The Seattle Seahawks' dominant defense doesn't need any help. However, they may have just gotten a massive boost ahead of their Week 15 date with the Indianapolis Colts.
Colts quarterback Daniel Jones reportedly tore his Achilles tendon in Week 14 and will miss the rest of the season. That alone sounds excruciatingly painful for the player and his team, and Jones was already playing with a broken fibula on his other leg.
In Jones's place, Indy will likely start rookie Riley Leonard, who has yet to start an NFL game. That's the last thing the Colts need before facing Seattle on the road, and music to a fierce Seahawks front seven's ears.
Seahawks defense set to demolish the Colts after the latest Daniel Jones injury update
Of course, there is a chance that Seattle could be facing Philip Rivers at quarterback. Yes, you read that correctly. The retired, 44-year-old quarterback is visiting with Indy ahead of Week 15.
No matter what happens, Seattle's group of sharks will smell blood in the water when they see the current quarterback situation in Indianapolis. The Colts won seven of their first eight games, but were beginning to slide even before Jones's latest injury. Now, the Colts have lost four of their last five.
Jones' declining box score numbers and the eye were indicators, though it became abundantly clear that he was far from 100 percent healthy.
In Week 13, the Houston Texans' elite pass rush exposed the Colts' offense's restrictions. The Seahawks may not have the specific high-end talent the Texans do, though they have the personnel to pressure him early and often.
An interconference clash with Indianapolis was supposed to be a measuring-stick matchup for the Seahawks. The Colts were one of the NFL's top scoring offenses earlier in the season; they've been historically efficient for much of the 2025 campaign.
Traveling cross-country and stepping into one of the most hostile environments versus a stifling Seattle stop unit is bad enough. Suddenly, knowing that raw Riley Leonard could start (or rusty Philip Rivers), the Colts are a much less daunting opponent.
The Seahawks rank top three in defensive expected points added (EPA), yards per play allowed, and points per drive allowed through 13 games this season. By virtually every metric, they're capable of going toe-to-toe with the best in the business, whether we see them get a litmus test or not.