DeMarcus Lawrence came to Seattle as a free agent looking to play for a winning team, and the veteran outside linebacker found that with the Seahawks, who have a 6-2 record midway through the season.
What he also found, it turns out, is a very tight-nit—and also highly productive—group of defensive linemen and outside linebacker who have formed what he describes as a brotherhood.
"I love the brotherhood," Lawrence said. "The way we address practice, how we go about things here, the atmosphere here, it's starting to get dark outside. I love it when it gets dark. I feel like everything is all coming together like it should. I feel like our head coach, Mike Macdonald, is doing a good job of making sure we as a team are having enough camaraderie that we're getting to know each and every individual on our team. I feel like it's going well."
Lawrence clarified that he likes it when it gets dark, "Because that's the way I like to play defense. I'm trying to turn the lights off on every offense. Now y'all got living proof of how it is to be on the dark side."
The Seahawks have won six of their first eight games for a number of reasons, including an explosive passing game led by Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a much-improved offensive line, big plays on special teams, and standout play on all three levels of their defense. But perhaps the best and most consistent part of Seattle's play halfway through the season has come from a defensive front that has emerged as one of the best in the NFL.
Part of what makes that front so effective is that the Seahawks aren't relying on one or two standouts to make it go, but rather relying on a deep rotation of players, led by outside linebackers Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu, Derick Hall and Boye Mafe, and linemen Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed and Byron Murphy .
"I've got more hitters in my arsenal now than in previous years," Lawrence said. "I feel like our team is very special and I like that we're not in the spotlight and we won't have to answer a lot of questions and stuff, we can just play the game of football. But what we have here, that's why it's so special because it hits everywhere on all 11 on offense, defense, and special teams. So, you're not pinpointing one person… I feel like everybody's playing their role well. Everybody is doing a great job.
"I got Big Cat, Murph is playing great ball right now as a second-year player. Everything is clicking. I've found a fountain of youth so I'm out there with my young guys and we're having a blast. When football is fun, it's easy."
Thanks in no small part to their defensive front, the Seahawks rank second in the league in rushing yards allowed (85.9) and first in rushing yards per carry allowed (3.5), and they're able to do that without loading the box to stop the run, frequently playing two-deep safety looks that are a staple of Macdonald's defenses.
The pass rush has also been incredibly effective, with the Seahawks able to frequently get pressure with only four rushers. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Seahawks have the second best pressure rate in the NFL at 40.1 percent, but they also have the 31st highest blitz rate at 19.2 percent. That combination can make life incredibly difficult for opposing quarterbacks.
"It just opens up the defense," Williams said of the team's ability to get pressure with four. "It allows Mike to call the game he wants when he's not worried about—it's the same with stopping the run; we've been able to stop the run with two high safeties, which allows him to play the defense he wants to play. If he's forced to play with a safety in the box to stop the run, then that limits certain things we can do on defense. If we have to pressure to get to the quarterback, then that limits certain things we can do on defense. When we can do it, it just opens up the defense."
The Seahawks have been effective when they do blitz, with the latest example being Ty Okada's interception on Sunday that was the result of a Devon Witherspoon blitz that forced an errant throw. But frequently the Seahawks are able to get pressure while dropping seven players into coverage.
"It makes our jobs and lives a lot easier," Okada said. "Those guys, the way they eat up front, it makes our job tremendously better. To have that kind of pressure with four guys rushing and those guys absolutely dominating their one-on-ones, it allows us to have more guys in coverage, and the rush and coverage working together is fantastic."
With the defensive line and outside linebackers helping lead the way, the Seahawks have one of the league's best defenses midway through the season, and are looking to only get better moving forward. Oh, and they'll keep having fun while they do it.
"It's very special," Reed said of the bond the defense has formed. "We created a bond with each other outside of the building and we're a close- knit group. Those are my guys, we work together and we grind together. We all play cards together, do all the little fun stuff, and it just brings us together on the field, that much closer."
The Seahawks practiced in the indoor practice facility at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on November 6, 2025 as they get ready for Week 10 vs. Cardinals.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Derion Kendrick (1) and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Quinton Bohanna (92) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Brandon Pili (95) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles (34) and wide receiver Ricky White III (86) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Maxen Hook (37) and wide receiver Cody White (82) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver John Rhys Plumlee (17) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Courtney Jackson (84) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyrone Broden (85) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (42) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Chazz Surratt (44) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jamie Sheriff (50) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Chris Paul Jr. (49) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (52) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (52) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Marshall Lang (87) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Nick Kallerup (89) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight ends coach Mack Brown at practice on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Marshall Lang (87) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Quinton Bohanna (92) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) practiced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
