(Editor’s note: This is excerpted from Mike Sando’s Pick Six of Dec. 9, 2024.)
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV and safety Coby Bryant intercepted consecutive passes from Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray to help Seattle take control of its eventual 30-18 victory at Arizona. These two plays, worth a combined 8.6 EPA, led to 14 actual points as Seattle scored touchdowns on the ensuing drives.
By game’s end, Seattle owned the NFL’s eighth-ranked defense by EPA per play. That’s its highest ranking through Week 14 since the 2017 team ranked sixth at this point. That defense featured familiar names: Michael Bennett and Frank Clark at defensive end, Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright at linebacker, Earl Thomas at safety.
The No. 8 ranking through Week 14 this season is up from No. 28 at the same point in 2023. Seattle ranked no higher than 16th at this point in any of Pete Carroll’s final six seasons as coach.
Mike Macdonald’s defense has been rounding into form for a couple of reasons. The defensive front, led by Leonard Williams, is playing better. Seattle is also getting improved play at linebacker since acquiring Jones, releasing Tyrel Dodson at the bye and getting more from rookie Tyrice Knight.
There are similarities to how Macdonald’s defense took root in Baltimore during the 2022 season, Macdonald’s first as coordinator for the Ravens. That defense started slowly, then improved after acquiring linebacker Roquan Smith during the season.
Both defenses got tougher following Week 10 byes.
Macdonald speaks directly to Jones over the headset between plays.
“He is the first (play caller) I’ve had that has been in the game with us, like he is playing linebacker right next to us,” Jones said of Macdonald. “It almost feels like he is in the game with us. Somehow, he has been spot-on with calls.”
The table below shows where Macdonald’s 2022 Ravens defense and 2024 Seahawks defense ranked after each week of those seasons, with the linebacker acquisitions highlighted.
| Thru Wk | 2022-BAL | 2024-SEA |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
6
|
3
|
|
2
|
27
|
6
|
|
3
|
26
|
1
|
|
4
|
26
|
9
|
|
5
|
21
|
8
|
|
6
|
24
|
16
|
|
7
|
24
|
17
|
|
8
|
27
|
20 [LB acquired]
|
|
9
|
23 [LB acquired]
|
18
|
|
10
|
24
|
17
|
|
11
|
15
|
16
|
|
12
|
15
|
13
|
|
13
|
14
|
11
|
|
14
|
14
|
8
|
|
15
|
14
|
|
|
16
|
13
|
|
|
17
|
15
|
|
|
18
|
14
|
|
A big bonus for the Seahawks on Sunday came on offense. They topped 400 yards, rushed for 176, committed no turnovers, converted 7 of 14 third downs, gave up no sacks and absorbed only two quarterback hits. This was Seattle’s most complete game since beating Atlanta 34-14, but now the schedule gets harder. Green Bay (home) and Minnesota (road) are next.
(Photo of Ernest Jones: Norm Hall / Getty Images)
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