The Seahawks have won three in a row to take the lead in the NFC West, and now they head to Arizona for a big showdown with the Cardinals, who are just a game back in the standings. But before we turn our attention to that very significant NFC West contest, it is time once again to open up the mailbag and answer some questions from you, the fans.

As always, thanks to everyone who asked questions this week, and apologies if I wasn't able to get to yours this time around. And remember, the mailbag is always open for submissions at Seahawks.com/mailbag.

@spokanejester.bsky.social asks, "I had lost sight of the fact that Leslie Frazier is the assistant head coach. He oversaw some great defenses with the Vikings and Bills. Where do you see his influence with the Seahawks team?"

A: Monday's press conference, which featured Leslie Frazier filling in for Mike Macdonald, who was with his wife, Stephanie, as the two awaited the birth of their first child, did indeed put Frazier's role as assistant head coach in the spotlight more than it had been throughout this season.

And you're correct that Frazier, a former NFL cornerback who was a starter on the famous 1985 Bears defense that won a Super Bowl, has coached some really good defenses in a long career that has seen him serve as an assistant coach, defensive coordinator and head coach.

Neither Macdonald nor Frazier has discussed in details, nor are they likely going to want to do so, exactly what Frazier's role is with the defense on a day-to-day basis, but from a big-picture standpoint, Frazier was brought in by the NFL's youngest head coach to be involved in just about everything Macdonald is doing. Macdonald made Frazier, with whom he had worked for one season in Baltimore, one of his very first hires because he knew that, as a young, first-time head coach, he was going to face a lot of challenges that are new to him, and having an experienced, well-respected coach like Frazier as a resource would be very valuable.

Here's how Frazier described his role this summer: ""The primary part of my job is being able to support Mike, and what that includes is everything that a head coach does without the head coach title," he said. "You're there in all the meetings, offense, defense, special teams, and you're contributing. And in my case, Mike has given me the liberty to speak up when it comes to our offense, it comes to our defense, our special teams in any area. And obviously, to assist him with some of the decision making when it comes to our scheduling, player acquisitions, any input. I don't know if it's the same way everywhere, but this is what I thought it would be when he asked me to come, that he would value my input and my experience. That's what it's been in all areas of football, and I appreciate that.

"Because I have seen some things in my career, seen the ups and downs and you can learn from those, and it gives me a chance to help him to be successful. And I appreciate him taking advantage of it."

Again, I can't break down for you exactly how Frazier has influenced the defense, but overall, I'd imagine it's safe to say he's pretty involved in just about everything that Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde are doing with that defense.

@DanCohen17 asks, "Where are the action green uniforms? The greatest uniform in franchise history deserves to be worn more!"

A: I'm not sure I've interacted with anyone on social media who loves action green as much as my twitter friend Dan, and those bright green unis no doubt appreciate your support, Dan. I do not know if/when the Seahawks plan to wear action green again, and even if I did, I wouldn't be at liberty to tell you just yet. But I will say this, the Seahawks have not yet worn action green this season, and in the past when they have, they've almost always worn them for prime-time games. The Seahawks have two prime-time games left. Read into that what you will, Dan.

And in another uniform question, @curtis93969 asks, "If and when the Seahawks win the division, will they wear their throwbacks for the home playoff game? Please give me a 'We will consider it.'"

A: Unfortunately, I can't give you a "we will consider it" because I'm not among the people who consider such things. I will, however, say I'm 100 percent on board with this thinking, because the throwbacks are amazing and I'm all for the Seahawks wearing them whenever possible.

@seahawksbanners.bsky.social asks, "Which players would you trust the most to cook a Thanksgiving dinner?"

A: The obvious answer is always going to be a lineman, because, well, big men know food. And when the Seahawks added Leonard Williams, he noted he was a foodie, so I thought he might be a good answer for this. Then again, maybe I'm just assuming Williams is good at everything right now because he has been so dominant on the football field.

And as it turns out, a better source than me can confirm that Williams knows his way around the kitchen. Jen Mueller, who is the Seahawks sideline reporter among her many awesome media roles, has a cooking show called 'I Cook, You Measure' and she recently filmed an episode with Williams, which will drop soon on her YouTube channel. And when I asked Jen about this silly hypothetical Thanksgiving questions, she said both Williams and Boye Mafe, with whom she just filmed another episode, both know what they're doing in a kitchen.

@tompage asks, "The Seahawks had trouble returning kickoffs, are there any other candidates to return kicks?"

A: The Seahawks need to find a new kick returner after waiving Laviska Shenault Jr. this week, and there are a few candidates on the current roster, or I suppose they could always look to add someone to the team who could do it as well.

When Shenault was injured recently, Kenny McIntosh joined Dee Williams on kick return duty, so he would obviously be one candidate. Dareke Young and Tre Brown also have returned kicks in practice and the preseason, and the official depth chart lists Cody White as a backup there, so they too could be options. Asked about the vacant kick return job on Monday, Frazier said the Seahawks are still working through that, so we'll probably have to wait and see on Sunday what the Seahawks decide to do there.

Also, just to clarify one thing here, I've seen a few fans on X/Twitter suggest the Seahawks bring Dee Eskridge back for that role, but he's currently on the Dolphins 53-man roster (he started the season on their practice squad), so he's not currently available.

@MrEd315 asks, "At this point in the season, what's the vibes and confidence levels coming from the Seahawks?"

A: The vibes are good, as one might expect after a third straight win, and the Seahawks are a confident team, but not a cocky one that thinks they have everything figured out. Following the lead of their head coach, Seahawks players know that, for all they have done well in recent weeks, they can get better in a lot of areas, so nobody is satisfied with how the team is playing.

Overall, there's a lot to like about what the Seahawks have done of late, especially on defense, but as last week's special teams miscues showed, and as some inconsistent play from the offense has demonstrated, the Seahawks still have plenty of room to grown heading down the stretch. The good news, however, is that they're chasing those improvements while currently sitting in first place.

@holliwinters57.bsky.social asks, "The Seahawks special teams… Sunday was a rough day."

A: That's not a question, Holly. But yes, you are correct that what unfolded on Sunday, particularly in the first half, was very tough to watch for Seahawks fans. Turning the ball over once on special teams is pretty terrible considering the type of swing that can create in field position and momentum. Doing it three times in one half, while also allowing a 99-yard kick return, is a downright disaster, and the type of situation that in most games would lead to a certain loss.

That the Seahawks overcame all of that and still one says something about the resilience of the team, as well as about how good the defense is playing that it limited the Jets to two offensive touchdowns despite all of that.

And while there was a lot of bad for Seattle's special teams, it's also worth highlighting some of the good moments, including Leonard Williams' blocked extra point, a great tackle on punt coverage by Tre Brown, and maybe most significant, a 54-yard field goal by Jason Myers in the second quarter. Myers' field goal was important not just for the three points it gave the Seahawks, you could also argue that it was a somewhat overlooked turning point in the game. Obviously Williams' pick-six was the more significant score in the second quarter, but for Myers and the rest of the kicking team to come through on that field goal after all the special teams disasters that preceded the kick was also significant. From that point on, the Seahawks had a relatively clean game on special teams, and one could make the case that nailing a 54-yard field goal after so many mistakes helped turn the tide.

@mynoserunswhenieat.bsky.social asks, "Why didn't Mike Macdonald challenge the second Laviska Shenault fumble where it looked like the ground caused the fumble?"

A: This question is a good excuse to clarify a ruling that doesn't come up all that often in football games. While it's true that if a player being tackled loses the ball when the ball/his arm hits the ground (the ground causing a fumble), that the player is ruled to be down by contact and there is no fumble. If, however, a player goes to ground on his own, as was the case on the play in question with Shenault diving forward to recover the muffed kick, then it is incumbent on that player to maintain possession. Had a Jets player touched Shenault on his way to the ground, it would not have been a fumble, but since NFL rules would have allowed an untouched returner to get back up and keep running had he held onto the ball, those same rules also require him to maintain possession until he is down.