The defense is expected to be a strength of the 2024 Seattle Seahawks team and that expectation was reality in Sunday’s 26-20 Week 1 victory over the Denver Broncos. First-year head coach Mike Macdonald is a defensive-minded leader that brought a creative scheme with him from Baltimore. Unsurprisingly, Macdonald’s defense gave Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix fits all afternoon long.
The Broncos gained just 231 yards of total offense and went 5-of-18 on third downs. The Broncos punted on eight occasions, were whistled for eight penalties overall, and committed three total turnovers.
Seahawks cornerbacks Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon were standout performers on defense. Pro Football Focus dropped a social media graphic that has Woolen and Witherspoon with a combined defensive grade of 90.1. Their combined passer rating allowed was just 14.6.
Breaking down their individual performances, Woolen allowed two receptions on six targets for just 17 yards en route to an elite coverage grade of 85.2. Woolen recorded his first interception of the season on an ill-advised attempt by Nix. The former fifth-round selection allowed 8.5 yards per catch and a passer rating of 2.8.
Witherspoon was equally as impressive. The former Illinois standout forfeited three catches on six targets for 17 yards, a minuscule 5.7 yards per reception. Witherspoon allowed a passer rating of 56.3 and earned himself a top-notch coverage grade of 80.1.
Woolen and Witherspoon will relish their opportunities against the New England Patriots in Week 2. With all due respect, Jacoby Brissett is a lower-level starting quarterback, and his pass-catching corps is young and inexperienced. Seattle’s starting cornerbacks should continue thriving.
