How Mike Macdonald is authoring a new chapter of Seahawks defensive dominance ahead of matchup with ‘Legion of Boom’ cornerstone Dan Quinn
He took over a Ravens defense that ranked 19th in scoring the season prior to his arrival. It ranked third (2022) and first (2023) in the metric during his two seasons. The Seahawks ranked 25th in scoring defense in 2023. They hired Macdonald the next offseason and rose to 11th in 2024; they are seventh through Week 8 this season. Also, a glance at how the Ravens defense has fared since Macdonald’s departure, falling from first in scoring in his last season with the team all the way 30th just two seasons later.
What’s more, the Seahawks defense could be just scratching the surface of its potential. The bye week and the return of key personnel might quicken its ascent. Last season, the Seahawks allowed 24.6 points per game (24th in the NFL) before their Week 10 bye. They allowed just 18.4 points per game after that, good for fifth best in the NFL. The team also expects the return of its own Pro Bowl defensive backs, as Devon Witherspoonand Julian Love are set to return after multiple-game absences.
The new-age Seahawks are trending towards being one of the league’s elite units, allowing fewer than 20 points in six of their first seven games for the first time since pre-Dan Quinn (2012). A Week 9 matchup against the original orchestrator of the “Legion of Boom” seems like the perfect launch pad to spearhead the redemption of a once-historic defense in the Rain City.
