For the Seahawks defense to be at its disruptive best, for Mike Macdonald's diabolical scheme to be able to fool opposing quarterbacks and play-callers with exotic pressures and coverages that can lead to sacks and turnovers, that unit knows it has to first take care of one of the most basic tenets of defense.
They need to stop the run.
Or as players and defensive coaches like to phrase it, they need to earn the right to rush the passer.
And of all the things the Seahawks have done well on defense so far this season—and there have been a lot of them—what might be most encouraging from a big-picture perspective is how well the Seahawks are defending the run.
Through three games, the Seahawks are holding opponents to a 3.2 yards-per-carry average, which ranks third in the NFL, and are allowing 90.0 rushing yards per game, which ranks ninth. And the Seahawks are the only team in the NFL to not allow a rushing touchdown this season.
And this isn't the case of the Seahawks benefiting from a stretch of opponents who don't want to run the ball or who don't have productive running games. In a tight season-opening loss, the Seahawks held Christian McCaffrey, a three-time Pro-Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro, to just 69 yards on 22 carries, a 3.1 yards-per-carry average. The Steelers were more pass-heavy in Week 2, but still attempted 21 runs while averaging jus 3.4 yards per carry, then in Sunday's win over the Saints, Pro-Bowler Alvin Kamara, who in three previous meetings with Seattle had averaged 178.0 scrimmage yards per game, was held to 56 total yards, including 42 rushing yards on 18 carries (2.3 YPC).
"We were excited about the challenge of having (Kamara) and them thinking they were going to run the ball on us," Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV said. "We took that personal. Listen, it's going to be tough to run the ball against us, just because of the mindset and the physicality that we play with. Honestly, it's just this—we're going to make it hard on you to run the ball on us, and if you do, good luck to you."
Jones, who had seven tackles, including one for a 4-yard loss on a Kamara run, has helped lead Seattle's run defense, not just through a strong start this season, but through a second-half turnaround last year. Through their first eight games last season, the last of which was Jones' first after arriving in a trade, the Seahawks were allowing 148.4 rushing yards per game, which ranked 29th in the league, and were giving up 4.9 rushing yards per carry. Over their final nine games, the Seahawks run defense improved significantly, holding opponents to 96.2 yards per game and a 4.1 yards per carry average.
And for the Seahawks to play the type of defense they aspire to under Macdonald, playing good run defense is not only a non-negotiable part of the equation, but also one that requires extra effort from everyone involved. The Seahawks play a lot of two-deep safety looks, meaning they aren't loading the box to stop the run, so to win those battles, everyone needs to do their part. Or as Macdonald explains it, their part and a tiny bit more, living up to the team's '12 as One' mantra that says if all eleven players can be 1.09 of a player instead of one, that adds up to 12.
"I can tell you, it's not really the scheme," Macdonald said. "When you play with the light boxes, which is what we do a lot, somebody's going to have to take two, and that's why, the 1.09 that gets you to 12 is important. Also, you can't just be cookie cutter—'This is where I fit, and then I don't do anything else.' It's, 'I relate to the ball a certain way. I play off guys in front of me.' We're trying to be aggressive up front to be as disruptive as we possibly can. Ultimately, it takes reps so you can build that chemistry so guys can play off one another."
Check out the best photos from the Seahawks' Week 3 conference matchup vs. the Saints at Lumen Field.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
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Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
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Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
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Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
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Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
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Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
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Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
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Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
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Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
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Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
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Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
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Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21, 2025.
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Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
Seahawks vs. Saints at Lumen Field on September 21st, 2025.
