Seahawks vs. Cowboys: Defensive grades for Seattle

The Seahawks beat the Cowboys on Monday 24-13. The defense was very good. How good? Here are the grades.

The Seahawks defense was very good against a struggling Cowboys offense on Sunday. Sure, Ezekiel Elliott picked up yards rushing but Seattle shut down Dak Prescott and the Cowboys passing game.

Here are the grades for Seattle’s defense against Dallas.

Defensive line

Jarran Reed had the game of his young career. Reed had two sacks and supplied Seattle with the interior pass rush it has needed for the last two seasons. Frank Clark had another sack and now has three on the season. Between Reed, Clark and Quintin Jefferson, Seattle defensive line had seven hits on Prescott. That’s good stuff.

Grade: A

Linebacker

Bobby Wagner claimed he was making it a mission to slow down or stop Elliott. While the Cowboys running back did end up with 127 yards and a 7.9 yards-per-carry average, Elliott seemed to have a quiet game.

Wagner had seven tackles in the game, tied for highest on the team with Earl Thomas. Wagner also had two passes defended and a tackle for loss.

Fellow linebackers Mychael Kendricks and Barkevious Mingo each had a sack. The Seahawks overall had five sacks on Sunday, by far the best showing of the year.

Grade: A

Secondary

What else can be said of the Seahawks safeties. Thomas and Bradley McDougald have been the best duo in the NFL in 2018. McDougald has taken the place of Kam Chancellor and played just as well, including a strip of Elliott that was very Chancellor-like.

Thomas was the best player in the game and had two interceptions. He also took a proper bow.

https://twitter.com/Seahawks/status/1044003145125253120

Justin Coleman was great once again. Rookie Tre Flowers was much better than in week one and had six tackles. And people are beginning to not want to throw towards Shaquill Griffin.

Grade: A