With a big Thursday night game coming up, the Seahawks were right back to work on Monday to begin preparing for the Rams in a game that will leave one team in control of its own destiny for the NFC's top seed.

"It's kind of like today is a Wednesday, Monday combo platter," Macdonald said when asked about the abbreviated week. "Tomorrow is a Wednesday, Thursday, combo platter. Wednesday's a Friday, Saturday combo."

Here are four things we learned from Macdonald's Monday press conference.

1. Charles Cross is dealing with a hamstring injury, plus an update on Tory Horton.

It was easy to miss in the moment, but as the Seahawks celebrated Jason Myers' 56-yard game-winning field goal, left tackle Charles Cross was being tended to after injuring his hamstring on the play.

"It's a hamstring, we're just trying to gather the info right now, exhausting all options to see how fast we can get him back," Macdonald said.

Asked if Cross could make it back for a Thursday game, Macdonald said, "I'd say it's possible."

In other injury news, Macdonald said it is unclear at this point whether or not rookie receiver Tory Horton, who is on injured reserve with a shin injury, will make it back this season.

"We'll see about Tory," Macdonald said. "He's taking it as he improves right now. He's got some hurdles we'll wait to see him get over those hurdles. But if he gets over them, then we can get him back."

2. How director of football analysis and special situations Brian Eayrs had a big hand in Sunday's win and got a game ball as a result.

As the Colts drove for what ended up being a go-ahead field goal in the final minutes on Sunday, the Seahawks had a decision to make on how to handle the clock. Use timeouts to stop the clock despite having a one-point lead, or burn them to make sure they would have some time back even if the Colts scored. Ultimately, Macdonald, with input from director of football analysis and special situations Brian Eayrs, decided to use all three timeouts. That decision paid off, because after the Colts kicked a 60-yard go-ahead field goal, the Seahawks still had 47 seconds left on the clock, which was enough time for Sam Darnold and company to get in range for the game-winning kick.

"It's kind of a function of like, 'Hey, as this kind of declares as the last possession, even though they still had three timeouts, you're trying to figure out a way if it doesn't go your way you have a chance to come back and win it,' Macdonald said after the game. "Brian Eayrs did a phenomenal job managing it and he was really decisive, and I gave him a lot of the credit. He got a game ball in the locker room because he really put us in position to go still have a chance to win the game."

Eayrs, who was hired by Pete Carroll in 2013, was one of many people on the football support staff that Macdonald kept when he was hired last year, and Eayrs' role has evolved under Seattle's new coach in a way that makes him a key part of Macdonald's decision-making process on gameday. And after Sunday's win, Macdonald presented Eayrs with a game ball during the postgame celebration to recognize his contributions to the win.

"He came very highly recommended by John (Schneider) and everybody else in the building," Macdonald said Monday. "That obviously carries a lot of weight as you get to know him. Just like what I said to the team yesterday, talking about chasing edges, it's just really that mentality that you have to have in that position. It was just clear really early that this was his mentality about how he wanted to approach these things. It's a job that he has initially had like the full scope of that responsibility before, and he's just really attacked it. From my perspective, when you try to give people responsibility, that's what I'm looking for. It's what's the attitude like? Are we really just diving deep and trying to make it come to life the best we can to help the team in any aspect? You name the job, that's what we're looking for. Brian's (Eayrs) been a great example of how to attack it, make it his own, and add his personality to it and his own flavor. And he's just done a great job."

3. Byron Murphy II "absolutely played lights out" on Sunday.

At one point in Monday's press conference, Macdonald was asked about Seattle's pass rush, and midway through his answer, he got a bit off course because he felt compelled to praise the game second-year defensive tackle Byron Murphy II had. On the stat sheet, it was a relatively quiet day for Murphy, who was credited with four tackles, but the work he did in the run game, helping limit the league's leading rusher, Jonathan Taylor, to 87 yards on 25 carries, was a huge factor.

"I'll tell you what, this isn't your question, but Byron Murphy II played a tremendous football game," Macdonald said. "He was absolutely dominant. Probably single-handedly won us a football game on defense. He absolutely played lights out. I know I didn't answer your question, but it's worth mentioning.

"This guy has taken on multiple blockers while also making plays, being stout and making relentless effort plays. It's remarkable what he's able to do. It really is. He's just remarkable. He's just playing really great football."

4. Nick Emmanwori keeps making big plays.

A week after his standout effort in a win over the Falcons, rookie safety Nick Emmanwori had another impressive game, recording seven tackles, a sack and two passes defensed. One of the highlights of that game was a screen pass he blew up early in the fourth quarter, getting off the block of All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson to make an open-field tackle of All-Pro running back Jonthan Taylor for a 1-yard gain.

"It was a tremendous play," Macdonald said. "I'm glad you brought that up because it's a big play, but it's not a splash play. It's like the old school Oklahoma drill. You've got two blockers in front of you, you've got to beat those guys and get the guy with the ball. It's some high-powered stuff, and that was a great play."

The way Emmanwori continues to stack impressive games is the result of his mentality and approach, Macdonald said, one he hopes the team can emulate.

"I think that's just his mentality," Macdonald said. "I really want our team to have that mentality. You've heard it from me every week. How can we go play our best ball all the time, regardless of circumstance, is what we're shooting for."

Emmanwori also showed his maturity and growth on a third-quarter play in which he wrapped up receiver Josh Downs on the sideline and began to lift him up before setting him down on the sideline. Earlier this season, Emmanwori drew a flag when he picked up Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson and threw him to the ground in a play officials deemed to be unnecessary.

"That was great. Another great play, that's really indicative of his growth," Macdonald said. "(The Week 13 tackle of Jefferson) wasn't quite cost of doing business. He could have definitely made a smarter decision in that moment. But when you're going to live on the edge like that, I don't think it was a selfish decision or that he was trying to hurt him. He's on the edge and that's how we want to play on defense. Sometimes you have to learn how to handle that when you want to play right there. That was a great example of how we want to play. Right up to the edge, and then let's go to the next play."