Featuring postgame quotes from the following:

Head Coach Mike Macdonald

Good to see everybody. Great win. Really proud of our team. The result we had. I mean, we wanted to start the day fast. It was tough getting going with a 10 a.m. start, but you could feel the guys were trying. Hard to get the momentum there. Atlanta was playing really good on defense initially. But man, I'm really happy and proud of our second half. The guys stacked plays and played complimentary football. Played the situations really well. Obviously the kickoff was great to get a return finally. I can't wait to watch who popped out those blocks. But man, just really proud of our crew. The mentality we have, the resolve, the connectedness, really great. Much deserved win. The guys had a great week. Let's not take these East Coast trips for granted. This is not easy and Atlanta's a good football team, so really proud of our guys.

Is it true you called the [Rashid] Shaheed touchdown at halftime?
Maybe.

Was it just a hunch, or did you have a feeling or something?
I don't know, it's something about it. I called Coby's [Bryant] pick last year too. I'm going to get a fine for that, for bragging.

How much is the impact overall that [Rashid] Shaheed had on the game?
You felt him all the way since we traded for him, but finally the ball finds him. Then the return game, as soon as he breaks through that first level, there's no way anyone's going to catch him. He made some great plays in conversion downs, too, which are really, really important.

You told us Friday about how well Devon Witherspoon is playing, even if the stats aren't always showing. Today the stats did. What are your thoughts on that?
You had to have felt 'Spoon' [Devon Witherspoon] throughout that game. What a phenomenal player. The play on the interception is an incredibly difficult play to make. He played with anticipation and [made] an awesome play. Then on his interception, another just super high-level football play. Just an incredible football play. Understanding there's a lot of stuff going on in that play, and he just gets it and played with anticipation. The relentlessness to go keep attacking the football. I mean, that ball was alive there for a second. It was great.

What happened between the first half and the second half offensively? The play action seemed to be more open, runs were breaking. What changed?
Well, I've got to give Atlanta credit. They rushed us well in the first half. I feel like we got our run game going a little bit in the second half. Again, I feel like I say this every week, but I feel like our coaches did a good job kind of going back to the drawing board, going back to our second-half openers, getting a feel for how they were playing us, what we could do well. So, our coaches deserve a lot of credit for designing a good second-half game plan, and our players did a great job of executing it. Klint [Kubiak], he was dialed in. I thought he called a tremendous game and did a great job.

What's the concern level with the turnovers? Committing them, I mean, not getting them.
You look at that one on the short yardage, which it's a contested catch that we need to be able to make.

[Devon] Witherspoon, the play he made, you said it was a really difficult play. Was it something about the call that was difficult or just the play itself?
Just like what his job is on that play, and then what they ran is not an easy play to make. So, you have to have anticipation to be able to play that play, and he did it.

What did you think of Julian [Love]? It did look like you had to kind of rotate Julian and Ty [Okada] it quite a bit.
We had a bit of a pitch count for Julian [Love], and he felt really good. I felt like he executed well. We felt he was confident, and we were fortunate the way the game played out where we could let Ty [Okada] close it out for us. I thought Ty played really good football as well. I just want to take a second, Ty Okada deserves a massive shout-out from the coaches, everybody. This guy has played incredible football for us. All he does every day is just prepare his tail off. He's a phenomenal teammate. He plays so hard. He executes at a high level. Everything matters to him. We've played great defense since he had to take over for Julian. I know his production isn't as high, but, man, this guy. I just love having him. I'm really happy for him. He's playing really, really well, so shout-out to Ty.

You look really fired up on that fourth-down pass break up there.
Yeah, it was funny. I thought he was going to check the coverage to a certain check we had on that call, and he didn't see it the same way, obviously, so I'm glad he made that call. Otherwise, it would have been a little easier for us.

When Jarran [Reed] came back, he made the move that he made on the play where he forced the fumble as well.
Well, you might have to ask DeMarcus Lawrence who got that out because he said that's what he does. Happy to have Jarran [Reed] back. Outside of just being a really good player, just having him back emotionally as a leader on our football team, strapping it back up with the guys is awesome.

Defensive players said these games don't have to be close. Can you talk about how this team continues to separate?
Well, I think we've grown in that area in terms of we talk about stacking wins, but now it's in terms of stacking plays. So, just a moment-by-moment mindset of winning that down, winning that situation, and we just kind of reload and go back after it. I feel like our team has grown in that area. I know they say that, and it's cool. I love that mentality, but you're not really worried. We're just not worried about the result. I love how our mentality is really just focused on how we play, down-in and down-out, and control what we can control. I know it sounds kind of cliché and whatever, but that really is our mindset. But when you can stack a certain amount of plays together in situations, that's how you get stops, and that's how you limit points.

Nick [Emmanwori] said you gave a little halftime speech. What did you say?
I told us, let's return to this kickoff, and let's go score a touchdown.

Whose idea was it to put Nick [Emmanwori] on special teams and then kick block?
Well, Jay [Harbaugh]. He's been so close for so long. I'll tell you what, you watch our field goal block unit, really proud of the effort in there. That's a great indicator of your effort on your football team. Nick [Emmanwori] brings it every time. It's not just him. Anthony Bell is great in the wedge. Our D-linemen are awesome; they get a great push. But I'm really happy for Nick because he's really been ripping it on field goal block. He's come so close for a while now.

Sam Darnold took off running a couple times in the second half. Is that something you wanted him to do more of?
Yeah. He's so good at extending plays. Just go be a playmaker, man. Go do the things that you do. Get excited about it. Just kind of build him up on that front. You can't make too big of these things. Just encourage him to go do what he does and make it happen.

I asked because it looked like he could have run for the first down on the interception in the first half, and then in the second half, he's taking off running. I didn't know if that was something you had to say.
I don't know. I have to look at it. I'm not sure if he could have gotten the first down on that on that all the way through. I'm not sure.

Your thoughts on Nick [Emmanwori]'s game overall.
Tremendous game. We gave out some game balls, and he got one of the game balls. I'm really happy for him. He's worked his tail off. He really has. He does it every day. He's a tremendous asset for us. Obviously when we're utilizing him, when we're playing him against 13 personnel in the area, he's throwing his stuff in there. I'm happy for him, and he's got a great attitude. Happy for him. He deserves it.

What do you know about [Elijah] Arroyo and [Brandon] Pili and their injuries?
I think [Brandon] Pili's okay. [Elijah] Arroyo, we're going to say it's a knee. We'll evaluate it.

This is the second road game in a row where you've had a big fan presence here.
Oh, it's incredible. It was incredible. 12s shout out. I'm just so impressed. I know Atlanta's a great city, but I'm happy there. It's just incredible. Our 12s were everywhere. We really appreciate it. It really helps. We needed energy there in the first half, and our fans brought it. Then in the second half, as we started to stack some points, you could hear the Seahawks chant in the stadium. That was awesome. It really helped us kind of push through the second half.

QB Sam Darnold

I thought today was a total team effort. Obviously, in the first half didn't get off to the start that we wanted to offensively. I think we did most of everything that we wanted to, we just didn't finish in the red zone. For us, that's kind of been a thing. We've just got to continue to finish in the red zone and harp on that throughout the week. But we did a great job in the second half of coming back and finishing the game strong. I feel like our defense and obviously our special teams, the way that they started the second half is unbelievable.

It seems like you got in a rhythm at the end of the first half with Rashid [Shaheed] and then throw to AJ [Barner]. Was that last drive kind of important for you guys in getting ready for the second half?
Yeah, for sure. Just kind of getting up on the ball and using some tempo there definitely helped us.

With the defense playing the way it is, how much does that give the offense at least a cushion to know if it's not going right, they'll hold it down for you?
Our defense has been playing well all year. We know how good they are on that side of the ball, but as an offense, we've got to continue to sustain the drives. We've got to sustain our success throughout the season and throughout the game. If we continue to do that, I feel like we'll be in a good spot as a team.

You took off running a couple times in the second half, more than you did in the first half. Is that something you wanted to do as the game went on?
I just tried to take some of the opportunities that the defense gave me. I was going through my reads, and if something wasn't there, it was just not panicking and just understanding that I could get out of the pocket and make something happen with my legs.

Did it feel like a game like this was coming for [Rashid] Shaheed?
Yeah. Just the work that he's been putting in. Obviously, he had a huge kick return, but he makes plays all the time at practice. For him to actually be able to come out here and have success the way that he's been doing. He's been executing at a high level throughout these games ever since he's gotten here, he just hasn't had necessarily the opportunities that other guys have had. The fact that he finally got his today was special to see.

Your last touchdown, what's the decision making process was there where you escape pressure, you're running and you've got to be aware of the line scrimmage and all that. What's that feel like at the moment?
It's just going through the read, understanding that it wasn't really there and just trying to make a play. Escaping up instead of up and out, which is something that I've been working on. But again, it's just kind of the opportunities that you get throughout a game. I just felt like the other edge rushers were getting around a little bit, so I just tried to get up the middle and obviously made a play. And 'Jax' [Jaxon Smith-Njigba] did a great job of getting open.

On the interception, was there anything you'd do differently there?
I think just put it on. Elijah [Arroyo]'s such a big body. I feel like I left that one kind of high for him. If I could just get that one down, he could box out almost like a rebound in basketball and get the ball.

We've seen a few teams now use their best corner to shadow 'Jax' [Jaxon Smith-Njigba]. Why doesn't it work? How can you still get in the ball every week despite that?
I think 'Jax' is a really good player. Obviously, I give a lot of credit to those guys in Atlanta, especially their DBs. I felt like on tape just watching them, they're some of the best in the league. I just feel like 'Jax' is a really good player. There's nothing much else to be said other than that.

It seemed like a second half, there was a lot of wide-open players. Is Klint [Kubiak] someone maybe worth talking about?
Klint's been doing a great job ever since OTAs. He's been doing a great job as our offensive coordinator. We have full trust in him to be able to get us in really good situations. Again, in the second half, to be able to make some of the adjustments that we made, that's a huge credit to not only Klint, but our entire offensive staff.

Big picture, you're 10-3. What's the vibe or assessment of the offense?
We're able to go up and down the field. For us, like I said, we've just got to finish our drives and not be satisfied once we get down there and being able to punch the ball in the end zone. That's going to be a huge thing for us moving forward. As always, it's staying positive on first and second down. Getting in those third-and-five-or-less, to be able to make everything manageable for us. But I feel like we're in a good spot. We've just go to continue to harp on the details of everything. We know that in the locker room, and we'll do a good job of that throughout the week.

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

When it's not – well in the first half, like it wasn't today, how much can you guys rely on the defense just to hold it down until you guys get it right?
Yeah, like I said, last week we've got the best defense in the world, so we know we're going to get opportunities, it's just about maximizing them and executing at the end of the day on offense.

It felt like WR Rashid Shaheed was getting a ton of separation today. How much does that help you and how much does it help the whole passing game?
He is a big key to this offense and we're going to need him. I think us just playing that game, two-on-two out there, I feel like I can spring him open and he can definitely spring me open, so it's going to be a vital piece of this offense moving forward.

Do you remember the first time that you lined up across from S Nick Emmanwori in practice and what that rep was like?
Oh yeah, I talk a lot of crap to Nick. I talk a lot of crap all year. He's been my rookie that I've kind of been picking on, but I tell him he could be a legend. Mike Macdonald is going to have him in a great spot to play fast, and we all know that. I'm on him until probably next year, and then I'll probably still probably be talking a lot more crap next year. But yeah, that's the guy I kind of pick on and talk smack to on defense. He's a great player.

With WR Rashid Shaheed, could you kind of sense, just watching him in practice, the bigger games are coming just as he gets more comfortable in the offense with Sam and everything?
1000%, 1000%. He can run every single route, and his speed is dangerous, so teams have got to respect that, especially if you've got eyes on me or whoever. He's going to spring open, and when hard work meets opportunity, I know he's going to shine. You saw a little bit of that today, so the future is bright for him in this offense.

LB Drake Thomas

How did the game start for you guys?
Honestly, if things aren't going necessarily how we expect them to on offense, it's our job to pick them up. We want to play complimentary football, give them the ball back and put them in good positions. We're just going to keep on fighting no matter what happens."

First game with S Julian Love and NT Jarran Reed back, literally the first game that all the starters were available for you guys on defense. Kind of hard to believe, right?
Yeah, it's crazy. Those guys mean a lot to our team and to our defense, so it was great to have them back.

What kind of game did you see from S Nick Emmanwori today?
He was just disruptive. He was everywhere. When you have a pick, a sack, a blocked field goal, it just shows his capabilities and how good of a football player he is.

CB Riq Woolen

This was the first game you had your starters back - DT Jarran Reed and S Julian Love all together. Did you feel their presence out there today?

Most definitely. It's always good to have those guys out there, especially when they're contributing. It's a lot of fun. We missed them a lot, and they made some plays today, and I went out and had fun with them.

You have a secondary that has you, Devon Witherspoon, Nick Emmanwori and other guys that have unbelievable skills. Have you ever been around another a collection of athletes like this in the secondary before?

No. I'm not going to lie to you. This is the best secondary I've played with. I've been with some dogs before, but it's different when you have dogs, and we're all on the same time, all on the same line and same rhythm.

What was it like to see Devon Witherspoon make some of the splash plays in the game?

Having [Devon Witherspoon] out there, you know he's going to be there. He's loud, but his play speaks for itself as well. Ball-knowers know, football players know and people around the league know that he's a great player. When he's out there, he's a force multiplier. So, having him out there making those plays is amazing, and getting his first pick of the season is pretty cool.

S Julian Love

What can you say about the attitude of the defense that all the way down to 'garbage time' you guys are not allowed a touchdown?
I mean, you've heard it a lot of times, but that's the death zone for us. We don't want to give up points, and anybody who's in, whether it's me, whether it's Ty [Okada], Coby [Bryant], whoever was in – J Reed [NT Jarran Reed], all the guys. We have a lot of pride. So yeah, fourth-down stop, we knew it was coming down to it. We want to limit some of those penalties, of course, on that drive. But I mean, we just want to finish in a dominant way and I think we did that today.

Spoon's [CB Devon Witherspoon] always making an impact, but when you have a day like today, when the ball finds him, what does that say about him? Spoon, I know, if you watch the tape, you would understand that Spoon's a special player. The stats don't always show it. He just does all the little things right. Yeah, for him to get the ball today, I mean, he's always around it. I feel like if you play with good effort, you play the right way, and just are a dog, the ball will find you.

In general, this is probably one of the better defenses you've played on, you think?
Hands down. On every level, we have playmakers. But not only that, it's just like guys are accountable. Guys are vulnerable with each other. Guys are selfless enough to let their brothers eat, and that's how you get the really special defenses. I've had challenging ones. I haven't had a special defense like this before.