Tag: Aden Durde

The Seattle Seahawks defense has been Kryptonite for opposing quarterbacks throughout their perfect 3-0 start to begin the 2024 NFL season. In Sunday’s dominant 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins, Macdonald’s unit held backup quarterbacks Tim Boyle and Skylar Thompson to 140 net passing yards and zero touchdowns. They were also sacked six combined times and converted just 1-of-15 third and fourth down attempts.

The Seahawks currently lead the league in quarterback rating (QBR) allowed (24.4) by a comfortable margin, according to Brady Henderson. It’s worth acknowledging the Seahawks have accumulated that dominant number by playing against bad quarterbacks. In Week 1, it was the first career start for Denver Broncos rookie QB Bo Nix. They saw Jacoby Brissett and the New England Patriots in Week 2, and aforementioned backups Boyle and Thompson in Week 3.

Not exactly a murderer’s row of quarterbacks.

That dominance is going to be tested in the coming weeks. The Seahawks are about to face a gauntlet of high-end quarterbacks on their upcoming schedule. The next six they’ll face are Jared Goff, Daniel Jones, Brock Purdy, Kirk Cousins, Josh Allen, and Matthew Stafford. Jones notwithstanding, that’s quite the list.

That list includes the first (Allen) and fourth (Purdy) ranked quarterbacks in QBR, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Goff is off to a disappointing start, but he’s overseen an explosive Lions offense two consecutive campaigns in a row. Seattle’s defense is about to face some legitimate tests for arguably the first time this season.

How they respond will be telling.

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The Seattle Seahawks defense put forth another downright dominant performance in Sunday’s 24-3 blowout Week 3 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Mike Macdonald’s unit took full advantage of an opportunity to play against backup quarterbacks Tim Boyle and Skylar Thompson. The Seahawks held the Dolphins to a combined 1-of-15 on third and fourth down, 65 net rushing yards, and 205 total yards.

Seattle forced the Dolphins to punt six times (in addition to three failed fourth-down attempts). They also accumulated six sacks and forced three fumbles (the Dolphins luckily recovered them all). The Dolphins offense was outmatched in every phase.

Two contests occurred on Monday Night Football. Week 3 concluded with the Washington Commanders upsetting the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Buffalo Bills swept aside the Jacksonville Jaguars. League-wide statistics have been updated as a result.

The Seahawks defense currently ranks first in passing yards allowed (132.3) per game, second in total yards allowed (248.7), and fourth in points allowed per contest (14.3).

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Only four NFL defenses have accumulated more sacks than Seattle’s 11 QB takedowns. If there’s an area for improvement, it’s in the turnover department. Macdonald’s defense hasn’t been opportunistic enough. They’re -1 having forced three turnovers versus four giveaways.

Macdonald oversaw a Baltimore Ravens defense last season that led the NFL in points allowed per contest (16.5), sacks (60) and takeaways (31) as John Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator. Perhaps Seattle’s early-season defensive dominance should come as no surprise. They’ve taken on the identity of their first-year head coach.

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