Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald often talks about the edges. He doesn't specifically mean edge rushers, but instead speaks about those advantages his team has. Closing out games is not currently one of those advantages.
In Week 4, Seattle led the Arizona Cardinals 20-6 in the fourth quarter. The way Seattle's defense was playing, the game appeared to be done. Arizona couldn't do much throwing or running, and there was no reason to think that would change. It did.
The Cardinals had nearly as many yards in the fourth quarter as they did the entire game before that. Suddenly, quarterback Kyler Murray was a young Aaron Rodgers, and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. was, well...Marvin Harrison Sr.
Leonard Williams has a strong opinion about how the Seattle Seahawks ended Week 4
The Seahawks' fantastic defensive lineman Leonard Williams was still doing his job, however. He had 1.5 sacks, a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit. Heck, he even defended a pass. But make no mistake that he was not happy with how his team was not able to easily defeat the Cardinals even with a late two-touchdown lead.
Speaking on-field after the game, Williams said, "We let them climb back when it mattered. We got to do a better job at closing out the game."
That "mattered" part is important. Seattle is now 3-1, and the victory over the Cardinals is no joke. Arizona is an improved team, and could improve as the season grows old, especially if Harrison begins to truly emerge as a No. 1 receiver. He was brilliant in the fourth quarter.
The schedule the rest of the way doesn't get easier, either. The Seahawks still have to play the Los Angeles Rams twice, the San Francisco 49ers and Cardinals again, and also take on an improved Indianapolis Colts team, the Washington Commanders, and the Minnesota Vikings. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are next.
If not for a late fumble in Week 1 against the 49ers, the Seattle Seahawks could be 4-0. They aren't, and that early NFC West loss could haunt them. Still, the talent is there for Seattle to make a deep run in the playoffs, as good as the defense is and how efficient the offense is with Sam Darnold at quarterback.
The Seahawks just need to learn to finish games better. Nearly any NFL team can make a comeback if the opponent lets up at all. Seattle let up in the fourth quarter against the Cardinals. That can't happen again, and Leonard Williams knows it.