It happened again — the stellar defense of the Seattle Seahawks slammed shut the door on another opponent. The Seahawks kept Brock Purdy away from the end zone, something they weren't able to accomplish in Week 1 against their NFC West rivals, the San Francisco 49ers. Purdy threw for two touchdowns in that game, and in the rematch, he threw for two fewer.
Despite Purdy tossing two touchdowns in that first matchup, he also got picked off twice by the Seahawks' defense, which initiated a trend that would stretch for the subsequent 17 games: Seattle's defense coming up big, time after time, after time.
All season long, the Seahawks have stayed within the NFL's top-ten defensive ranks, and coming into their final Week 18 game against San Francisco, Seattle was ranked first in yards per pass attempt (6.1) and yards per rush (3.7). Purdy was unable to connect with anyone all night, and it made the Seahawks' defense look like they could carry a team all the way to the end of the line: the Super Bowl.
Seahawks' defense looks Super Bowl worthy, but can they carry the team all the way there?
The Seahawks' defense looks Super Bowl-worthy and has virtually looked the part all 18 weeks this season. The offense, however, is a different story. And considering how shaky Sam Darnold and the passing game have looked in recent weeks, it's fair to consider if Seattle remains a Super Bowl threat, or if Darnold will have a bad game that ends in a loss instead of a win.
Can Seattle's defense carry the team on its back when the season is at its toughest? Because they sure do look like a group good enough to win out and finish this season as champions. In four games this season, the Seahawks' defense has held opponents to 10 points or less, and in 13 games to 20 points or less, win or lose.
Had the 49ers not made good on a field goal this weekend, it would have been the Seahawks' second shutout of the season, having kept the Minnesota Vikings off the board in the final game of November. Seattle's defense has simply outmatched, out-hustled, and outplayed virtually every opponent they've faced, and it has come from a collective effort from all positions.
Furthermore, Seattle went 8-0 on the road this season (a franchise record), which shows that their defense shows up away from home. Fortunately, Seattle will begin their playoffs at home, and provided it wins the first game, it'll earn a second home standoff.
At home, the Seahawks are as tough an opponent as ever, and you can be sure the defense will unquestionably be ready to defend their home turf as if it were a road game and they were stomping on someone else's.
Make no mistake about it — the Seahawks' defense is Super Bowl-ready, and if the offense unfathomably remains shaky during this postseason run, it will be up to the defense to carry the team through.