Seattle’s Championship Blueprint: What It Means for the Ravens’ Rebuild
If you ever needed a reminder that defense still matters in today’s offense-obsessed NFL, Seattle just gave you one - loud and clear. The Seahawks locked up their second NFL Championship with a commanding 29-13 win over the Patriots, and they did it by leaning on a defense that looked like it came straight out of the early 2000s.
Now the rest of the league - especially teams like the Baltimore Ravens - are watching closely.
Back in 2000, the Ravens rode one of the most statistically dominant defenses in NFL history to their first Super Bowl title. That unit bullied opponents into submission, led by Ray Lewis and a scheme built by Marvin Lewis that prioritized chaos up front and freedom for playmakers behind it. For years, people thought that kind of defensive dominance was a relic of a bygone era, especially with rule changes tilting the field toward quarterbacks and high-octane offenses.
But Seattle just flipped that script.
The Dark Side Rises Again
What Mike MacDonald built in Seattle wasn’t just impressive - it was a blueprint. His defense, nicknamed “The Dark Side,” leaned on disguise, discipline, and a front four that could generate pressure without blitzing.
That allowed the back end to play with vision and react to routes rather than chase them. It’s not the same defense Marvin Lewis ran in 2000, but the philosophy is familiar: win up front, confuse the quarterback, and make offenses uncomfortable.
MacDonald’s rapid success - winning a title in just his second year as a head coach - is especially notable considering he was the youngest head coach in the league when he replaced Pete Carroll. But his rise is part of a broader trend.
Since Sean McVay’s hiring at age 30 in 2017, teams have increasingly turned to young, innovative minds to lead their franchises. MacDonald is the latest proof that the right young coach, with the right system, can change a team’s trajectory fast.
Baltimore’s Next Move: Enter Jesse Minter
That brings us to Baltimore. The Ravens are hoping they’ve found their own version of MacDonald in Jesse Minter, who officially takes the reins of a defense that finished near the bottom of the league in 2025. Minter’s no stranger to the system - he spent four years working alongside MacDonald in Baltimore, helping to craft the disguise-heavy, matchup-driven scheme that’s now taking over the league.
The Chargers’ defense, which Minter coordinated last season, posted numbers that mirrored Seattle’s in several key areas: 18.9 points allowed per game, 285 total yards allowed per game, and a league-best 45% red zone success rate allowed. Like Seattle, they blitzed sparingly (21%) but still found ways to create pressure and force mistakes.
Minter also has a reputation for developing talent - something the Ravens will need in spades. Just look at Odafe Oweh, who went from zero sacks in the first five weeks of the season to finishing with ten under Minter’s guidance. That kind of turnaround doesn’t happen by accident.
But schematic knowledge and player development only go so far. Minter’s biggest challenge now is rebuilding a defense that lacks the depth and identity of the one MacDonald led in 2023. That means working closely with GM Eric DeCosta to reshape the roster.
Big Decisions Ahead in Baltimore
There are major questions looming. Will Nnamdi Madubuike be back on the field?
Is it time to move on from Marlon Humphrey? Do the Ravens need to draft an edge rusher or find one via trade?
And perhaps the most important question of all: Were last season’s struggles about talent - or was it a leadership issue under former DC Zach Orr?
That last one could be the difference between a quick retool and a full-scale rebuild.
Lamar Jackson and the Offense: A Separate Puzzle
While the defense is getting a facelift, the offense has its own set of issues - and as always, it starts with Lamar Jackson.
Jackson missed four games in 2025 while dealing with back and leg injuries, and while his passing numbers were solid (21 touchdowns, 103.8 passer rating in 13 games), the real concern was his rushing. He finished with just 349 yards on the ground - a career low and a far cry from the dual-threat dynamo we’ve come to expect.
There’s been plenty of speculation about Jackson’s future, but the reality is this: the Ravens aren’t moving on from their two-time MVP. The more likely outcome is an extension that lowers his cap hit and gives the front office more flexibility to build around him.
That said, there are real questions about how much longer Lamar can be the same kind of runner. The good news?
He might not need to be. If the Ravens can protect him better and surround him with more consistent weapons, he can still lead a championship-caliber offense - even if his legs aren’t the cheat code they used to be.
Seattle’s X-Factor: Sam Darnold’s Redemption Arc
One of the more overlooked elements of Seattle’s title run was the resurgence of Sam Darnold. The former top draft pick - from the same class as Jackson - led the league in total turnovers during the regular season (20), but when it mattered most, he cleaned it up.
Five touchdowns, zero turnovers in the playoffs. That’s the kind of growth Lamar will need to mirror in the postseason if the Ravens are going to make a serious run.
Darnold’s transformation under MacDonald and the Seahawks’ staff shows how far a player can go with the right support system - and how important it is for the Ravens to build one around Jackson.
DeCosta’s Crucial Offseason
All eyes now turn to Eric DeCosta. The Ravens’ GM has to nail this offseason - no question about it.
Last year’s gamble on going cheap at both guard spots backfired, with Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees struggling throughout the season. The offensive line, once a strength, became a liability.
The pass rush wasn’t much better. Baltimore stuck to its “right player, right price” philosophy, but that approach hasn’t yielded elite results.
Trading for Dre’Mont Jones instead of making a bold move for someone like Micah Parsons is the kind of decision that separates contenders from champions. Seattle, for example, made aggressive moves to land blue-chip talent like Devon Witherspoon and Nick Emmanwori, then supplemented with savvy veteran additions like DeMarcus Lawrence and Ernest Jones VI.
That’s how you go from good to great.
Now it’s DeCosta’s turn. The Ravens need a strong draft class in April, followed by smart, aggressive decisions in free agency. He and Minter must be aligned on how to build this roster - and fast.
The Path Back to Contention
Training camp is still months away, but the groundwork for a bounce-back season is being laid right now. If Baltimore makes the right moves - if Minter can recapture the defensive magic, if Lamar can stay healthy and evolve, and if DeCosta can deliver a roster that matches the vision - then don’t be surprised if the Ravens are right back in the mix come playoff time.
Seattle just showed the league what a quick turnaround looks like. Now it’s Baltimore’s turn to respond.