CHICAGO—Leonard Williams recorded multiple sacks for the third time in his last six games, and added three tackles for loss and four quarterback hits to add to what has been a very impressive first full season in Seattle.
And if you're looking for an indication of how good the Seahawks defense was in Thursday night's 6-3 win over the Bears, consider the fact that Williams wasn't even the defensive lineman presented with a game ball by Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald after the game. Instead, that game ball went to Jarran Reed, who has spent seven of his nine years in the NFL with the Seahawks.
"This guy right here, he's the OG leader of our D-line," Macdonald told the team in the locker room after the win. "He's playing his ass off, probably his best ball. Keep leading us."
Reed didn't have quite as big of a day, statistically speaking, as Williams, but he did record a sack for the second straight week, and as has been the case in so many games this season, he was a force inside throughout the game, often times freeing up teammates to make big plays.
And on Sunday there were so many big plays to go around for Seattle's defense, which recorded a season-high seven sacks while holding the Bears to 179 yards and 11 first downs, both season lows for a Seahawks opponent.
If Reed's game ball from his head coach wasn't enough recognition, Williams added to the praise by comparing his fellow lineman to former teammate Dexter Lawrence, a two-time pro Bowler who is considered one of the league's best interior linemen.
"He's playing really great, especially the last couple of games," Williams said of Reed. "He's definitely hitting his stride, and he's really played great since the time I met him. I feel like our connection has just grown even more, so he's one of my favorite guys to play with on the D-line, to be honest. Dexter Lawrence was one of those guys for me for a long time when I was on the Giants, and now Jarran Reed is kind of the same type of player where we both have a good understanding of the game, a good understanding of each other, and it allows us to communicate well and play off of each other."
While Reed got the game ball, he saw it more as a recognition for the entire defense, which did everything it could to keep the Seahawks in the lead on a night the offense wasn't able to produce more than a pair of field goals. There were sacks from six different players: Reed, Williams, Devon Witherspoon, Derick Hall, Rayshawn Jenkins and Uchenna Nwosu, as well as three more tackles for loss for Witherspoon, and, of course, a game-clinching interception by Riq Woolen.
"That could have went to anybody, and I'm grateful he gave it to me," Reed said of his coach's recognition. "I've been here practically my whole career, it's home for me, and I'd love to stay."
When Macdonald was asked about Williams' big game, which brought his sack total up to 9.0, the second best of his 10-year career, Macdonald praised both Williams and Reed.
"He's meant a ton," Macdonald said of Williams. "I gave J-Reed the game ball because he's really leading us up front with those guys. It's the edges and the D-line in the same room and really follow J-Reed's lead and Leo has done a great job leading them as well. Yeah, I mean, he should be up for all the accolades. I don't know what the awards are out there, but I would give it to him. You know, I mean, he's just a phenomenal player, phenomenal human being. I'm glad he's a Seahawk. Glad he's with us."
In addition to his nine sacks, which are 2.5 shy of his career high set in 2020, Williams is now up to 15 tackles for loss this season, a new career high, and 26 quarterback hits, the second most in his career behind the 30 he had in 2020.
"All-Pro level, All-Pro talent, Pro-Bowl talent," Nwosu said of Williams. "That's what he's been, he's been able to do that. He was the No. 6 overall pick for a reason. He's always had it in him, he always could do it, and I'm happy he's doing what he's doing right now. He deserves all the recognition, because he's playing at a high level."
As he approaches and eclipses some of his career-best marks, Williams sees his 10th NFL season, and first full season in Seattle, as being one of his best.
"I think this is definitely one of my best seasons," he said. "I had a better season, stat wise, but I think this year has been more dominant. When I say that, it's not all about the stats and things like that, to me it's more just how I'm playing blocks, how I'm affecting every play. And I think when you turn on the film, you'd be able to see that."
Much like Williams, Reed is really enjoying the partnership he is developing with his fellow veteran lineman.
"That's my dawg," Reed said. "It starts during the week, you build that chemistry outside of football, and we're all doing that. We've got a great group of guys, we roll guys in, and every time, we just give each other that look, we tell them, let it be us, and Byron (Murphy II) is in that mix as well. I tell them all the time, let it be on us, let's get the stop, let us be the ones that make the plays, because we're only as strong as our front is."
Reed is not just a leader on this team, he is also a connection to the team's proud recent history, having first joined the Seahawks as a 2016 second-round pick, meaning he played with many of the defensive standouts who helped bring the Seahawks their first Super Bowl title. Among the many Legion of Boom era players Reed looked up to during his early years in Seattle was defensive lineman Michael Bennett, and the two remain close enough that Bennett gave Reed his blessing to take over the former's hip-swiveling sack dance, which Reed did after his sacks last weekend and Thursday.
"I talked to Mike," Reed said. "I actually had texted him last season, and I asked, 'Can I just take it over?' Because it seems fans love it, and we all miss it, right? And he passed the torch to me, and as long as I keep getting sacks, we can keep seeing it."
Bennett not only taught Reed how to do the celebration, but also how to avoid a penalty while doing the sack dance.
"Two pumps, not three," Reed said. "I make sure I always do two."
Must-see shots of the Seahawks at their Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) and Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48), Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99), and Seahawks free safety Julian Love (20) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks guard Sataoa Laumea (63) and Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
