SEATTLE (AP) The Seattle Seahawks won their rebound, but it was far from perfect.
Emanuel Wilson caught a touchdown pass and ran for another score as the Seahawks handed the Los Angeles Chargers a fourth straight loss to start the season with a 30-23 victory on Sunday.
Sam Darnold passed for 168 yards and two touchdowns for the defending Super Bowl champions, who are 3-1 after rebounding from last week’s 33-31 loss to the Washington Commanders.
But Darnold was also intercepted once and sacked three times. The Seahawks took 14 penalties for a franchise-record 150 yards and let the Chargers come back after trailing 27-6 in the third quarter.
“We’re really grateful to be where we are right now and excited to move forward,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “But we also understand that we certainly have a lot of room for improvement in the way we operate, in the way we take care of the football and obviously in the penalties we need to address.”
Wilson rushed for 81 yards on 21 carries and caught three passes for 39 yards. The backup running back, a four-year pro in his first season with the Seahawks, took on a larger role when rookie Jadarian Price was placed on injured reserve Saturday after aggravating a chest injury during practice.
Justin Herbert threw for 189 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions for the Chargers (0-4). He’s been intercepted six times this season and sacked 12 times, including four for 35 yards on Sunday.
The only team to reach the playoffs after a four-loss start was the 1992 San Diego Chargers. That team started 0-4, then beat Seattle 17-6 on October 4 and finished 11-5 and won the AFC West.
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said he is hopeful.
“What I’ve seen from our players, that will never tell the attitude they have,” Harbaugh said. “I mean, it’s across the whole team.”
The game was chaotic early on, with both teams giving up early turnovers. Seattle’s Drake Thomas intercepted Herbert’s pass attempt to Oronde Gadsden on the Chargers’ opening play. Then, on Seattle’s first play from scrimmage, Darnold’s pass intended for Wilson was intercepted by Tuli Tuipulotu, giving the ball back to the Chargers.
Los Angeles’ drive ended with Cameron Dicker’s 40-yard field goal. According to Sportradar, it was the first game since at least 1991 when both teams threw interceptions in their first scrimmage.
Derius Davis missed a punt return and it was recovered by Seattle’s Connor O’Toole. On the next play, Darnold hit Wilson with a 23-yard touchdown pass to give Seattle a 7-3 lead.
“Man, it was like Moses parted the Red Sea,” Wilson said. “Everyone went into the blocks.”
Rashid Shaheed’s 28-yard run made it 13-3 midway through the second quarter. Jason Myers’ extra point attempt went wide right, breaking a streak of 80 consecutive converted PATs dating back to 2024.
Ernest Jones again intercepted Herbert on a pass intended for Ladd McConkey and returned it 20 yards. Wilson capped Seattle’s next series with an 8-yard touchdown run.
The Chargers closed the gap with Dicker’s 39-yard field goal before halftime, making it 20-6. Los Angeles finished the half with just 92 total yards of offense.
The Seahawks opened the second half with a 6-yard pass from Darnold to Tory Horton, extending the lead to 27-6. The Chargers have allowed 24 or more points in each of their first four games.
The Chargers showed life with Herbert’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Kimani Vidal. After a Seattle field goal, Omarion Hampton ran for a 2-yard touchdown and Dicker added a 36-yarder to bring the Chargers within 30-23 with 2:14 to play.
Los Angeles got the ball back with 1:42 left, but Herbert was sacked and fumbled, and Seattle recovered to end it.
It wasn’t just the Seahawks who were hit with penalties, the Chargers had 16 penalties for 130 yards.
Darnold said he expects these errors to decrease over time.
“Obviously you don’t want penalties, but as we continue to play these games and move forward with this season, I feel like our guys on both sides of the ball, special teams as well, we’ll continue to get better,” he said.
Chargers: CB Donte Jackson left in the first quarter with a hamstring injury. … T Joe Alt left in the second quarter with a neck injury and did not return. … WR Ladd McConkey left at halftime after aggravating a foot injury.
Seahawks: DT Leonard Williams limped to the medical tent in the third quarter with an ankle injury, but returned for the Chargers’ final series.
Chargers: Return home to face Denver next Sunday.
Seahawks: Host San Francisco next Sunday.
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