The Seattle Seahawks strengthened their position as the NFC’s top seed following a dominant 27-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 17, relying once again on a strong defensive performance.
The win improved the Seahawks’ record to 13-3 in the season, and in the process, quarterback Sam Darnold joined an exclusive list of legendary players, including Tom Brady.
Sam Darnold Joins Elite Quarterback Club After Consecutive 13-Win NFL Seasons
With Sunday’s win, Seahawks quarterback Darnold recorded his second straight 13-win season, placing him in the rare and elite company of signal-callers in NFL history.
According to the NFL on CBS X account, only four quarterbacks have previously achieved consecutive 13-win seasons as a starter:
- Tom Brady (2003-04 and 2010-11 with New England Patriots)
- Peyton Manning (2012-13 with Denver Broncos)
- Aaron Rodgers (2019-21 with Green Bay Packers)
- Brett Favre (1996-97 with Packers)
The milestone, not surprisingly, comes with a strong 2025 campaign for Darnold so far. According to PFSN’s QB Impact, the Seahawks quarterback is ranked 10th in the league with a score of 80.1 and a B- grade.
MORE: Drake Maye Made NFL History During Patriots’ Blowout Win vs. Jets in Week 17
In this season, Darnold has completed 67.2% of his passes for 3,850 yards and 25 touchdowns, while also leading the NFL in total net yards per pass attempt (8.5) as of after Week 17.
Seahawks’ Defense Key Again in Week 17 Victory Over Panthers
Seattle limited a Carolina offense that entered the game as the NFC South leaders to just 139 total yards of offense.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was held to just 54 passing yards, the lowest-ever output of his career as a starter. Veteran edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence played a pivotal role in pressuring the quarterback and also forced multiple fumbles off the Panthers’ running backs.
The Seahawks defense is ranked first in the NFC and third in the league according to PFSN’s Defense Impact rankings, with a score of 88.2.
MORE: NFC West Playoff Scenarios Week 17: Seahawks, Rams, 49ers Battling for Division Title
With one game remaining in the regular season, Seattle will be in complete control of securing its NFC top seed. The Seahawks will next face off against divisional rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, who are currently second in the NFC West with a 12-4 record.
A Week 18 win over the 49ers would hand the Seahawks the division title and also give them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs — for the first time since 2014.
According to PFSN’s Playoff Predictor, after the win over Carolina in Week 17, Seattle was the favorite to win the NFC West with a 67.70% chance to win the division. However, after the 49ers won against the Chicago Bears, they now have a 46.70% chance to win the division, and the Seahawks (53.30%)Â no longer have an easy path.
After spending multiple seasons relying on outside results to reach the postseason, the Seahawks now head into the regular-season finale with everything in their control and the momentum of a six-game winning streak on their side.
