Seattle Seahawks’ ‘Dark Side’ Defense Poised for Super Bowl Showdown vs Patriots
Updated (3 articles)
“Dark Side” Moniker and Identity Shift The defense adopted the “Dark Side” nickname after a summer group chat among leaders, a nod to Seattle’s overcast weather and Lumen Field noise, and players say they want to be judged on their own merits rather than the legacy of the “Legion of Boom” era[1].
Defensive Statistics Lead League in Points Allowed Seattle allowed the fewest points per game (17.2), ranked in the top seven for both sacks and interceptions, and was 10th in fewest passing yards allowed (193.9 per game), metrics that propelled the franchise‑record 14‑win season[1][2].
Mike Macdonald’s Scheme Fuels Playoff Surge Head coach Mike Macdonald serves as the primary defensive play‑caller, employing aggressive, flexible packages that often feature five or more defensive backs; the front‑seven tandem Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II tied for the team lead with seven sacks, and Macdonald could become the first head coach to win a Super Bowl while primarily calling defense[1][2].
Playoff Performance Positions Seahawks for Second Super Bowl The unit limited big plays in a 31‑27 NFC championship win over the Rams, highlighted by rookie safety Nick Emmanwori’s three passes defensed, contributions from Leonard Williams, Ernest Jones IV and Devon Witherspoon, and edge rusher Boye Mafe’s praise for the defense’s depth, setting up a Sunday showdown with New England at Levi’s Stadium[1][2].
Sources
-
1.
King5: Seahawks’ “Dark Side” Defense Drives Team Toward Second Super Bowl: Highlights the nickname’s origin, the defense’s statistical dominance, young standouts like Emmanwori and Mafe, and the upcoming Super Bowl matchup against the Patriots on Sunday.
-
2.
King5: Seahawks’ defensive architect Mike Macdonald steers team to Super Bowl: Focuses on Macdonald’s role as primary defensive play‑caller, the franchise‑record 14‑win season, key contributors in the playoffs, praise from President John Schneider, and the team’s aim for a second title at Levi’s Stadium.
Timeline
Oct 2024 – Seattle last allows a 100‑yard rusher, beginning a streak that reaches 26 straight games without an opponent reaching 100 rushing yards, a metric the defense touts as evidence of its run dominance [3].
Summer 2025 – Defensive leaders create a group chat and settle on the nickname “Dark Side,” saying it reflects Seattle’s bleak weather and the deafening Lumen Field crowd, with lineman Jarran Reed noting the team “needed a name to match its identity” [1].
2025 regular season – The “Dark Side” defense posts the league’s fewest points allowed (17.2 per game), ranks in the top seven for sacks and interceptions, and is 10th in fewest passing yards allowed (193.9), while front‑seven duo Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II tie for the team lead with seven sacks each, underscoring the unit’s all‑round excellence [1].
2025 regular season – Under second‑year coordinator Mike Macdonald, Seattle records a franchise‑record 14 wins, the most in club history, and secures the top scoring defense, a feat that positions the team as a Super Bowl contender [2].
2025 season – The Associated Press names Ernest Jones IV, Devon Witherspoon and Leonard Williams to the All‑Pro second team, highlighting Jones IV’s five interceptions as among the league’s best and cementing the defense’s elite status [3].
Early Jan 2026 (Divisional round) – Seattle hosts the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field, with the “Dark Side” expecting to “test and slow strong offenses” in front of the first home playoff crowd since early 2017, as Ernest Jones IV declares the unit can “compete with any opponent” [3].
Jan 2026 (NFC championship) – The Seahawks defeat the Los Angeles Rams 31‑27, with rookie safety Nick Emmanwori recording three passes defensed, and the defense’s performance clinches Seattle’s fourth Super Bowl appearance, a victory described as “the work still ahead” by safety Coby Bryant [2][1].
Feb 3, 2026 – President John Schneider praises Macdonald’s “thoughtful, intense communication” and says the coach “sets the team’s tone from day one,” as the Seahawks prepare to face the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium for a chance at a second title [2].
Feb 3, 2026 – Quarterback Sam Darnold remarks that “daily battles with the defense improve the offense,” emphasizing the symbiotic relationship that fuels Seattle’s Super Bowl run [2].
Feb 5, 2026 – Edge rusher Boye Mafe notes the rarity of a defense “without weak links,” while safety Coby Bryant adds the unit “still has work ahead” as the “Dark Side” sits one win from a second Super Bowl, gearing up for Sunday’s showdown with the Patriots [1].