After an incredibly dominant performance against the division rival San Francisco 49ers during the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs, the Seattle Seahawks are moving on, as they have advanced to the NFC Championship Game to take on NFL MVP candidate Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams.
The Seahawks excelled on both sides of the football against the 49ers, but the defense was especially good in the win, holding Christian McCaffrey and company to only six points, and that may have been the result of some motivational words from head coach Mike Macdonald.
Mike Macdonald Reveals Seahawks’ Defense’s Motivation
GettyLeonard Williams #99 of the Seattle Seahawks
The most challenging task for the Seahawks’ defense heading into the matchup with the 49ers was containing McCaffrey in both the run and passing games, especially with superstar tight end George Kittle ruled out due to an Achilles injury.
Macdonald had a message for his defense, which he called “nerdy and dorky,” but it worked.
“You’re going to get blocked, but if you stay blocked, that’s really not holding up your end of the bargain,” Macdonald said during Monday’s media availability. “We have to get off blocks, and we have to get to the ball. I know it’s nerdy and dorky, but you have to do your job and then some. You have to defeat the guys in front of you have to get to the ball.
“So if you want to make it feel like 12 guys out there. You can’t be average.”
Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence will have their work cut out for them once again in the NFC Championship Game, with Kyren Williams coming out of the backfield.
It’ll be interesting to see if Macdonald’s message carries over in what will almost be a battle from start to finish against Sean McVay’s Rams.
Seahawks’ Zach Charbonnet to Miss Rest of Season
GettyZach Charbonnet #26 of the Seattle Seahawks
On Sunday, the Seahawks will host the Rams at Lumen Field while being the slight favorites (-2.5) to come out on top and advance to the Super Bowl.
However, the team will be without one of its best offensive weapons, running back Zach Charbonnet, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with what Macdonald believes is a torn ACL.
“Pretty sure it’s ACL,” Macdonald said of Charbonnet’s injury. “We’re figuring out what the extent of the injury is and we’ll get all the details on when he’s going to get it fixed and all that. But you just feel for feel for the guy, for the person. This guy’s just an absolute stud. But he’s around, and he’s in good spirits and we got his back.”
The Seahawks have one of the best one-two punches in the backfield, with Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III. Macdonald knows losing Charbonnet is a big blow for the offense heading into this matchup with the Rams.
Walker is the only running back left on the roster, but the team does have George Holani potentially coming off injured reserve and Cam Akers and Velus Jones Jr. on the practice squad.
“That’s part of the reason we brought him here is just to provide great running back depth,” Macdonald said. “Both are really good players in their own right. And they got a great opportunity in front of them. So you hate it to be under these circumstances, but it is what it is. We got to move forward. So they’ll be ready to go.”
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