The Seattle Seahawks are 3-2 and tied for second place in a very tough NFC West. Another loss or three in the next few weeks might be tough for Seattle to overcome and get to the postseason. Under head coach Mike Macdonald, the team has been streaky, but another streak of losses would be crippling.
The problem is that after a tough Week 5 loss, Seattle lost a number of key defensive players. The team already entered the game down two Pro Bowlers. By the end of the game, Seattle was playing with about half of their presumed starters of defense out of the game.
Next for Macdonald's group is the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that is 4-1 and still not playing their best football. They aren't overly explosive, but play big in the biggest moments. Jacksonville's offense is 18th in the league at 5.4 yards per play, but ninth in points scored.
Leonard Williams speaks the truth about the Seattle Seahawks
Whether the Seahawks get defensive starters back or not, the team is going to have to play fundamentally better defensively. The team missed far too many tackles in losing 38-35 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5. Defensive lineman and team leader Leonard Williams knows the issue needs to be fixed.
He told the media ahead of the Jags game, "Effort erases mistakes." If someone misses a tackle, then "nine guys are there" to make the stop. That certainly didn't happen in Week 5, and it has been an issue for most of the season. Macdonald's defenses are usually far better at wrapping up.
Of course, to be fair, Williams, as great and smart as he is, hasn't been perfect in 2025. He has already been called for three needless 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalties through five games. That also has to be cleaned up.
A positive aspect is that under Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks are 9-1 on the road. Their struggles have come at home. Week 6 will see Seattle travel to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars.
To win the game, Seattle must run the ball well. Jacksonville gives up 4.6 yards per rush, 22nd in the NFL. The Jaguars are better against the pass and already have 10 interceptions, and their quarterback rating allowed of 73.6 is second-best in the league.
But no matter how well the Seattle Seahawks' offense does, if the defense does not tackle better, Jacksonville will do the same thing the Buccaneers did in Week 5 and simply outscore Seattle. Seattle going 3-3 would be fine in many divisions, but not in the NFC West.