What does Seattle’s dominant defense have in store for the Colts’ new quarterbacks?
In one of the biggest and most surprising stories of the 2025 season, the Colts signed 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers this week to secure an experienced option at the position after starter Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury last weekend. Rivers last played in the NFL in 2020.
Rivers, who played in the Pro Bowl eight times during his 16 seasons with the Chargers before joining the Colts in 2020, played in a very similar offensive system to the one the Colts now play under head coach Shane Steichen. Despite the long break, it is quite possible that he will be ready to play after less than a week back on the training pitch.
“If anyone can do it, it’s him,” said Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, who is nearly eight years younger than Rivers. “The man is probably one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. I’m sure he wouldn’t do it if he didn’t feel ready, so we’re preparing for him like he’s been playing all along.”
The Colts’ other likely option is rookie Riley Leonard, who filled in for Daniel Jones last weekend. Leonard, 23, who is younger than Rivers’ eldest daughter, suffered a knee injury in that game but has practiced fully this week.
A third, more unlikely option would be Brett Rypien, who was promoted from the practice squad this week. No matter who ends up leading the Colts, the Seahawks want to be ready. And given the strong performances of the Seahawks defense this season, particularly recently when they have allowed just nine total points in their last two wins, they have every reason to be confident against any opposing quarterback.
“We honestly prepare for everyone, no matter who the quarterback is,” safety Coby Bryant said. “We always have to respect our opponent and just continue to prepare like we have been.”
Can Seattle’s run defense continue its impressive streak against one of the best running backs in the league?
The Seahawks are holding opponents to just 3.8 yards per rush attempt this season – second in the NFL. They have also only allowed seven rushing touchdowns, the third fewest in the league. Thanks to their excellent run defense this season, they have yet to allow a single 100-yard rusher in 2025 and have now done so for 22 straight games – the longest active streak in the NFL.
“We’re very proud of it,” senior defensive tackle Jarran Reed said of his team’s run defense. Stopping the run and extending this streak to 23 games will be a very difficult challenge against the Colts and their Pro Bowl and All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor, who leads the league with 1,356 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns and 18 total touchdowns.
A week ago, the Seahawks met one of the best running backs in the league: Bijan Robinson from Atlanta. They were able to limit him to a solid but not spectacular stat line of 86 yards on 20 carries. Now they face an arguably even better offense in the form of the Colts.
“Robinson is probably the fastest player we’ve played so far. He can run off angles, has really good acceleration and really good vision. He’s a really strong running back. That’s two games in a row with the best running backs in the entire league in my opinion,” said Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald.
Seattle’s defenders have put together an impressive series – they are aware of it. And they know they have to be at their best to extend this streak against Taylor to 23 games.
“I think it’s a big deal,” defensive tackle Leonard Williams said. “I talk about it every week that if we can stop the run, we can play the way we want as a defense. If we allow the offense to run the ball, we’re giving them control, and of course we don’t want that. Our defensive line prides itself on stopping the run.”
Can Jaxon Smith-Njigba claim Offensive Player of the Year?
As the MVP award has increasingly become an honor for quarterbacks in recent decades, the NFL Offensive Players of the Year Award typically goes to a skill position player who has had the most impressive season.
And for most of the 2025 season, the two players leading that discussion have been Jonathan Taylor, who despite a slight recent slump is still on track for more than 2,000 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns — and Smith-Njigba, who is by far the league’s leading receiver and is on track for more than 100 catches, 1,800 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns.
Smith-Njigba had a quiet game in Week 13, falling behind Calvin Johnson’s record, but he returned last week with 92 yards and two touchdowns, staying on track for one of the most productive receiver seasons in league history.
The Seahawks will try to run the ball as always, but the Colts may once again be without their top cornerback Sauce Gardner, who missed last week with a calf injury. And they placed starting cornerback Charvarius Ward on the injured list this week, so there could be opportunities for Smith-Njigba and Seattle’s passing game to score against a secondary depleted by injuries.
Will the defense continue to be strong?
On Game 12, the Seahawks won at Tennessee and were in control of the game throughout, but the Titans scored two late touchdowns to cut the deficit to one point. Because of this ending, the defense players left Nashville with a bit of a bitter taste despite another win. Those late points didn’t bring the Titans back into the game, but the defense still wasn’t thrilled about it.
The Seahawks defense’s response was two of its best games of the season in back-to-back weeks. Against the Vikings, the Seahawks finished the game strong and secured their first shutout since 2015. Last week, the Seahawks kept the Falcons out of the end zone and got one final stop late in the game when cornerback Riq Woolen and safety Ty Okada intercepted passes in the end zone on third and fourth downs. With this finish, the Seahawks limited the Falcons to just three field goals, and in the last two games they have only one takeaway (8) fewer than points allowed (9).
“That definitely did something to us,” said defensive end Leonard Williams about the outcome of the game against the Titans. “I think that was evident last week against the Falcons. We didn’t start out the way we thought we would. At halftime we were pretty even with this team, but in the end we finished the game the way we wanted to. Sometimes you learn from a loss, but fortunately this week we learned from a win.”
The Seahawks have kept opponents completely out of the end zone in consecutive games several times in their history (most recently in 2014), but if they can do it for the third time, it would be a first.
Can the Seahawks continue to use their home advantage?
A key focus for the Seahawks this offseason has been finding ways to get better at home. The Seahawks had an impressive record of 7 wins and just 1 loss in road games last season, but still missed the playoffs, in part because they struggled at home, winning only three of nine games at Lumen Field.
This season didn’t start well for the Seahawks at home either, as they lost their home opener to the 49ers, but since then the Seahawks are 4-1 at Lumen Field, including dominant wins over the Saints, Cardinals and Vikings.
For the Seahawks to be in top shape for a possible playoff appearance, they must continue to win at home – not only because they still have important home games against the Colts and Rams that could determine their playoff fate, but also because wins at home in the regular season could lead to more home games in the playoffs.
“That was a big thing, especially at the beginning of the year, to show respect to our fans and give something back to them,” defensive end Leonard Williams said. “They come every week whether we win or lose and I think we owed it to them as an organization and as a team to bring home wins and I think we did that well.”
