Mike Macdonald’s Defense Has Seattle Looking Like a True Contender in the NFC
The Seattle Seahawks didn’t just beat Jacksonville on Sunday — they overwhelmed them.
In a 20–12 win that showcased the team’s physical edge and discipline, Mike Macdonald’s defense delivered its most complete performance of the season.
Despite fielding a patchwork secondary and a handful of front-seven injuries, Seattle generated seven sacks, smothered the Jaguars’ ground game, and looked every bit like a top-five defense in the league.
The front four, led by DeMarcus Lawrence and Byron Murphy II, dominated the line of scrimmage, collapsing pockets and forcing Trevor Lawrence into constant pressure.
Murphy, who had just half a sack as a rookie last year, already has 4.5 sacks through six games, while Lawrence continues to anchor the front in his first season after a decade in Dallas.
The result: Jacksonville managed just 59 rushing yards on 19 carries, including a mere 27 yards on 12 attempts from Travis Etienne Jr., one of the NFL’s most productive backs this season.
That kind of defensive control didn’t go unnoticed. During Pro Football Talk’s weekly breakdown, analyst Chris Simms praised Seattle’s physical dominance and trench execution, saying:
“The Seahawks’ defensive line took over the football game. They collapsed the pocket, they couldn’t run the ball — the Seahawks’ D-line whooped the Jaguars up front.”
It was a performance that reflected exactly what Macdonald preaches — relentless pressure, disciplined gaps, and complementary team defense.
Macdonald’s Blueprint Is Taking Hold
Through six weeks, the Seahawks rank second in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (79) and fourth overall in total rushing yards allowed (474) — trailing only Houston, Atlanta, and Green Bay.
They’re also top-10 in scoring defense, giving up just 19.5 points per game, nearly matching the Vikings and Colts.
That kind of balance and toughness is precisely what Seattle hoped for when hiring Macdonald last winter. The former Ravens defensive coordinator brought with him a proven system built on hybrid fronts and disguised pressures — and now, it’s starting to click.
Even Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio took note of that progress, highlighting how well Macdonald’s group has performed under tough conditions.
“The key to the game was Mike Macdonald’s defense. Even with a banged-up secondary, they at least were healthy on the defensive line — and that group took over.”
Those injuries have hit all three levels of the defense. Devin Witherspoon (knee), Riq Woolen (concussion), and Julian Love (hamstring) have all missed time, while veterans Derick Hall, Johnathan Hankins, and Rylie Mills remain sidelined.
Yet the system hasn’t flinched. Depth players such as Ty Okada, Coby Bryant, and Josh Jobe have filled critical roles, keeping Seattle’s defensive identity intact.
Building a Championship Identity
Resilience has been Macdonald’s hallmark — and the Seahawks are embodying it. Despite constant roster turnover, this defense continues to dictate tempo, winning at the line of scrimmage and suffocating opposing run games.
Simms believes that sustained health could elevate Seattle to the NFC’s elite tier.
“If they can play like that on the defensive line, then get Devin Witherspoon and Julian Love back, watch out.”
It’s a warning that carries weight. The Seahawks already boast one of the league’s most consistent front sevens and a top-five run defense.
Once the secondary regains full strength, Macdonald’s unit could rival the NFC’s best. At 4–2, Seattle’s ceiling is rising fast — and their defense is the reason why.
Broncos Star Gets Honest About Jets QB Justin Fields After Historic Day
The Denver Broncos, and specifically their defense, had a historic day in Week 6 against the New York Jets
The Broncos sacked Fields 9 times during the contest.
It was a strong effort from Cooper and the Broncos’ defense when the offense did not have its best at different points.
Jonathan Cooper Gets Real About Justin Fields After Broncos Beat Jets
GettyDenver Broncos defensive ends Jonathon Cooper and John Franklin-Myers.
One fan asked Cooper on X what Fields had done to him, since the Broncos star and Jets QB were college teammates at Ohio State for two seasons from 2019 through 2020. The two reached the CFB National Championship in their final season together.
Naturally, Cooper expressed his affinity for Fields, citing their last campaign in Columbus.
“Lead me to a national championship,” Cooper posted on X on October 13. “I love him fr forever my brother.”
The 9th and most important sack of the day.
In addition to the Broncos snapping droughts of various lengths through different combinations of metrics, they held Fields to 45 yards passing on 52.9% completion. The passing yards are his
Moreover, the Jets lost 55 yards on those sacks, giving them a net loss of 10 yards in the game.
That is the fewest passing yards allowed in Broncos history, the first time a team has been held to negative passing yardage since 2023, and the fewest in the NFL
Notably, the Broncos also own the NFL record for fewest passing yards in a game, finishing with a loss of 53 yards against the then-
Jonathon Cooper Helps Tide Star Take Down Former Buckeyes Teammates
GettyJustin Fields #1 and Jonathon Cooper #0 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after defeating the Clemson
Cooper and Fields’ Buckeyes lost that National Championship Game 52-24 against the Alabama Crimson Tide
Eight Broncos players recorded at least one half-sack in the game.
Cooper, who signed a four-year, $54 million contract extension last November, led the Broncos with 2.0 sacks on Fields in the win over the Jets. In a twist of fate, Cooper is now teammates with
Surtain drew attention in this game for helping limit Jets star wideout
Up next, Cooper and the Broncos return home to face the New York Giants in Week 7.
Former Broncos QB Russell Wilson, who was also Fields’ teammate on the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, is now with the Giants, and would have been a good matchup for the Denver defense to pad its sack totals.
However, he ceded QB duties to rookie first-round pick Jaxson Dart in Week 4. Wilson is now a backup who has been mentioned in trade speculation.
Justin Fields Accepts Blame for Jets Passing Game Woes vs Broncos
GettyJustin Fields of New York Jets is tackled by Eyioma Uwazurike of Denver Broncos.
Fields came under intense scrutiny during and after the game. However, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn pushed back against a question about whether the coaching staff was considering benching the former No. 11 overall pick (2021, Chicago Bears) after falling to 0-6.
“Come on, man. What kind of question is that?” Glenn said in response, after acknowledging that Fields’ numbers were poor in the game. “Sometimes this league is [up and down], and there’s a number of guys that have bad games. That doesn’t mean you just bench them. Come on. You know better than that.”
Fields, who has a 799-4-0 line on 65% completion this season, accepted blame for the Jets’ passing game woes against the Broncos, saying, it “starts with me.”
“It wasn’t good enough and that starts with me”
Justin Fields talks about the passing game struggles in today’s loss:
again on Monday after the loss to Cooper and the Broncos.
