The Seattle Seahawks' defense has been nothing short of suffocating lately, and their dismantling of the 49ers in the Divisional Round was a clear statement to the rest of the league: this unit is for real. Even Kyle Shanahan, one of the sharpest offensive minds in football, couldn’t help but give them their due. Now comes their biggest test yet - a third showdown with the Los Angeles Rams, this time with everything on the line.
This isn’t just a rivalry game. This is win-or-go-home.
And standing across from them is Matthew Stafford, who lit them up for 457 yards and three touchdowns the last time they met - a season-high performance that reminded everyone just how dangerous he can be when he’s dialed in. No interceptions, no mistakes, just vintage Stafford slicing through the defense.
But recent weeks have told a different story. The Rams’ offense hasn’t been firing on all cylinders, and Stafford knows it. That’s part of why he was quick to praise the Seahawks’ defense this week - especially a familiar face in the middle: linebacker Ernest Jones.
“I think Ernest is playing at an all-time level and playing great in the middle,” Stafford said. “He’s running the show for those guys.
The front’s great, the secondary is great. They’re a really well-rounded defense.”
Stafford’s words carry weight. He knows Jones better than most - the two were teammates during the Rams’ Super Bowl run in 2022, when Jones started 11 games and flashed the potential that’s now fully blossomed in Seattle.
This season, Jones has taken his game to another level. He’s been everywhere - 126 tackles, seven passes defensed, five interceptions (including a pick-six), and a half-sack, all while starting every game.
That earned him second-team All-Pro honors and a reputation as one of the most complete linebackers in the league.
And he’s carried that dominance into the postseason. In the Seahawks’ 41-6 rout of the 49ers, Jones forced a fumble and picked off Brock Purdy, continuing to be the heartbeat of a defense that’s peaking at the right time. Now, he’ll face his old team once again, tasked with slowing down Sean McVay’s high-tempo offense and keeping Stafford off the field.
Jones hasn’t intercepted Stafford yet, but he’s made his presence felt in both matchups this season. Across those two games, he racked up 18 total tackles (nine solo) and a tackle for loss - including a season-high-tying 12 tackles in the overtime win. That’s the kind of impact you want from your defensive leader in the biggest moments.
What’s remarkable is how far Jones has come in such a short time. Just a year ago, he was traded in what looked like a salary dump - a future sixth-round pick was all it took to move him.
Now, he’s anchoring one of the league’s most dominant defenses and proving that the right system and coaching can unlock elite potential. His three-year, $33.5 million deal?
Looking like one of the best value contracts in football.
As the Seahawks prepare for a third and final clash with the Rams, all eyes will be on Ernest Jones. If he can keep Stafford in check and continue leading this defense the way he has all year, Seattle’s playoff run might just keep rolling.