John "Hannibal" Smith once coined the phrase, "I love it when a plan comes together." Of course, Hannibal and his A-Team were a work of fiction, but his famed statement rings true. This must be the feeling Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is experiencing after a 38-14 rout of the Washington Commanders on Sunday night, when the offense and defense clicked as one.
Hannibal led his A-Team; Macdonald coached an A-game, and the Seahawks dominated a Commanders team going through injuries and other growing pains during Jayden Daniels' second season in the NFL. While Sam Darnold and the offense had a field day under the night lights, it was Seattle's defense that showed up once again, continuing to string together solid performances.
Even through injuries to key defensive players since the start of the season, Macdonald and his defensive coaching staff have been in lockstep with the next-man-up game plan. It's helped the now 6-2 Seahawks remain on pace with their NFC West division rivals, and it's why their defense seems trustworthy the rest of the way.
Seahawks' defense shows they can dominate a game whether the offense does the same or not
Before the bye week, the Seahawks beat the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football. The 27-19 win was a defensive display of toughness and support amid a struggling offensive performance despite the 27 points. Sam Darnold was shaky from the start, and the offense whiffed on more than one occasion to take hold of the game when Seattle opened up the door.
It was thanks to the defense that the Seahawks eventually came out with the win. Two weeks later, after a week of rest and the return of one of their most important defensive stars, Devon Witherspoon, the Seahawks defense didn't miss a beat after allowing just 14 points against on the road in Washington.
Not only did shutting down versatile quarterback Daniels limit the Commanders' offense to less than 300 yards, but this was Seattle's fourth road win of the season, making them a perfect 4-0 on the road. Their perfect road record is further testament to how effective and resilient Seattle's defense has been this season.
Coming into Week 9, the Seahawks were ranked in the top ten of NFL defenses, and after Sunday's win, they rank in the top ten of most power rankings. Their success has much to do with the well-balanced, complementary style of football (aside from the Texans' win) that Macdonald has his team playing this season.
In back-to-back games, Seahawks fans have seen the defense perform well when they had to back up a struggling offense, and do the same when the offense is playing lights out. Eight games into the season, Seattle's defense has been up to the test no matter what, and it's proving the case that they are just as viable a threat not only in their own vaunted division, but quite possibly the NFC in general.
In Week 9, a plan came together, and it worked without a hitch, resulting in a win. The next plan is maintaining a level of balanced, dominant football, of which the Seahawks' defense is surely contributing.