hasn’t wilted under pressure this season, posting a 64.2 grade with seven touchdowns and 10 big-time throws when under pressure, setting up an intriguing matchup in today's game.

Bryce Young's stats this year... 🔥

Sam Darnold faces old team

Seahawks-Panthers Injury Report/Inactives

Seahawks Injury Report

Seattle enters the matchup in good overall health, though it will be without two starters on defense and the offensive line. Left tackle Charles Cross (hamstring) and safety Coby Bryant (knee) were both ruled out on Friday. Cross' absence means Josh Jones makes his second straight start protecting the blind side, while Ty Okada steps into the starting role at safety. The Seahawks elevated Amari Kight from the practice squad for added tackle depth and will also have Cam Akers active as a third running back behind Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet. Rookie edge Connor O’Toole is active as well, helping fill the rotation with Derick Hall suspended.

Seahawks INACTIVES

QB Jalen Milroe (emergency third QB)

S Coby Bryant

LB Jared Ivey

T Charles Cross

G Bryce Cabeldue

T/G Mason Richman

NT Brandon Pili

Panthers Injury Report

Carolina is again without defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton, who will miss his third straight game with a hamstring injury. Bobby Brown III continues to start in his place and has been productive the past two weeks, tallying eight tackles, half a sack, and a QB hit. The Panthers also placed linebacker Trevin Wallace on injured reserve Saturday following shoulder surgery, adding hybrid defender Isaiah Simmons to the active roster. On the positive side, rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan is active despite being a late addition to the injury report due to illness.

Panthers INACTIVES

WR Hunter Renfrow

S Demani Richardson

DT Jared Harrison-Hunte

TE James Mitchell

DT Tershawn Wharton

NFL

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Read more.

What's at stake for the Panthers?

The Carolina Panthers, on the other hand, are not yet in the postseason, although they're sitting just outside it. At 8-7, they're currently first in the NFC South. With one spot left in the NFC, divisional foes Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)are hoping to swoop in and steal the spot away from them. 

But today, the Panthers have a chance to secure their spotwith a little help from the Bucs. Here's what they need.

Cinch NFC South and playoff spot:

- A win and a Buccaneers loss or tie (@ Dolphins)

OR

- A tie and a Buccaneers loss

The good news for Carolina is that even if they lose today and the Buccaneers win, they would still be in the race - it would just extend into next week. The Panthers would still be in first place in the South, but the winner would likely come down to their divisional matchup with the Bucs in the season finale.

What's at stake for the Seahawks?

The Seattle Seahawks are already comfortably in the postseason, having clinched their spot last week with a Thursday night win over the Los Angeles Rams. They're currently sitting atop the NFC and first in the NFC West, but neither is yet secure.

They do have the chance to clinch both in Week 17, but it's not entirely up to them. Here's what they need:

Clinch NFC West + No. 1 seed:

- A win and a Rams loss or tie (vs Falcons) and a 49ers tie (vs Bears)

Clinch NFC West title with:

- A win and a Rams loss/tie and a 49ers loss/tie

OR

- a tie and losses by both the Rams and 49ers

Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the NFL's Week 17 game between the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks! There's a lot on the line for both teams this week as just two games remain in the regular season. 

Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. We'll be here throughout the game to bring you all the latest updates, scores, highlights, and commentary up until the final whistle. Let's go!