Featuring postgame quotes from the following:

Head Coach Mike Macdonald

All right, good to see everybody all the way across the country. Look, it was a great win by our guys. You know, felt like it's the same story every week but we didn't flinch. Big emphasis this week was like can we stack plays in all three phases. Took us a half to do it, but I felt like in the second half we did a great job by responding to the takeaway. [LB] DeMarcus Lawrence had a phenomenal play; then we were able to punch it in. And [TE] AJ Barner was really a spark plug for us on offense. And then come back with another takeaway with [S] Julian [Love] in a phenomenal play, and then just go finish out in the fourth quarter. I feel like it was cool to end of the game in a four-minute touchdown, I thought. That was something that we have been wanting to get done all year, and the guys did a great job. You know, fly back home and get ready for next week.

On LB DeMarcus Lawrence and S Julian Love, as veterans stepping up at this time of the year

Yeah, it's big time. It's big time. I mean with 'D-Law' [LB DeMarcus Lawrence] you feel like it's a play waiting to happen and [S] Julian [Love] it's –he has a playmaking ability about him. There is also a poise about him as well. So two great players that we love and love having them here.

On RB Zach Charbonnet

It was probably [RB] Zach's [Charbonnet] best game as a Seahawk I would imagine. Definitely in the last two years. You know, just sometimes—like I was telling 'K-9' [RB Kenneth Walker III], K-9 played a great game, too. Sometimes that's the way the game goes on some of those creases and things. I mean the third down conversion was incredible. Some of those black zone runs are—like 95 was a block in the hole and makes the guy miss. It's a two-yard game. That's a big time two yards, so it's not just the explosive runs. It's all those tough yards as well. And then obviously finishing out in the four-minute was big time.

On the run game having success two weeks in a row

Yeah, it's good. It's right where we want to be at this point. We have to keep going. San Francisco has a good run defense and go put a great plan together and let's rock and roll.

On his mentioning the feeling of having two starting running backs

Yeah, it's great. I mean, that's the thing with [RB] Kenneth [Walker III]. Hey, man, he's playing great football. He's an integral part of our operation, just like [RB] Zach [Charbonnet] has been when Ken has been getting the bulk of the carries. So it's great. We got two really great backs, and sometimes—it's just like when sometimes when the offense needs to pick up the defense and vice versa. It could be the same thing in a position group.

On the way the team tackled today

Yeah, I'm glad you brought that up. You're absolutely right. I thought our guys—this a good offense. They been moving the ball and they been creating explosives and been doing a great job recently. It's because they got great players, great scheme, the whole nine. Those are some open-field tackles as well that those guys were making, and those were critical yards. I mean, you miss that tackle, now you're in a third and two, this is a great fourth down team. Kind of the shape of that drive really takes a turn when you're able to staple guys. I felt like it was all three levels, so I'm glad you brought that up.

On the pride of the defense takes on being able to flip the momentum and responding to the takeaway after QB Sam Darnold's interception.

That's what they do. That's what they do. They take pride in it. It's not like I'm the one telling them to go out—I mean I am, but they respond to each other. It's a special group.

On what the referees told him about the fumble where QB Sam Darnold's hand looked like it was going forward

They said it wasn't enough to overturn. I disagree. I think his hands were going forward. I thought we got to the spot on the fourth down. There are some things that—this is part of the course. You're not going to come out of a game in the NFL and be like, hey, look, every break went our way and I'm very excited about it. Things aren't going to go your way, calls aren't going to go your way, and obviously you're not going agree with everything. I think you got to also go to the next play.

On WR Rashid Shaheed update

Yeah, it was a concussion and he wasn't able to come back.

On WR Cody White injury update

[WR] Cody [White] was a groin. Yeah, groin. Yeah, we'll see. Probably going to be some time with Cody.

On ending the first half with the sneak

Yeah, we're trying to get into our two-minute mode and trying to push the ball forward. We were trying; we just weren't doing it. That's the way the drive went. Again, we have the ball coming out of the half and originally trying to go score a touchdown but weren't able to get it going. So at that point trying to get in field goal range and didn't get it, you know. But we—by doing that we also basically eliminated their ability to go score a field goal as well, so that was the thought behind it.

On the sneak with QB Sam Darnold, why not go with the TE AJ Barner tush push?

Well you got to burn a timeout and then you got to put personnel on the field. We been good in those situations we've gotten in up to this point. We'll look at—I don't know. Looked like to me and from the naked eye that we got it; but they said we didn't.

On the decision to hurry to the next play regarding the replay of the RB Kenneth Walker III fumble

No. We were just trying to convert the first and take a time out and then push the ball down the field more.

On the level of concern with the two more turnovers with QB Sam Darnold and the offense

Yeah, it's really just the ball being in jeopardy. You know, so deflections, things like that, I mean, those things happen, but I think if we take care of like the front end of the plays better, it won't be as big of an issue. So we call it "eat." It's how you finish plays. We got to double down on that. It's critical this part of the year.

On what he has learned about LB DeMarcus Lawrence

Well, AD [Coach Aden Durde] deserves a shout out here because he was with [LB] Demarcus [Lawrence] for their time in Dallas and the alignment that AD and really the rest of everybody else and myself, like understanding about what type of people we want to bring in the building and the skillsets that we need in our defense, it really was a no-brainer. I think they just—we knew who he was and then we take pride in creating an environment where guys love coming to work and you can play your best football. That goes for whatever year he is now, ten, 12-year vets. I'm happy about his spirit that he has. You can feel his love for the game. That comes out on the field, so it's been great. It's been great. We love him. Doing a great job.

On TE AJ Barner's performance

Yeah, critical. Like I told the team he's a spark plug for us. Attitude-wise got an edge to him, got a swag. All those things, those are Seahawk traits and he's that guy and we feed off him. We need him. He's a great player.

On the black zone run

Yeah, basically de facto goal line. Nowadays you don't go like goal line at the five if you're getting goal line type of plays at a certain point in the red zone.

On how critical it has been for the offense with TE AJ Barner taking the next step as a pass catcher

Well, I think it's similar to 'Jax' [WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba]. You know, you want to have visions for your players bigger than they have for themselves. And these two guys, to their credit, this is their vision for their game, on where they wanted to take it from the day they stepped in the door or that we met them. All he's done is attack it and make it come to life. I know we always felt like he could be a complete tight end in our league at an elite level, and he is on his way to being that. So especially in this offense, to have that threat where he's not just an extra tackle or whatever out there. That's big time. That's big for us.

On S Ty Okada's performance

Yeah, look, it's remarkable. It really is. He's just—his tackling all year has been phenomenal. I'm thinking of a play in Atlanta, he's coming across, making a play. He's a tough son of a gun and takes great angles and trusts it. It's a shout out to the rest of the team too. There were some open-field tackles that were big time, but also like every tackle needs to be some sort of vice. Like you're never just going to be on your own out there. Guys were running to the ball and were populating the football even if the ball breaks.

On WR Cooper Kupp's third down catch

Yeah, big time catch. I know it wasn't [QB] Sam's [Darnold] best game of all-time and the stats reflect that, but there are some big time third down throws with pressure in his face. He threw the one to 'Jax' [WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba] that route to [WR] Cooper [Kupp.] Those are some big time throws that in the face of pressure that we need to be able to make. They're not easy to make. That was a big time catch by 'Coop' [WR Cooper Kupp]. That was awesome.

On the potential of getting top seed in the NFC and what it means to the team

I'm going to give you the boring answer. I think it's the same story. As we're hitting these benchmarks, it's going to be the same message to the team because that's what's got us to this point. We're going to do everything in our power to go win this one and we'll go play the next one. You know, but that's the message. It takes 100% of everybody all the time every week. Nothing changes this week. One of our goals is to win the division. It's going to come down to if we win the game we win the division, so we'll hit the next goal.

On seeing the play that C Jalen Sundell made

Yeah, heard he had his first PBU. I didn't see it but they told me about it. Guys will love that one.

QB Sam Darnold

Obviously, it was [what] I felt like a slow start but a good win—a good team win. Like I said, not the way we wanted to start on offense but I feel like our defense and special teams kept us in the game. We did enough in the second half as an offense to win the game.

On how big converting on four third down and longs was

Yeah, it's huge. It's something that we've been working on a ton—just kind of that third and longer. I felt like our guys really stepped up. Our offensive line blocked their butts off all game. We had a lot of guys in the skill group step up and make some huge plays as well. So just a great all around effort by those guys on those third downs.

On the importance of getting the run game going late in the season

Yeah, no doubt. It's awesome. Then just the way we ended it, to have that four-minute drive and kind of seal the deal with that touchdown there late, that was huge for us to end of the game that way.

On how TE AJ Barner has improved in his second season

Yeah, it's huge. We all know what [TE] AJ [Barner] is capable of and I am so confident in him as a quarterback. Obviously, he does a lot of stuff that people don't see, things that aren't going to show up in the stat sheet. He does a great job in the pass game as well when we need him to. He stepped up in a big way for us there today.

On his fumble in the first half

I dropped the ball. I felt like I was still in the pocket so it felt like I had a good base and I was in the right spot to be able to make that throw. The defense just made a good play. [They] got their hand on my forearm or elbow, and, yeah, kind of is what it is.

On getting the tackle on the fumble

Yeah, I can't remember the last time I did that. It was fun but obviously it's not what we want to be doing. As a quarterback, I don't want to be making tackles out there. Yeah, it was kind of a throwback to high school when I was playing linebacker.

On the success of the four-minute drives

Yeah, no doubt. That's what I was kind of alluding to there. I feel like we've had a few four-minute drives previously throughout the year where we've given the ball back and our defense has stepped up all year but for us to have that drive, have a great drive in that four-minute offense to put the game away, like I said, it's huge for us just moving forward.

On the momentum of back-to-back turnovers that gave Seattle the ball back

It's unbelievable. Our defense has been doing that all year. They've been stepping up in such a huge way, especially for me. Like that turnover, I just got to move on in my progression or at least make an us-or-nobody throw where 'Jax' [WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba] can go up and get it or it's incomplete. Our defense has had our back all year and vice versa. When we feel like we need a spark, our offense stepped up in big ways as well. It's just complementary football all season long and this one especially.

On LB DeMarcus Lawrence and what he means to the team

No. Obviously I've seen him a ton on tape and gone against him a couple times. Yeah, he's obviously a guy that is of high character, and to see that firsthand and see the kind of leader that he is, seeing the offensive line or even the young defensive line in between reps in practice, just what he means to this team is—he's awesome and great for this team and organization.

On looking ahead to San Francisco

It's just the next game. Obviously, it's a big game, but we're excited about that opportunity. We're going to enjoy this one a little bit and get focused on them tomorrow.

DE Demarcus Lawrence

On the defense being excited after his fumble recovery

It just gave us another opportunity to take the ball away. We were able to capitalize on our opportunity and come out with a win.

On if he thought he had a touchdown after the fumble recovery

It didn't matter. I got the ball and got up and ran. I did my part and let the rest take care of itself.

On if he thought this was the best game played by the Seahawks defense

I can't say right now. We got to go back and review the film, but shoot, we won the game and that's the most important part. We'll review the film, and I'll give you an answer after that.

On if he's been part of a team that's had as much success on the road

Have I been a part of a team that's been this successful on the road? I have before, but to go and talk about this team though, it's just a dynamic of us taking care of each other and fighting for each other. If the offense makes a mistake, the defense helps. If the defense makes a mistake, the offense is right there to have our back, so it's just a testament to the brotherhood that we have here and the football that we're playing.

On being able to be a difference maker on defense

I don't live off of pride. I just try to be consistent. That's my job – to take the ball away and get my offense more opportunities to score and I was able to do it today.

On being in position to earn the No. 1 seed

Next week – one game at a time. We got San Francisco next and we're going to make sure we take care of business. It's in our hands and all we have to do is grasp it.

RB Zach Charbonnet

On if he felt like they were able to wear down the Panthers' defense in the second half

I think they were on top of that. I think the [offensive line] did a great job of blocking up front. The tight ends did a great job too and so did the receivers, so I think all that plays a factor.

On converting long third downs on the ground

It's definitely big. Everyone just executed, but for situational football, it's good to have those.

On how important it is for the run game to peak at this point of the season

It's definitely something we've continued to harp on and will continue to harp on. Definitely not satisfied yet, so we're going to keep building on that and keep attacking it.

On the last touchdown run at the end of the game

I just think that shows our mentality. We played gritty football and we played downhill. Once again shoutout to the [offensive line] for just doing their job and allowing me to just make a cut and get in.

S Julian Love

On how big was forcing two turnovers back-to-back

We felt good defensively. The first half was great. They had that one drive but we just knew we had to get the ball. Give our offense a shorter field and opportunities to put the ball in the endzone. That's just how we've been this year. I think we chip away and work on our process—do all the things, but at the end of the day people just make plays. When you make plays it creates a spark.

On what he makes of LB DeMarcus Lawrence, who's talked retiring running down QB Bryce Young in the open field

He's special. He creates something different for our defense. He is a perimeter killer. His effort as long as he has been playing is real special. His whole career he has been finding that ball. He hit the punch out, he's chasing people down on the perimeter. We need him out there, we're a really good defense with him on the field.

On what it means to be one game away from the number one seed

It's exciting. If you take a step back, it's a big game next week and I've never been in this position before. You've got to love it. You have to approach this next week with love in your heart and gratitude of—we're in a position to punch our ticket in a great way. I think the whole team is fired up. We're excited and we know that the other team across the ball is going to be trying to do the same thing. It's just these moments man [that] we just want to cease. I haven't had too many of these moments in my career so I'm ready to take it.

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

On converting when the defense creates turnovers

We have full confidence that we're going to get opportunities. Our defense is going to give us opportunity so it's just up to us to execute and score points.

On why it felt like the team wasn't flustered after not having a lot of points in the first half

It felt like a playoff game. It's a tough game and you [have] to keep swinging and [have] to keep fighting. That's who we are and that's what were about.

On how nice it is to have the support of a really good defense

Man, it's great to have the best defense in the world. Like I said, we know were going to get opportunities to go down there and do our thing. So, it's about executing and playing good ball. Defense using the offense and offense using the defense. So, it been good.

On what the battles were like with CBs Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson

It was a go battle. Two respected corners—great defense. They fly around on the ball. It was a battle today. They had some good plays, we had some good plays, it was fun.