GLENDALE, AZ (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Zach Charbonnet ran for a career-high 134 yards and two touchdowns, Geno Smith threw for 233 yards and a score, and the Seattle Seahawks beat the Arizona Cardinals 30-18 to remain atop the NFC West. The Seahawks won their fourth straight to move to 8-5 and swept the season series from the Cardinals, who fell to 6-7. The Hawks have won seven in a row against their division rival.

Seattle won the first three games of the season under new head coach Mike Macdonald but then lost five of its next six and raised questions about where the Seahawks might be headed. They’ve now provided some answers with four straight wins to take the upper hand in the competitive NFC West.

“We’re in playoff mode, man,” left guard Laken Tomlinson exclaimed in a celebrating locker room after Seattle (8-5) downed divisional rival Arizona 30-18 on Sunday.

The Los Angeles Rams (7-6) are a game back in the NFC West race after a 44-42 victory over the Buffalo Bills. The Seahawks have just one divisional contest remaining — they close out the regular season against the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Jan. 5.

The Rams downed the Seahawks 26-20 in overtime earlier this season in Seattle.

The Seahawks have three games before that season-ending divisional showdown, and potentially things could change. Seattle’s next two games are at home against Green Bay and the Vikings before a Dec. 26 game at the Bears. Heading into Sunday’s game at Lumen, the Packers (9-4) have dropped to 1-3 in the NFC North after losing 34-31 at Detroit on Thursday.

“Every game’s a championship game, and if you really take that approach then when you get to the big game it won’t feel different,” Seattle quarterback Geno Smith said about the team’s playoff mindset. “I think we’re developing it as a team, and I think the mindset is what’s really setting us apart right now.”

 

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