The Seahawks pulled off their most thrilling win of the Mike Macdonald era last Thursday night, rallying from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Rams in a 38-37 overtime classic. It wasn’t just a statement win-it was a gut-check comeback that now has Seattle sitting atop the NFC standings. But make no mistake, this one was as much about resilience as it was about redemption.
Let’s start with the obvious: Seattle’s defense, which came into the night ranked second in scoring, got absolutely torched. The Seahawks gave up a franchise-record 581 yards-more than double their season average-and most of that damage came through the air.
Matthew Stafford looked every bit like an MVP candidate, throwing for 457 yards, while Puka Nacua had a career night with 225 yards receiving. That duo connected for four completions of 40-plus yards, a staggering stat considering Seattle had only allowed three such plays all season before Thursday.
So what happened?
Head coach Mike Macdonald didn’t shy away from the tough questions during his Friday morning appearance on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk. He pointed to a mix of factors: solid execution by the Rams, breakdowns in the secondary, and perhaps the toll of a short week catching up with his team.
“There were a couple that were good plays by them,” Macdonald said. “And frankly, we have to execute better in the back end.
It’s a good wake-up call. Maybe we’re asking too much on a short week without full-speed reps.
That’s on us as coaches, too.”
He also emphasized the need to clean up the fundamentals-things like eye discipline and footwork-that can make the difference between a pass breakup and a 50-yard gain. In short, this wasn’t just a player issue. It was a collective lapse in execution, and Macdonald owned his part in it.
If the defensive performance felt like a step back, it’s because it was-especially when you compare it to the first meeting between these two teams. In that game, the Rams managed just 249 total yards and Stafford had his least productive outing of the season, throwing for only 130 yards with a meager 4.6 yards per attempt.
Thursday night was a complete reversal. Stafford’s 457 yards marked his best game since joining the Rams in 2021.
“We had a couple miscommunications, and that can’t happen,” Macdonald said. “If we’re not executing at the highest level, then I didn’t make it clear enough for them. That stings, because those are avoidable mistakes.”
Still, even in a night where the defense gave up chunk plays in bunches, there were moments that reminded you why this group has been so highly regarded all season. Seattle held the Rams to just three touchdowns in six red-zone trips, forcing field goals twice inside the 10-yard line. And when the game was hanging in the balance late, the defense came alive.
Down 30-14 in the fourth quarter, Seattle’s defense flipped the switch, forcing three straight three-and-outs to give the offense a chance-and they cashed in. That late-game stand was fueled by veteran leadership up front. Macdonald singled out DeMarcus Lawrence and Leonard Williams for helping steady the ship when things looked like they might unravel.
“It was a really emotionally charged game, and it wasn’t really going our way defensively for a large part of it,” Macdonald said. “You need guys like that to keep your poise, to keep your edge, and to show the rest of the team-stay the course, keep making adjustments. The tide’s gonna shift.”
And shift it did.
This win wasn’t perfect. Far from it.
But what it showed is that this Seahawks team has the kind of mental toughness you need in December-and beyond. They got punched in the mouth by a red-hot Stafford, regrouped, and found a way to win.
That’s the kind of game that can galvanize a locker room.
There’s work to be done, especially on defense. But if Seattle can clean up the back end while maintaining this kind of fight, they’re going to be a problem for anyone in the NFC.