The Seattle Seahawks didn't go more than one week with a struggling defense; their 33-31 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 3 was enough, and a Week 4 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Chargers was the bounceback they needed.
Yes, the Chargers put up 23 points, but the Seahawks' defense held Justin Herbert and his offense to just two field goals in the first half and forced four total turnovers. Without any of that, the Seahawks could have lost after Sam Darnold continued his shaky quarterback play.
The Chargers could have scored a lot more points, but the Seahawks' defense held its ground, and one position group in particular created the most noise and turmoil on the field: the linebacker group, led by veteran Ernest Jones IV. With Jones in the lead, Seattle's linebackers stole the show, proving why this group is one of the more special linebacker corps in the NFL.
The Seattle Seahawks' linebacker room shows they're a force to be reckoned with
Drake Thomas kicked off the show with an opening drive interception on the very first play; the first act of relentless attack initiated by the Seahawks' linebackers. Thomas was everywhere else too, racking up five total tackles (four solo), a tackle for loss, and a pass defended.
This was Thomas's best game in a Seahawks uniform, going back to last season, when he really carved out a place for himself in the defense.
Uchenna Nwosu was just as impactful at outside linebacker, recording a sack and a forced fumble along with three total tackles (including a tackle for loss). The fumble came off Nwosu's sack, which Derick Hall recovered to help close out the game and shut the door on a Chargers comeback.
Jones, however, led the way, all the way, from start to finish, but that is customary for the player Jones is. He filled the stat sheet—12 tackles (six solo), a sack, a tackle for loss, a pass defended, and an interception that he returned for 20 yards.
Jones's impact goes far beyond his stats, though, because his leadership is far more valuable. It’s typically evident in all of his press conferences, where he has a habit of praising his teammates more than anyone else.
Again, Jones was behind the podium, highlighting what the others had done on the field against the Chargers, but also didn't back away from critiquing what could have been done better. As much as the turnovers kept the Chargers at bay, the defensive penalties the Seahawks racked up could have given the game away completely.
Without the work of Jones, Thomas, Nwosu, and Hall, among others, those penalties could have cost Seattle a third win. If anyone deserves credit for saving the day, it's their linebacker group.
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