‘Not Good Enough’: Seahawks’ Special Teams Play Not Meeting Standard Early in 2026 Season
When it comes to on-field performance, Mike Macdonald has set the bar incredibly high for the Seattle Seahawks, expecting his players to play to a championship standard in all three phases of the game all the time.
On the way to a Super Bowl LX title last season, for the most part, the Seahawks met those expectations. But through three games, coming off their first loss in 10 months at the hands of the Commanders in a 33-31 road defeat, Macdonald isn’t thrilled with the results being produced from the team’s typically excellent special teams units.
“To put it plainly, it’s not good enough,” Macdonald said on Monday. “There’re things process-wise that we can improve on. We've talked about this throughout training camp, and really since we got here, but a Seahawk play needs to look like a Seahawk play. There are plays on tape that we're not doing that.”
Rapid Reaction: Jalen Milroe Impresses Despite Seahawks Settling for 9-9 Preseason Tie vs. Chiefs
Ushering in the regular season with a draw, Jalen Milroe threw his first touchdown pass of the preseason as the Seattle Seahawks tied the Kansas City Chiefs by the score of 9-9 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Enjoying the best performance of his young career, Milroe completed 16 out of 26 passes for 223 yards and connected with Nick Vannett on a four-yard touchdown while adding 20 rushing yards. Cornerback Trevon Diggs kicked off his time as a Seahawk with a bang, intercepting a pass on the second series of the game, while defensive linemen Jared Ivey and Bubba Thomas each finished with two tackles for loss apiece to lead the defense.
Finishing the preseason with a tie after two losses to Dallas and Tennessee earlier in exhibition season, here are five quick takeaways from Seattle’s final dress rehearsal in Kansas City:
1. More decisive and in rhythm, Milroe takes the positive step forward Seattle hoped to see with a full game of action.
Desiring a more extended opportunity to evaluate the young signal caller and let him establish a rhythm, the Seahawks opted to start Milroe with the plan to play for him the entirety of the preseason finale after an uneven first two games rotating in behind Drew Lock. Making strides less than a week after getting intercepted twice against the Titans, he came out firing with confidence on Friday night, launching a 40-yard completion on a post route to Cody White and connecting with tight end Elijah Arroyo for a 24-yard completion over the middle on the team’s opening series to set up a Jason Myers field goal.
Stock Watch: Who’s Hot, Who’s Not After Seahawks’ 19-16 Preseason Loss to Titans
Winning remains the goal for an NFL team any time they take the field, even in the preseason where games don’t count in the standings, for coach Mike Macdonald, there were plenty of positives coming out of the Seattle Seahawks 19-16 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
“I really do feel like our team got better this week from the work that we got in practice, and I thought we did a lot of great things, especially earlier in this game, which is what we're looking for,” Macdonald said post-game. “I think we took a step. I think we're improving. I think the important thing for our team is that we have to shed an expectation about where we need to be right now. I think the focus needs to be about how fast can we improve on a daily basis, and our guys have had that attitude. So through that lens, I think it was a successful week.”
Looking back at Saturday’s defeat in the Music City, which players improved their stock the most? And which ones didn’t seize their latest opportunity as cut down day and the regular season rapidly approach?
Rapid Reaction: Seahawks Fizzle After Fast Start, Fall 17-7 to Cowboys in Preseason Opener
Despite a fast start to kick off the exhibition season with an opening drive touchdown, the Seattle Seahawks whiffed on multiple fourth down opportunities and the offense went ice cold for the final three quarters of play as the Dallas Cowboys earned a 17-7 victory in the preseason opener.
Rotating snaps under center, Drew Lock completed nine out of 13 passes for 40 yards and tossed a five-yard touchdown to receiver Montorie Foster Jr., while Jalen Milroe rushed for 36 yards and added 36 yards as a passer. Seemingly playing with clones on the field, linebacker Tyrice Knight stuffed the stat sheet with a team-high 10 tackles and two pass breakups, starring in the middle with mostly backups playing on defense for Seattle, while edge rusher Jalan Gaines and safety AJ Finley produced the team’s only tackles for loss.
Here are five takeaways from the preseason opener at Lumen Field:
1. A methodical drive aided by a big penalty finishes with Lock’s arm giving the Seahawks a quick lead.
Playing with all backups on the offensive side of the ball, Lock didn’t waste much time going into aggressive mode from the pocket. After a short run by George Holani and a quick completion to Jake Bobo on the first two plays of the series, the Seahawks faced 3rd and 4 and the veteran backup uncorked a deep ball down the left sideline for veteran receiver Cody White, who got grabbed by cornerback Caelan Carson from behind as the pass sailed over his head. With his progress severely impeded to prevent a big play, he drew a 19-yard pass interference penalty to extend the opening possession.
Rapid Reaction: Seahawks ‘Darkside’ Defense Handcuffs Patriots in 29-13 Super Bowl LX Victory
Orchestrating one of the most dominant defensive performances in Super Bowl history, the Seattle Seahawks forced eight punts on their first nine defensive series, locking down the New England Patriots in historic fashion to secure a 29-13 victory and bring the second Lombardi Trophy to the Pacific Northwest.
Overcoming an uncharacteristically inaccurate performance from Sam Darnold, the Seahawks found more than enough offense behind AJ Barner’s 16-yard touchdown catch off a turnover, Ken Walker III’s 135 rushing yards, and five field goals from kicker Jason Myers. A suffocating defensive effort by coach Mike Macdonald’s squad bottled up and frazzled Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, with outside linebacker Derick Hall leading the charge sacking him twice and forcing a fumble that defensive tackle Byron Murphy II recovered in New England territory and Uchenna Nwosu returning an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to start the celebration.
Report Card: Top Performers in Seahawks’ 18-16 Nail Biting Win vs. Colts
Though the offense was M.I.A. for most of the afternoon, the Seahawks made just enough plays down the stretch to reward their defense for another outstanding performance with a hard-fought win over the Colts. Who stood brightest in victory in Week 15?
Closing Thoughts: Seahawks Overcome Sluggish Offense - Again - to Fend Off Colts
Scoring just six points in the first half for a second straight week and failing to find the end zone once on Sunday, the Seahawks found a way to steal a win against the upset-minded Colts. What did win No. 11 say about Seattle heading towards a massive TNF matchup?
Rapid Reaction: Jason Myers Bails Out Offense, Guides Seahawks to 18-16 Win vs. Colts
The Seahawks couldn’t find the end zone a single time on Sunday, which typically serves as a recipe for disaster. But thanks to their unflappable kicker and an ever-reliable defense, they found a way to escape the Colts’ upset bid.
Halftime Observations: Seahawks Caught Sleepwalking, Trail 13-6 to Colts
Held under 100 yards of offense with just three rushing yards in 30 minutes of play, the Seahawks didn’t show up ready to play, allowing Philip Rivers and the Colts to begin engineering a potentially monumental upset.
Jay Harbaugh, Seahawks Putting ‘Special’ in Special Teams in NFC West Title Pursuit
A top-five scoring offense and scoring defense has propelled the Seahawks to the top of the NFC standings. But as evidenced again in Atlanta on Sunday, the third phase of the game may be the reason why Seattle belongs in the Super Bowl contender tier.
Rapid Reaction: Sam Darnold Implodes in Interception Fest as Seahawks Fall 21-19 to Rams
Turnovers galore put the Seahawks behind the eight ball on Sunday in Los Angeles, but a stellar defensive performance kept the game within reach, only for a last-second game winning field goal to fall short in a hard-fought defeat.
5 Key Moments That Led to Seahawks' Convincing Win over Steelers
The Seattle Seahawks bounced back from a week one loss to take a game on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers. What were the five key moments that led to the Hawks’ victory?
Halftime Observations: Sloppy Seahawks Trailing Steelers 14-7 in Road Opener
Despite producing 100-plus yards of offense more than their opponent, the Seahawks shot themselves in the foot several times during an ugly first half against the Steelers, going into intermission trailing thanks to a litany of miscues on offense and special teams.
Keys to Victory: How Can Seahawks Beat 49ers to Kick Off 2025 Season?
Last November, the Seahawks finally were able to snap a five-game losing streak to the 49ers, but they haven’t defeated them at Lumen Field since 2021. What must they do to break that skid in Sunday’s season opener?
Who Could Be Seahawks Next Restructure Candidate?
After restructuring Leonard Williams, Seahawks general manager John Schneider could opt to go that route with another player or two to help create more financial flexibility before free agency.
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