The Seattle Seahawks have started exactly where they left off when they played their last game in 2024: with a victory. On January 7th of this year, the Seahawks outlasted the Arizona Cardinals 21-20. Tonight, they took care of business against the Los Angeles Chargers with a 16-3 victory to open the preseason.

Seattle started the game with a pair of punts, but eventually found their footing by engineering a 12-play, 59-yard scoring drive. Sam Howell found tight end Brady Russell for a 13-yard touchdown to give the Seahawks an early 7-0 lead.

They did not have to wait long for their next points, as Coby Bryant intercepted Chargers' quarterback Easton Stick on his first pass of the ensuing drive. Four plays later, running back George Holani scampered in for an 11-yard touchdown run. Kicker Jason Myers did miss the ensuing PAT, but a 13-0 lead was established, which proved to be insurmountable for Los Angeles.

The Seahawks ended the first half with three-straight punts, and a kneeldown with only seconds remaining in the second quarter. To start the third, Howell led the Seahawks offense on a 14-play, 84-yard drive which ended at LA's two-yard line when Holani was stuffed on fourth down. It was the closest the Seahawks would get to the endzone for the rest of the game.

Fortunately, it did not matter. Seattle's offense ate up plenty of clock with that drive, taking up 8:15. Later, PJ Walker led the offense on another lengthy drive... going 77-yards in 14 plays, lasting over six minutes in the fourth quarter which ended in a 48-yard field goal to go up 16-3.

As for the defense, Seattle kept Los Angeles in check. Any shortcomings from the offense were more than made up for by the defense, which stiffled anything the Chargers were attempting to do. LA was held to only three points, 198 yards, nine total first downs and only 2-of-13 on third down conversions. The Seahawks also dominated time of possession 39:09 to 20:51.

The closest the Chargers got to threatening Seattle was late in the fourth quarter when they made it all the way to the Seahawks' 17-yard line. However, they turned the ball over on downs, effectively ending the game.

Seattle starts the preseason 1-0. Next up: a trip to the Music City where they will play the Tennessee Titans, next Saturday at 4:00 pm Pacifict time.

This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks win preseason debut 16-3 against Chargers