Rapid Reaction: Seahawks Sunk by Turnovers, Stunned by Commanders in 33-31 Defeat
Outscored by 21 points off turnovers, including a killer pick-six thrown by Sam Darnold to Kain Medrano late in the fourth quarter, the Seattle Seahawks fell victim to the underdog Washington Commanders in a stunning 33-31 defeat to lose for the first time since last November.
Playing in his first game since the opener, Darnold threw for 379 yards with four touchdown passes, including a pair of scoring tosses to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. However, his two picks led to 14 points for the Commanders, sullying an otherwise strong outing from the veteran quarterback. Defensively, Leonard Williams and Derick Hall produced a pair of sacks, but Marcus Mariota managed to throw three touchdowns against a normally formidable unit.
Suffering their first loss of the season, here are five takeaways from Sunday’s unexpected blemish at Northwest Stadium:
1. Losing the turnover battle as well as the points off turnover margin ultimately cost the Seahawks.
Prior to Week 2, the Seahawks had not lost a turnover since the end of the regular season back in January. But that trend has been turned upside down in the early stages of the new campaign, starting with rookie running back Jadarian Price struggling to protect the football in the run game. After losing a fumble in Arizona last week, the first round pick coughed it up again in the first quarter as cornerback Amik Robertson forced it out at the Seattle 21-yard line and Washington recovered. Only a few plays later, Mariota hit running back Rachaad White for a six-yard touchdown to put the home team out in front, and the rookie stayed on the sidelines for most of the remainder of the first half in what appeared to be an unofficial benching.
Seahawks Prepping for ‘Guessing Game' Facing Overhauled Patriots in Super Bowl Rematch
Playing the same opponent to end one season and open another isn’t completely unprecedented in the NFL, particularly in the event that the two teams who played in the previous Super Bowl just happen to have a rare out of conference matchup slated for the following regular season.
Still, when the Seattle Seahawks kick off their Super Bowl title defense against the New England Patriots, the “same” opponent that they defeated to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in Santa Clara back in February, there’s no question there will be some oddities to the rematch seven months and a full offseason in the making. Beyond playing on a Wednesday night, which has only happened five times previously in league history, including twice on Christmas, the two squads will have some notable differences personnel-wise, particularly for the visitors flying in from Foxboro.
Settling into his first game planning week of the season, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald likes the “change of pace” away from the vanilla days of the preseason in August and has certainly gone back to watch Super Bowl LX as a means for preparation for the Patriots, but he understands the unpredictable nature that always comes with season openers regardless of familiarity with opponent. No matter what, there inevitably will be developments in the game that his staff and players haven’t prepared for and need to audible on accordingly.
“First game of the year is a little tricky,” Macdonald said prior to Saturday’s practice, which replaced the typical Wednesday practice to open a game week given the unique Week 1 schedule. “You don’t want to fall in the trap of applying last year’s things you see too much to what’s going to happen this year. Teams grow and evolve and change and there’s different personnel on both sides. Our focus is trying to do the things that we do that our guys can go play the best they can and also try to apply as much pressure as you can as well but understanding how the game goes, there’s going to be some things that we’re going to be required to make adjustments in game.”
PODCAST: Title Defense Begins as Seahawks Ramp Up Prep for Week 1 Super Bowl Rematch
Winning the Super Bowl is, well, a difficult feat to achieve, and as the Seattle Seahawks try to become just the ninth team ever to repeat in NFL history, the climb from the bottom of the mountain will soon begin with a rematch against the Patriots at Lumen Field.
Seahawks Triple Option hosts Robert Turbin, Corbin Smith, and Rob Rang share their unique perspectives on the challenges that come with being a defending champion and assess how prepared Mike Macdonald's squad is to wear the target on their back seven months after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, dish out their roster superlatives on a number of 53-man and practice squad related scenarios, including biggest surprise and most likely to be "Wally Pipped," and break down New England's offseason changes on the offensive side of the football and how improvements could make life tougher for Seattle in a Week 1 rematch.
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Seahawks Star Leonard Williams Somehow Still NFL’s Most Disrespected Player
The nature of being a “12” is that of feeling consistently overlooked and underappreciated. Seattle isn’t the same media market darling like L.A., the Bay Area, or New York. The Seahawks don’t have the glitz and glamour of the Cowboys or the ironclad history of the Steelers.
What the Seahawks do have, however, is a franchise that has won two Super Bowls inside of 15 years and one of the loudest, most passionate fanbases in all of sports. Just like its fans, the Seahawks themselves have players that are consistently overlooked, underappreciated, and unheralded despite being among the best at their respective positions.
Lenard Williams has the résumé of a star and the recognition of a complementary piece. Part of the problem is the position itself and how we measure it. Interior defenders who do not pile up double-digit sacks every year get treated as role players even when they occupy two blockers and free everyone else. Even that description is disrespectful to what Williams means to Seattle’s now famous “Dark Side” defense.
Jalen Milroe Set to Play Seahawks Entire Preseason Finale, Trevon Diggs to ‘Get a Look’ vs. Chiefs
Preparing to hit the road for their final dress rehearsal for the 2026 season in Kansas City, the Seattle Seahawks will hand the keys to the offense to Jalen Milroe for all four quarters, while a veteran newcomer should get his first opportunity to show what he can do in the secondary.
Speaking with reporters following Thursday’s walkthrough practice, Macdonald confirmed that while backup Drew Lock “will be ready” to go if needed, the Seahawks plan for Milroe to play the entire game against the Chiefs on Friday. Now with a handful of practices under his belt since signing with the team on August 19, cornerback Trevon Diggs also is expected to suit up and see some snaps as he aims to land a spot on the 53-man roster.
In his second season after being drafted in the third round by Seattle out Alabama, Milroe has endured a mostly rocky preseason to this point. Checking in for Lock to start the second half in Nashville last Sunday, he completed six out of 11 passes for 54 yards and threw two costly interceptions, telegraphing a throw that was picked by linebacker Anthony Hill in the third quarter and misfiring behind rookie receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. late in the fourth quarter. He also took a pair of sacks, including on a decisive fourth down to close out the game.
There have been a few highlights sprinkled in there for Milroe, however, who has showcased his physical and athletic talents as a runner in both preseason games while connecting on a few longer passes. Macdonald hopes that being able to stay in the game from start to finish without having to come in cold midway through on Friday will allow the young signal caller to get into a better rhythm and play with improved decisiveness and consistency as a result.
Seahawks Continue Locking Up Cornerstones, Extend Leonard Williams on Three-Year, $90 Million Deal
For the second time in as many weeks, the Seattle Seahawks have opened up the checkbook to secure one of their biggest stars on a lucrative long-term extension, this time shifting their focus back to the trenches on defense.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, after handing cornerback Devon Witherspoon a record-setting extension on August 17, the Seahawks have agreed to terms with All-Pro defensive tackle Leonard Williams on a three-year, $90 million contract. The deal reportedly features $56 million in guarantees and includes $30 million per year in new money, tying him with Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea for the fifth-most in the league in APY at the position.
In late July, Williams indicated that the Seahawks had opened up talks with his representatives, but he wasn’t putting too much thought into the situation at the time with his attention on getting ready for the upcoming season regardless of his contract situation.
“There's been few conversations, but nothing set in stone,” Williams told reporters. “We're all focused on the season starting right now, and we know that that's towards the end of the season. We have time to figure that out when the time comes.”
Camp Takeaways: Jaxon Smith-Njigba Continues to Amaze Fellow Seahawks in High Leverage Situations
Stop if you’ve heard this before: Jaxon Smith-Njigba is pretty damn good.
Stars don’t flash every single day in training camp, especially an established one coming off of winning Offensive Player of the Year honors like Smith-Njigba is for the Seattle Seahawks, with more reps dedicated to younger players and coaches prioritizing installing the offense over game planning to feature the best player as they would in the regular season. But there will always be practices this serve as a reminder of that star’s greatness and for the “Emerald City Route Artist,” Wednesday’s 10th camp practice proved to be just that.
Targeted far more than he has been in most of the practices in camp to this point, Smith-Njigba got rolling early in Wednesday’s hot, smoky session, starting with a 25-yard reception along the sideline with tight coverage from cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett that quarterback Sam Darnold dropped right into his hands. Moments later, he beat Pritchett again, this time on a fade down the left sideline with safety Ty Okada coming over a hair too late in supporting coverage, allowing the receiver to scamper 38 yards for a touchdown.
“It was great to see him come alive, some of those [in] high-leverage situations too, when there's defensive attention at where he's at at all times. ” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald remarked after practice. “So for him to be able to make those plays is great for the Seahawks, great for him. And I think we're feeling like he can get open from wherever, doing whatever, doing all the things from all the places. But how do we optimize it? How do we move him around? Where is he in the progression? He's going to be number 1 in the progression on a lot of plays.”
Camp Takeaways: Tempers Flare, Tight Ends Explode for Seahawks in Heated Sixth Practice
Calling themselves a brotherhood, the Seattle Seahawks have as tight knit of a locker room as any to be found in the NFL, which played a crucial role in their recent run to a Super Bowl LX title.
But as any parent who has raised children understands all too well, that doesn’t mean that brothers don’t still fight from time to time, especially on a practice field in late July during the dog days of summer.
With ramped up intensity matching the rising 80-plus degree temperatures on the practice field in Friday afternoon’s second padded practice, coach Mike Macdonald and his staff had to step in to break up multiple skirmishes with tempers flaring on both sides. Most of the discontent came at the line of scrimmage, stemming from tensions that initially started to brew during one-on-one drills when guard Bryce Cabeldue appeared to get under the skin of a few of his defensive line mates.
Sure enough, without enough time to cool down in the heat of a competitive camp practice, those festering emotions boiled over midway through Seattle’s first 11-on-11 team period. Getting the ball rolling, defensive tackle Leonard Williams sprinted 15 yards downfield to tackle AJ Barner from behind in pursuit, something the tight end did not appreciate as the two started jawing at each other post-whistle.
Right Timing Should Allow Seahawks to Keep Star DT Tandem Together Beyond 2026
In the era of the hard salary cap and rapidly rising quarterback, receiver, and pass rusher contracts that seemingly offset yearly cap jumps, it has become increasingly difficult for NFL teams to keep multiple stars from the same position group together over the long haul.
Specifically, there have been numerous examples over the years where teams have had to move on from a talented defensive tackle after choosing to give another defensive lineman a lucrative multi-year contract. Back in 2009, the Patriots traded future Hall of Famer Richard Seymour to the Raiders, opting to extend the younger Vince Wilfork long-term. A little over a decade later, the 49ers dealt DeForest Buckner to the Colts, instead keeping Arik Armstead on a five-year extension in the same position group.
Most recently, the Seahawks benefited from the Giants’ financial log-jam in the trenches, acquiring veteran Leonard Williams at the trade deadline in October 2023 for a second and fourth-round pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. The move opened up much-needed salary cap relief for an underachieving New York squad, which also had All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence on the books on a new $90 million extension signed the previous March.
Just six months and change after orchestrating that trade, with Williams receiving his own new contract in Seattle after flourishing in 10 games with the Seahawks, general manager John Schneider doubled down on the interior defensive line come draft weekend. Even with “Big Cat” locked up for the next three years, the team invested the No. 16 overall pick in the first round on Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, hoping to quickly build one of the league’s most formidable defensive fronts.
At the time, though that move received plenty of praise from the draft community, there were some pundits who questioned not going a different direction to address a more urgent need such as the interior offensive line.
Analysis: Debating Seahawks’ Rankings on ESPN Top 10 Lists
During the agonizing buffer period between the conclusion of offseason programs and the start of training camp during June and July, the annual arrival of NFL ranking season comes full force to help fill the gap for football fans.
Among the most notable rankings to be revealed each year, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler unleashes a top-10 list for 11 positional groups on offense and defense, using polls of select executives, coaches, and scouts to compile the rankings. The changes from year-to-year can be a fascinating case study in itself, seeing how opinions of certain players change over time with the rankings being predicated on the best players at each position in the present.
Interestingly, after winning Super Bowl LX, the Seattle Seahawks only had four players who landed top-10 spots at their respective positions. In contrast, nine other teams had five or more players who received such distinction, including the Lions with a league-high nine players who made the annual lists and the NFC West rival 49ers and Rams each having five apiece.
Looking at this year’s top-10 rankings provided courtesy of Fowler and ESPN, did those who placed votes get it right with the defending champions? Or did they miss the mark with several deserving players?
Dominant Seahawks’ Front Line Ready to Take Disruptive Nature to Another Level for ‘Dark Side' Defense
Adequately coining themselves as the “Dark Side” defense during the midst of a historic 2025 season, the Seattle Seahawks deployed Death Star-worthy weapons of mass destruction from all three levels of coach Mike Macdonald’s unit on the way to a Super Bowl LX victory.
Playing the quarterback of the defense with elite cerebral whit, a commanding demeanor, and playmaking prowess, Ernest Jones may as well have been wearing Darth Vader’s mask rather than a football helmet. Playing seemingly every position except nose tackle during a spectacular rookie season, safety Nick Emmanwori pulled off a football-equivalent feat to Darth Revan mastering both the light and dark side at the same time. Bringing tenacious ferocity and fearless aggression snap after snap, Devon Witherspoon’s relentless style and penchant for dishing punishing, bone-jarring hits makes him a worthy Darth Maul clone.
But while all of those players starred for Seattle’s No. 1-ranked scoring defense and helped the empire reign supreme over the rest of the NFL, Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II anchored the true foundation of the unit’s dominance up front, collectively holding the title of Emperor Palpatine while unleashing ruthless terror on opposing offenses that caused disturbances in the force that sent shockwaves all across the league.
Analysis: Latest on Devon Witherspoon, Potential Seahawks Extension Candidates
Wrapping up their offseason program last week, the Seattle Seahawks won’t be back in action until players and coaches report for the start of training camp on July 25, but that doesn’t mean the next five weeks will be quiet ones at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
While players and coaches take advantage of rare time off on the NFL calendar, general manager John Schneider and a suddenly patchwork front office following the departures of Nolan Teasley and Trent Kirchner to Minnesota will be digging in deep on potential contract extensions for several star players. Most notably, Seattle has yet to ink cornerback Devon Witherspoon to a new contract after the team made an offer to the player three months ago without an agreement being reached.
A little over a month away from the start of the 2026 season, will Schneider and the Seahawks be able to cross the finish line re-signing Witherspoon? And after extending pass rusher Derick Hall during OTAs, which other players entering the final year of their current contract could also be in line for a new deal this summer?
Here’s the latest intel on three veterans who may or may not have a new contract in tow when camp begins:
Leonard Williams, Seahawks Ready to Take ‘Darkside’ Defense to New Heights in 2026
Mere hours away from school being out for the summer, at least in NFL terms, the Seattle Seahawks could have gone through the motions riding out their final minicamp practice before six weeks off.
But that wasn’t the case at all for the Seahawks, with the stakes clearly raised even without pads on and contact prohibited on June 11. During a spirited two-hour session at the VMAC, while Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba performed their usual theatrics linking up for multiple touchdowns, the defense got the last laughs, stifling all three offensive units in an utterly dominant closing red zone situational drill to the delight of cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
“Whole lotta ass kicking!” Witherspoon shouted emphatically as he jogged to the final team breakdown for the spring.
Long before that defensive beatdown to close out the practice, cornerback Noah Igbinoghene and safety D’Anthony Bell returned interceptions for touchdowns during team scrimmage periods and rookies Julian Neal and Michael Dansby added picks of their own during 7-on-7 red zone drills, giving coach Mike Macdonald’s unit a decisive “win” to wrap up the offseason program.
Analysis: Could Seahawks Make a Run at Trading for Giants Star Dexter Lawrence?
During the heat of the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, with six picks until the team’s No. 21 overall selection, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider, then-coach Pete Carroll, and every other staff member in attendance in the war room sat on pins and needles.
As if often the case during draft weekend, Schneider and company found themselves sweating things out with a coveted prospect still on the board in Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who they hoped would fall to them to become the cornerstone of a rebuilt ‘Hawks defensive line. In several instances, including with receiver Jaxon Smith-Nijgba under similar circumstances in 2023, the franchise has lucked out with the desired prospect remaining available once they were on the clock.
But on this April day in 2023, good fortune would not be on Seattle’s side. The New York Giants prevented Schneider from landing his top target, selecting Lawrence 17th overall to abruptly end the dream. Two picks later, Denver selected Iowa tight end Noah Fant, another player that Schneider had a high grade on who would have been in play with pick No. 21.
Eight years later, just as Schneider previously did acquiring Fant as part of the blockbuster Russell Wilson deal with the Broncos in 2022, the Seahawks may now have a chance to rectify that ill-fated turn of events. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Lawrence has requested a trade from the Giants and will not report to the team’s offseason program after multiple years of failed attempts to negotiate a new contract.
Three-Year Outlook: Seahawks Face a Few Pressing Questions on Defense Beyond 2026
As the calendar flips to April and the 2026 NFL Draft rapidly approaches, the Seattle Seahawks find themselves in the heat of the offseason, continuing to look into ways to improve their roster scanning the free agent market along with wrapping up draft evaluations while also exploring extensions to retain several of their top players.
While building the best roster for the upcoming season remains the top goal with eyes on defending their Super Bowl title, Seahawks general manager John Schneider also has to be cognizant of the future, making every decision in regard to free agency, extensions, and the draft with a multi-year window in mind.
Now less than a month away from the draft, how does Seattle’s defense look for both the present and the future?
John Schneider, Seahawks Back to Business Fresh Off Super Bowl Title at NFL Combine
Capturing the ultimate prize in professional sports in Santa Clara, John Schneider and the Seattle Seahawks made the most of their opportunity to bask in the limelight as Super Bowl champions earlier this month, including celebrating with nearly a million fans in downtown in a parade for the ages as they stood atop the NFL world.
But eventually, the confetti disappears and the suds stop flowing. After climbing back to the mountaintop for the second time in franchise history, it’s time for Schneider, coach Mike Macdonald, and the Seahawks to get back to work with sights on defending their title, and that process officially starts with the annual NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis this week.
From the outside, the combine draws the most attention for the measurements and athletic testing that takes place in Lucas Oil Stadium as more than 300 NFL hopefuls descend upon the Circle City, and the league milks that process with live televised workouts starting on Thursday. But for Schneider, Macdonald, and the rest of Seattle’s brass that flies in for the festivities, while they will be monitoring the testing process closely and value athleticism as much as anyone, it’s far from the most important business to tend to.
Analysis: 7 Burning Questions to Determine if Seahawks Will Win or Lose Super Bowl LX
After nearly two weeks of relentless coverage and chatter that has left fans on both sides experiencing a bad case of cabin fever, the Seattle Seahawks will finally hit the field with a chance to avenge a previous Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots as the two teams meet at Levis Stadium in Sunday’s big game.
With both teams boasting top-three scoring offenses and physical, well-coached defenses, Sunday has all of the ingredients for a back-and-forth brawl on the biggest stage in professional sports. To earn their second Lombardi, the Seahawks will have to hope for the right answers to seven burning questions.
Five Distinct Advantages the Seahawks Have in Super Bowl LX
The Seahawks have one more game remaining, the much-awaited rematch against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. Nothing is certain until the downs are played, but what are the Hawks’ key advantages going into the Big Game?
Past Failures of ‘Battle-Tested’ Veterans Drives Seahawks to Historic Super Bowl Run
One of the youngest teams in the NFL, strong drafting has catapulted the Seahawks back into the Super Bowl. But if Mike Macdonald’s squad wins the Lombardi Trophy, it will be the adversity-tested veterans who have lived on the other side of the coin who lead them to the promised land.
Keys to Victory: How Seahawks Can Punch Ticket to Super Bowl LX
Playing in the final four for the first time in 11 years, the Seahawks hope to keep a storybook season going with a grudge match against the Rams on tap in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game. What must Mike Macdonald’s squad do to advance to Super Bowl LX?
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